Magnificent trail in the Calanques park / Series: Trail Wonders

A must-see on a trail outing: the Calanques National Park near Cassis.

Recommended departure from the small port of Cassis. You have to cross Cassis for a few kilometers to reach the Calanques National Park. It is preferable to make a (small or large) loop from the port of Cassis to return there at the end of the outing, it is really worth it for the arrival on the jetty of the small port with as a reward after the race a small stop on a terrace in front of the boats of the port.

The trail outing: technical with superb landscapes as a reward

But first, the trail outing in the Calanques National Park: expect a fairly demanding outing with elevation and technical passages, with small narrow paths filled with stones, tree roots or rock steps to cross across the path. After leaving Cassis and once you arrive in the Calanques park, the change of landscape is radical. Make way for nature in this superb preserved and protected place with its pine forests, its Calanques (small and large), its steep cliffs and its superb views from above over the Mediterranean Sea.

Warning: the climbs and descents can really be quite steep and technical with passages where you have to be extra careful (roots, stones, rocks). On these sections, you have to be careful and secure your footing to avoid falling or twisting your ankle. But apart from these technical passages that you have to negotiate well, it's just bliss. You can set off to discover the Calanques one after the other. First, as you leave Cassis, you will come across the long Port-Miou with its many well-sheltered pleasure boats. From Cassis, you have to go around it then follow it on the other side before going up and then going back down towards the next Calanque, the absolutely superb Port Pin with transparent water.

On the heights each time you have finished the climb from the bottom of a Calanque towards the paths on the hills, you will be rewarded with superb views of the Mediterranean below and in the distance on the horizon. On the way back towards Cassis, you can see the port of Cassis and just behind the imposing cliffs of Cassis and Cap Canaille. All these views are really worth the detour and make a trail outing in these landscapes a unique experience.

The Calanques Trail

If you want to discover the Calanques National Park in trail running mode, you can participate in the Trail des Calanques which is already in its ^40th edition. It is organized by the Club Alpin Français de Marseille Provence. The last edition took place on February 2nd. There are three courses: 19 km with 1000 D+, 36 km with 2000 D+ and up to 56 km with 3000 D+. It is not easy to participate because each course is limited to 100 runners each to preserve the fragile ecosystem of the Calanques. Poles are prohibited and supplies are 100% bulk and organic.

https://traildescalanques.fr/

The Calanques National Park

Some additional information about the Calanques National Park: This protected area covers 8,500 hectares and 80 kilometers of coastline with a peak at 646 meters at Mount Carpiagne. Note that the Calanques National Park has the particularity of being both a terrestrial park and a marine park. Moreover, 93% of the total surface area of the park is on the sea and includes several islands, which are all refuges for local biodiversity.

You will find a link below to watch a short film presenting the Calanques National Park.

https://youtu.be/OoEZKDFFG9E

Don't hesitate any longer. If you have the opportunity while passing through the south of France, discover the Calanques National Park between Marseille and Cassis in Trail Running or Hiking mode, it's really worth the detour. It's a unique, wild and magnificent place. Visiting it means enjoying this unique place for a trail outing while making sure to leave it intact to preserve it at all costs.