Les Alpilles, Col de Vallongue-Pas de l'Aigle
A great hike in the Alpilles between Saint Remy and Eygaliere
A great walk in any season as it gets the sun throughout the day and is sheltered from the sometimes strong, Mistral wind.
What to bring
This hike can be found on IGN 3042 OT Tarascon
Directions
From Saint-Remy-de-Provence travel east on the D99 then after roughly 5km take a right onto the D24. Follow this road for just under 3km and you will see the parking where the GR6 crosses the road.
The walk starts along the GR6 (here a forest road) westwards. After about half an hour you turn left and follow the forest road around its first right bend at the end of the field. Very soon your will see a signpost for the ridge path and follow this into the woods on the left (still marked GR6). It will take half an hour to reach the Col de Vollongue.
The GR path continues on the ridge for roughly 45 minutes, here the path takes a sharp right turn and head up towards the top of the ridge. Once on the top the views are exceptional and the walking mellows out. Continue along the ridge for another 30 minutes where the trail descends sharply and then continues up again towards the Pas de l'Aigle. At the lowest point you will see a path leading left down from the ridge. This is the return path, but if you have the time continue along the path and stop for lunch at the Pas de l'Aigle, then return to this path.
On the way down from the ridge the descent only takes roughly 10 minutes. It ends up on a forest road. Do not take the first road but continue along another 50 meters and take the left just after the sharp bend. The return then follows the GR6 which runs adjacent to the D24. Follow it back to the car park.
