The Blanc-Martel trail is the most famous hike in the Verdon — and yet no source agrees on its numbers: distance ranges from 13 to 16 km, elevation gain from 600 to 1,160 m, duration from 4h30 to 8h depending on the source. This guide settles the question, backed by official sources, and gives you everything you need to hike it safely.
Verified on 5 July 2026 with the Parc naturel régional du Verdon (the trail’s official manager), Verdon Tourisme, and the Castellane-Verdon Tourist Office.
Ongoing detour: Couloir Samson → Point Sublime
A rockfall has damaged the trail on its final stretch. A municipal order from Rougon temporarily closes access between the Couloir Samson exit and the Point Sublime. The full hike remains possible: from the Couloir Samson exit, take the RD23A departmental road, then the GR49 trail to the Point Sublime — the manager’s stated total duration does not change. Do not enter the zone marked by the signage, and do not attempt to cross the rockfall area. Check with the Parc naturel régional du Verdon before you go.
The essentials
| |
|---|
| Distance | 15 km |
| Elevation gain | 600 m |
| Duration | 5h30 without breaks (5 to 7 h with the shuttle) |
| Difficulty | Moderate to difficult — exposed sections |
| Type | Linear traverse (return shuttle required) |
| Start | Chalet de la Maline (900 m), La Palud-sur-Verdon |
| Finish | Point Sublime, Rougon |
| Waymarking | Section of the GR4 |
The route, step by step
The classic direction runs from the Chalet de la Maline (right bank, along a balcony path) toward the Point Sublime, gradually descending into the floor of Europe’s Grand Canyon.
- Start at Chalet de la Maline (900 m) — the trail plunges into the gorges along a balcony ledge.
- The Imbert breach — the spectacular section: 6 ladders and 252 metal steps, roughly 100 m of descent in one go.
- La Mescla — the confluence of the Artuby and the Verdon (a classic, superb detour).
- The Estellié footbridge — swept away by the once-in-a-century flood of November 1994, since rebuilt.
- The Couloir Samson tunnels — 3 tunnels in use (the Baou, 670 m; Trescaire, 110 m; les Baumes). Headlamp required.
- Arrival at Point Sublime (Rougon) — exiting near the Couloir Samson car park, where the shuttle awaits.
The shuttle: required, and here’s how it works
Since the Blanc-Martel is linear, you need to plan your return. The official solution is the Park’s shuttle, by reservation.
- Booking: navette.parcduverdon.fr
- Periods: weekends and public holidays from 03/04 to 28/06 and from 18/09 to 01/11; every day from 29 June to 13 September.
- Indicative price: €8.50 round trip for adults (to be reconfirmed on the official website — a volatile rate).
- Alternatives: come with two cars (leaving one at each end), a shared taxi, or the La Palud - Marseille bus.
Safety & equipment
- A headlamp is required for the tunnels (the Baou alone runs 670 m).
- 2 to 3 L of water per person: no supply points anywhere along the route.
- Dogs and mountain bikes banned.
- Vertigo: several exposed sections — not recommended for children under 8.
- EDF water releases: the level of the Verdon can rise quickly. Never go down into the riverbed without checking the day’s releases (from the Castillon and Chaudanne dams).
- Heat: in July-August it goes above 30°C in the gorges — set off before 7am.
A bit of history
The first full traverse of the gorges took place from 11 to 14 August 1905, led by the explorer Édouard-Alfred Martel, commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, accompanied notably by Isidore Blanc, the schoolteacher-guide from Rougon. The trail was built in 1928 by the Touring Club de France, named the “sentier Martel” in 1930, then renamed “sentier Blanc-Martel” in 2005 to also honor Isidore Blanc. A major renovation took place in 2012-2013.
Sources
Data cross-checked and verified on 2026-07-05: PNR du Verdon (navette.parcduverdon.fr), Verdon Tourisme, OT Castellane-Verdon, Wikipedia (Sentier Martel; É.-A. Martel), AllTrails, Visorando, Outdooractive, Wikiloc, camptocamp, FFRandonnée, GEO, Routard. Discrepancies retained and settled above. Couloir Samson → Point Sublime detour verified 2026-08-22: navette.parcduverdon.fr (dedicated page “Le sentier Blanc-Martel”). No data invented: a missing field means it still needs verification.
