Distance 14.1km
Elevation 760m
Duration 5:30
Difficulty Difficult
From Volonne at the place called "3 Bastides" (2km NE of the village). The Saint Joseph chapel, associated with its hermitage and its spring, has always served as a shelter for shepherds and pilgrims, as well as for resistance fighters during the Second World War.
Description
No Parking, park on the side of the road before the ravine of La Grave. From the Cross which overlooks the chapel, you will have a nice view of the valleys of the Durance and the Duyes. The path begins at the bridge of La Grave, at the level of the three bastides.
From there, go back up a wide track, at the bottom of the ravine, to a cistern where you leave the PR of the Tour de la Magdeleine on your right. After 1,5km of gentle ascent, enter the oak and pine wood on your left, to emerge at a small ridge near the ruin of Forchochier. The path branches off to the right and almost immediately leaves the large logging track. The rather steep, switchback climb continues along the hillside in the shady position, in the middle of a beech forest which is very pleasant for its coolness in summer.
Arrived at the crest, the chapel of St Joseph is on your left at 1.8km. The return is done by the path on the right, first follow the ridge for 1.5km before plunging on your right into a forest much drier than the previous one, a sign that you have returned to the south. Quite quickly you reach the bottom of the ravine which brings you back to the starting point.
Type : Marked round trip
Distance : 14.1km
Elevation : 760m
Duration 5h30
Difficulty : Difficult
Max altitude : 1264m
Marking details
Yellow (PR)
Cartographic references
Hike No. 6 on the Val de Durance hiking map. IGN TOP 50 No. 3340 and 3341