Jebel Bou Iblane

Bou Iblane is a long limestone ridge in the eastern Middle Atlas rising to about 3,190 metres at Bou Naceur, its highest point, with cedar forest on the northern flanks and bare rock and scree above. It takes serious snow - enough that a small ski station was built at Taffert in the French period, with a refuge and a lift, and enough that the snow lies into May in good years. The lift has long since stopped working and what remains is the refuge, used by trekkers, and a landscape that sees very few visitors of any kind. The walking is open ridge country with long views east towards the Rif and south to the plateau. Access is the constraint: the pistes in are rough, there is no public transport, villages are small and services essentially absent, and going with a guide arranged in Taza or Fes rather than driving in alone is the sensible approach.

What you actually see

• A 3,190-metre ridge - bare limestone above cedar on the northern flanks.
• Real snow - lying into May in good years, unusual this far north.
• The Taffert refuge - what remains of a ski station whose lift stopped long ago.
• Very few people - a massif that sees almost no visitors.

When to go

May to October for walking; winter for snow if equipped. Two days.

Honest expectations

Access is by rough piste and needs four-wheel drive. There are no services - carry food, water and fuel. Weather at 3,000 metres changes fast and there is no rescue capacity. Arrange a guide rather than going in alone.

Nearby

Taza and Tazekka are north-west; Boulemane is south.