This is a lovely blue (non-technical) 101-km piste route through the limestone karst and cedar forests of the Middle Atlas. Lots of opportunities for wild camping as most of the land is under the control of the government’s ‘Eau et Foret’ organisation.

Some of the route is within forested area which tends to dry slowly, so if it’s been raining recently (or snowing) the piste is likely to be muddy.

Photos below taken on a variety of trips at different times of the year.


km5: riding one-handed on ice to take this photo of two Italian guys I met in the Panorama Hotel in Azrou


km6: Barbary Apes on the edge of the cedar forest



filmed in July when the new babies are beginning to become independent



km7: riding across the moonscape plateau


km14: phosphates excavation is also a 'courting spot' for locals (being polite here)


km17: now on the piste, one of the several deep volcanic vents


Honda XR400 looks tiny on the other side of the vent


another year, another bike, this time a BMW F650GS twin


km26: I never tire of taking photos of the cedar forests


in winter time branches are laid down to provide traction, so keep a look out


km31: lovely limestone outcrop


...what could be easier?


...and more beautiful?


km35: I have another photo from three years earlier and the tree looks just the same


km37: junction with a well-graded piste


km42: start of a long descent


km48: yes, the ascent is as steep as it looks!


km47: each time I pass this village the river crossing has moved with floods


corrugated roofs like the Rif mountain villages, and thorn animal enclosure


km50: looking back on the 180-m ascent, lots of momentum required


km52: BMW R1200 GSA is ideal on these easy pistes


km53: the piste has since been widened


and after crossing the river, the piste traverses left across the cliff face...


...to here


km59: lovely beaten earth


km90: now on tarmac but brilliant scenery


km95: chance for some offroading in the bowl


km101: junction with the N13