Well, we’re not going to lie, Nice is clearly not the ideal city for the autumn season… And yet it’s everybody’s favourite season. Its poetic and symbolic side delights many people. So what can you do? If you’ve got a weekend free in November, I’d definitely recommend a weekend in London, which I think is the perfect city for a magical autumn. London’s parks are absolutely magnificent, with their orange, yellow and red colours.
If not, don’t panic, if you’re staying on the French Riviera, there are some absolutely magical natural spots just 1h30 from Nice. At this time of year, one of my favourite spots is the Gordolasque in the Mercantour National Park. This 18km-long river rises at the Lac des Fous. A must-see any time of year… but especially in autumn 🙂
The Gordolasque in autumn
It’s magical!
It’s an incredible place to visit at the height of the autumn season. The fir trees change colour from green to yellow. I think it’s the ideal place to really feel the energy of the end of the cycle. On top of that, there are plenty of hiking trails here, some relatively easy and others much more challenging, including the one that leads up to the Nice refuge. Here are a few photos to show you the beauty of the Gordolasque valley at this time of year.
Hike to the Cascade de l’Estrech
On this Sunday, we opted for a medium-level hike: the one around the Cascade de l’Estrech. I couldn’t see myself going right back on an overly intense hike like the one I was used to doing to the Nice refuge. And it was absolutely magical! More technical information on this route in the next paragraph.
Other hiking routes starting from La Gordolasque
I discovered the Gordolasque in 2018 with the hike to the refuge de Nice, which was particularly difficult. But there are other hikes at a more moderate level with lower gradients.
- Lac Autier :
- Leaving from Belvédère
- 600m ascent
- Return journey in 4 hours
- Level: medium
- Lac de la Fous – Refuge de Nice :
- From Belvédère
- 700m ascent
- Return journey: 5h30
- Level: difficult
- Lac Long de la Gordolasque :
- From Belvédère – countet bridge
- 900m ascent
- Return journey: 5h40
- Level: difficult
- Vallon de la Gordolasque :
- Starting from Belvédère
- 110m difference in altitude
- Return journey: 1h10
- Level: easy
- Tour of the Cascade de l’Estrech :
- Leaving from Belvédère
- 337m difference in altitude
- Return journey: 2h20
- Level: medium
More information on the visorando website.
Practical info
- Approximately 1h30 from Nice by car
- Hiking shoes recommended
- Rucksack – sunglasses – water bottle and camera
- Several gîtes nearby
- Toilets available at the start of the walk
My other favourite hiking spots on the French Riviera
- Le baou des blancs at Col de Vence
- Le chemin du Paradis at the village of Gourdon
- Fort de la Revère at Eze
More information in the hiking category of my website
