Point Sublime

The car park and its fee scale are designed for a visit of under 3 hours: time to walk down to the viewpoint (about 15 minutes on foot), take in the view of the Couloir Samson, and walk back up. For a longer visit, the Couloir Samson car park, right next door, is paid only from the Saturday when the French summer school holidays begin until 31 August inclusive, with a price per entry (€7 for a car), according to the Verdon Regional Nature Park, which manages the site (October 2026).

Yes, in season, from 8am to 9:30pm according to the opening hours on the official listing (its description says 8am to 8pm), charged by time spent: free for under 15 minutes, then from €1.50 (30 min) up to €46 beyond 8 hours. The paid season runs from 30 April to 27 September 2026; from 28 September 2026 to 29 April 2027, access is open and free (according to the car park listing published by the tourist office, re-read on 9 October 2026). For a full day, the Couloir Samson car park, right next door, is better suited: it is paid only from the Saturday when the French summer school holidays begin until 31 August inclusive, at €7 per entry for a car.

Not by a regular bus line since 1 October 2026. Until 30 September 2026, the regional Zou! line 450 linked Riez, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, La Palud-sur-Verdon, Rougon / Point Sublime and Castellane. From 1 October 2026, the 450 no longer serves La Palud-sur-Verdon or Rougon (Point Sublime): no regular bus line enters the heart of the gorge any more. The 450 is reduced to the Moustiers-Sainte-Marie – Riez section and runs on school days only, never on Saturdays or Sundays. Castellane is still served all year round by the 51 Nice–Digne line, two coaches a day in each direction. Measured on 6 October 2026 in the Zou! network’s official open timetables (LOv2 licence). That leaves a taxi from Castellane, to be booked in advance. The Point Sublime is also the end point of the Blanc-Martel trail for those walking from the Chalet de la Maline.

It is the end point if you walk in the usual direction, from the Chalet de la Maline (right bank, on the Route des Crêtes). Many hikers use the Park’s Blanc-Martel shuttle to return to their starting point without walking the trail back the other way; others book a taxi, such as Taxi Castellane’s Blanc-Martel transfer (Monday to Saturday). The Park’s Blanc-Martel shuttle is still running this autumn: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, from September 17 to November 1 2026. As of 14 October 2026, according to the Park’s shuttle website (navette.parcduverdon.fr), a municipal order issued by Rougon on 14 August 2026 closes the end of the trail, following a rockfall, between the exit of the Couloir Samson and Point Sublime. The full hike remains possible via the official detour: RD23A then GR 49, same total duration.