Hiking - La boucle de Pian du Creus

This route follows consistently excellent trails, but between Pian du Creus and Refuge Sestrera inférieur, you must take care not to lose sight of the markings on the trees.

The section connecting Pian du Creus and Refuge Sestrera inférieur is quiet, making this short and pleasant loop a perfect way to immerse yourself in the nature of the Parc du Marguareis: vast stands of silver fir, sometimes pure and sometimes mixed with beech trees, and small herds of shy roe deer that will only reveal themselves to those who tread quietly.

From Pian des Gorre (1032 m), take the dirt road closed to cars that heads southeast into the Vallon du Saut.
Take the signposted trail for Pian du Creus and Gias Madonna.
The trail enters the Vallon de Serpentera, climbing steeply through a magnificent forest via a series of narrow switchbacks. When the trail finally levels out, you will have reached Pian du Creus (1279 m, 50 min from Pian des Gorre).
At the entrance to the plateau, leave the trail for Gias Madonna straight ahead and keep right, following the edge of the vast clearing towards the easily visible, privately owned Refuge Villa Soche.
Opposite the refuge entrance, a trail begins (marked on tree trunks), climbing quite steeply through the silver fir and beech forest. Shortly after, the gradient lessens and the trail continues with some ups and downs along the mountainside. A downhill section leads to the mule track coming from Pian des Gorre.
Take a short detour by following the mule track to the left and, after a few hundred metres, you will arrive at the unstaffed Refuge Sestrera inférieur (formerly Gias inférieur de Sestrera, 1341 m, 35 min from Pian du Creus, fountain).
Return to the last junction and now keep left on the mule track heading back to Pian des Gorre. The mule track descends quite steeply with numerous switchbacks, through a cool forest of silver fir and some broad-leaved trees, until it reaches the dirt road from the start of the hike. Follow this road downhill to return to Pian des Gorre (1032 m, 45 min from Refuge Sestrera inférieur).