Distance 16km
Elevation 500m
Duration 5:30 PM.
Difficulty Very difficult
In the heart of the Verdon Gorges, the Blanc-Martel trail is the most famous of the canyon's hikes; it's the only one that allows you to walk along the river at the bottom of the Gorges. It takes its name from Alfred-Edouard Martel and Isidore Blanc.
Description
The Blanc-Martel trail is a one-way trip between the Chalet de la Maline in La Palud-sur-Verdon and the Point Sublime in Rougon. A shuttle bus is available during the season: you take it in the morning from La Palud-sur-Verdon to the Chalet de la Maline (departures at 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 depending on the time of year). It then brings you back in the afternoon from the Point Sublime to La Palud-sur-Verdon (4:00, 5:00, 6:00 depending on the time of year). Online reservations only: navette.parcduverdon.fr
A taxi service is also available (06 68 18 13 13 or 06 20 32 87 47), which must also be booked in advance.
From the Maline chalet, take the GR®4 trail on the left, marked in white and red. Follow these markings and the direction of Point Sublime throughout the hike. The times indicated may vary depending on your walking pace.
Cross the Pas d'Issane to reach the Carrefour des Cavaliers after a 45-minute walk. From this crossroads, you can make the round trip to the Estellier footbridge (45 minutes round trip). After a 1 hour 45-minute walk, cross the Guègue scree. The path then rises to the Carrefour de la Mescla. A detour (30 minutes round trip) to see the meeting of two rivers is recommended. 45 minutes after this crossroads, you will have reached the top of the 252 steps of the Brèche Imbert staircase! (Go back down if you are afraid of heights).
Pass the Baumes Fères pass and descend to the Verdon… You’ve been walking for almost 3.5 hours! After walking along the bottom of the Canyon for a while, you arrive at the belvedere and then the Trescaïre tunnel: you have just over an hour of walking left. It’s time to get out your lamps (the Baou tunnel is 670 m long). Be careful, the tunnels are often “flooded” and you may find yourself standing in water…
Cross the Baou and climb the stairs, you will come out onto the road at the place called La Raquette. Take the path on the left of the turning area. After a good climb, you will arrive on the main road, turn left towards the Sublime point.
Minimum age: 8 years
Type : Marked roaming
Distance : 16km
Elevation : 500m
Duration 5h30
Difficulty : Very difficult
Average altitude : 674m
Max altitude : 906m
Marking details
White Red
Delicate passages
Trail with tricky passages (ladders, scree, slippery rocks, tunnels), prohibited to dogs and mountain bikes and not recommended for children under 8 years old. Avoid or do the route in reverse if you are prone to vertigo. Be careful, if you approach the banks, the water level can vary rapidly depending on the water releases from the dams located upstream. Bring hiking shoes, a lamp, 3 L of water per person, energy foods, warm clothing and a hat.
Cartographic references
Map of 32 hiking trails around the Verdon Gorges, from La Palud-sur-Verdon to Castellane, Map of hiking trails in the Verdon Regional Natural Park,
Guidebook references
https://www.cheminsdesparcs.fr/pedestre/la-palud-sur-verdon-le-sentier-blanc-martel/