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Digne-les-Bains MTB route N°10: Le Cousson MOUNTAIN BIKES & EMBT
The N°10 mountain bike route in Digne-les-Bains is one of the routes available from Les Eaux Chaudes campsite. 40km of pure pleasure on the trails of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. We've only been mountain biking for a short time and would describe ourselves as beginners. But none of the routes described on the applications or on the various websites can be used to assess the real technical difficulty of these mountain bike routes. That's why we've come up with the idea of describing route No. 10, sector by sector, and soon, we hope, all the others. The aim is to help you, according to your level, to assess the technical difficulties that you will encounter along this EMTB route that will take you to the summit of Le Cousson.
The first section from the Les Eaux Chaudes campsite is quite straightforward. You can choose to follow the road that takes you past the Haute-Provence thermal baths or the parallel paths that we find more pleasant to follow on a mountain bike.
The second section takes you off the road onto a wide forest track. It climbs, but is not particularly difficult. The view of the Eaux Chaudes valley soon becomes clear, a marvellous sight.
After a few hundred metres, the route forks onto a single-track balcony in the shade of the trees. The trail does not present any major difficulties, but for beginners like us it is necessary to put your foot down several times. We're thinking of the hairpin bends and uphill sections, the narrow sections of track where you can't afford to make any mistakes, and the slippery, banked sections.
The single-track arrives at a crossroads, from where you can follow route N°21 or continue on N°10 towards the summit of Cousson.
Most of this section is on a wide track, climbing gently but surely and without difficulty. The final section is a little more technical, with a rather steep track that will have you zigzagging between shrubs. It's beautiful, but you have to put your foot down regularly to make sure you don't take the wrong path.
A fountain drips cool water from a spring at the crossroads.
Route 10 doesn't take you past the summit of Cousson or the chapel of Saint-Michel. That's a shame. So if you don't mind walking a few extra kilometres, we recommend you follow the slopes of the Cousson towards the chapel of Saint-Michel, and then make your way to the summit of the Cousson. It's well worth the diversions.
The chapel, built on a rocky spur, owes its incredible reputation to its location. It's beautiful, unusual and the scenery will probably make you want to hang around for a while. If you're passing through for the first time, it's customary to ring the bell just a few steps from the chapel.
From the chapel of Saint-Michel, we advise you to head for the summit of Cousson and its 360° view.
Once you've had your fill of it, it's time to tackle the descent. This is the most technical part of the whole route. Slippery track, steep overhanging slope, narrow path and hairpin bend. A highly technical combo that is out of the reach of beginners. If you don't have the level, don't panic, we've put our foot down and this section isn't very long, so you just have to be patient and enjoy the undergrowth.
This sector is a real treat, with no risks involved, you descend at your own pace, passing a few staircase sections, just enough to enjoy mountain biking. The rain has gullied part of the trail and can make it impassable in places. Please take care.
Further down, you come to the main road, cross the road and pick up the single-track again a few dozen metres further on.
The rest of the route alternates between technical sections (with no real difficulty for beginners) and cycling through the undergrowth. Along the way, stop off along the streams and discover some lovely surprises.
The last part of the route takes you along the Bléone. Very pleasant and without any difficulty.
We arrive in Digne-les-Bains via the Ferréols lake, quickly crossing the town before returning to the campsite for a shower and a well-deserved evening's rest.
Sector 1: from Les Eaux Chaudes campsite to the runway
The first section from the Les Eaux Chaudes campsite is quite straightforward. You can choose to follow the road that takes you past the Haute-Provence thermal baths or the parallel paths that we find more pleasant to follow on a mountain bike.
Sector 2: From wide track to monotrace
The second section takes you off the road onto a wide forest track. It climbs, but is not particularly difficult. The view of the Eaux Chaudes valley soon becomes clear, a marvellous sight.
Sector 3: Balcony and uphill monotrace
After a few hundred metres, the route forks onto a single-track balcony in the shade of the trees. The trail does not present any major difficulties, but for beginners like us it is necessary to put your foot down several times. We're thinking of the hairpin bends and uphill sections, the narrow sections of track where you can't afford to make any mistakes, and the slippery, banked sections.
Sector 4 : Towards Cousson
The single-track arrives at a crossroads, from where you can follow route N°21 or continue on N°10 towards the summit of Cousson.
Most of this section is on a wide track, climbing gently but surely and without difficulty. The final section is a little more technical, with a rather steep track that will have you zigzagging between shrubs. It's beautiful, but you have to put your foot down regularly to make sure you don't take the wrong path.
A fountain drips cool water from a spring at the crossroads.
Sector 5: The high point of the route N°10 MTB
Route 10 doesn't take you past the summit of Cousson or the chapel of Saint-Michel. That's a shame. So if you don't mind walking a few extra kilometres, we recommend you follow the slopes of the Cousson towards the chapel of Saint-Michel, and then make your way to the summit of the Cousson. It's well worth the diversions.
The chapel of Saint-Michel-de-Cousson
The chapel, built on a rocky spur, owes its incredible reputation to its location. It's beautiful, unusual and the scenery will probably make you want to hang around for a while. If you're passing through for the first time, it's customary to ring the bell just a few steps from the chapel.
The summit of Cousson
From the chapel of Saint-Michel, we advise you to head for the summit of Cousson and its 360° view.
Sector 6: Attacking the descent
Once you've had your fill of it, it's time to tackle the descent. This is the most technical part of the whole route. Slippery track, steep overhanging slope, narrow path and hairpin bend. A highly technical combo that is out of the reach of beginners. If you don't have the level, don't panic, we've put our foot down and this section isn't very long, so you just have to be patient and enjoy the undergrowth.
Sector 7: Gentle, technical descent
This sector is a real treat, with no risks involved, you descend at your own pace, passing a few staircase sections, just enough to enjoy mountain biking. The rain has gullied part of the trail and can make it impassable in places. Please take care.
Further down, you come to the main road, cross the road and pick up the single-track again a few dozen metres further on.
Section 8: Descent through the forest
The rest of the route alternates between technical sections (with no real difficulty for beginners) and cycling through the undergrowth. Along the way, stop off along the streams and discover some lovely surprises.
Sector 9 : Along the Bléone river
The last part of the route takes you along the Bléone. Very pleasant and without any difficulty.
Sector 10 : Back to Les Eaux Chaudes campsite
We arrive in Digne-les-Bains via the Ferréols lake, quickly crossing the town before returning to the campsite for a shower and a well-deserved evening's rest.
