Levens to Colla Bassa

Levens north of Nice is a good starting point for hikes. Even the tourist office has eight suggestions on their web site. We planned to do the loop called Circuit de Péloubié but on the day of our hike there were road works in St Claire south of Levens, just where our hike itinerary would have passed on the way back.

Instead of doing the loop, we decided to start along the first part of the hike from les Grands Prés (soccer and other fields 546 m elev.) next to the M19 road. We walked to signpost #261, forked right and ascended along Chemin de la Madone, then Chemin Pré des Cavaliers, passing some nice properties. We came to signpost #265 where the public road ended. There is a small parking (Les Mulières) which we had used before. In fact, on a hot day, we recommend to drive up there instead of walking along the streets from Levens.

Les Grands Prés Levens

Path after signpost#265 Levens

Mont Arpasse

We continued towards Col de Travail (760 m), passing a crossroads and signpost #266. After a short descent, we crossed a small stream named Péloubié before ascending to Col de Travail (#281).

Heading to Col de Travail Levens

Crossing Péloubié

Mont Chauve and Cima

Colla Bassa

Rose bushes in Levens

Just after the Col, we forked left into the woods ascending to signpost #280 near Col de Rosa and further the Colla Bassa (881 m), our turning point as we had planned to do a moderate hike. The path from Col de Travail to Colla Bassa runs in the woods, but we had nevertheless some views down to the valley and to the mountains in the west (Mont Chauve d’Aspremont, Mont Cima). Colla Bassa too was surrounded by woods and maquis, so no views from there.

We returned to Levens along the same path.

Duration: 4 h

Distance: About 12 km

Climb: 430 m

Map: 3741 ET Vallées de la Bévéra et des Paillons