Refine your search for walks in Massif du Pilat
Massif du Pilat walks
Loop on the heights of Mont Pilat
Visorando Member
6.00 mi
+659 ft
-653 ft
3h 20
Moderate
Departure from La Valla-en-Gier (Loire)
An easy walk to enjoy as a family. Very popular in summer, it is worth the detour to admire the panoramic view over the Alps and the summits of Mont Blanc, the Lyonnais mountains and the Giers valley, the Vercors massif and those of northern Vivarais. With a wealth of flowers in spring, you can gather bilberries in August and raspberries in September. Unless you choose to go ski touring or cross-country skiing here in winter.
Les Trois Dents from Véranne
8.75 mi
+2,323 ft
-2,339 ft
6h 05
Moderate
Departure from Véranne (Loire)
This hike allows you to discover the Trois Dents rocks, which give this area of Pilat an alpine character and offer magnificent views. As an option, the Saint-Sabin chapel offers a beautiful view of the Véranne area. The Pilat Natural Park's signposts and directional signs will be a great help in following the route.
From Crêt de l’Oeillon to Crêt de la Perdrix
4.22 mi
+669 ft
-669 ft
2h 30
Easy
Departure from Véranne (Loire)
An easy hike along the ridges of Pilat linking three major summits, via trails through forests and moors. Along the way we discover magnificent views of the Alps, the Massif Central and the Rhône Valley.
The medieval village of Malleval and the diversity of its surroundings
4.59 mi
+965 ft
-965 ft
2h 55
Moderate
Departure from Malleval (Loire)
Start by exploring a botanical cactus trail, then climb up to the cemetery and enjoy the view.
Follow the cool Épervier stream upstream.
Discover wooded paths followed by sunny trails with superb 360° views, then descend through the vineyards.
Finish by discovering the Saut de Laurette.
Return via the old village (church, salt storehouse, former commandery) and the trails.
The Chartreuse de Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez
7.64 mi
+1,306 ft
-1,299 ft
4h 40
Moderate
Departure from Châteauneuf (Loire) (Loire)
Hike in the Pilat Massif with views of the Rhône Valley.
Tupin, Condrieu, Semons: between the Rhône and the vineyards
6.95 mi
+548 ft
-528 ft
3h 40
Easy
Departure from Tupin-et-Semons (Rhône)
A hike with a very varied route.
Discover the Lônes with nature observatories in the protected area of Île du Beurre.
The banks of the Rhône (with the Port des Roches de Condrieu opposite) and a very pleasant arrival in Condrieu (restored residences).
Visit the old town of Condrieu, climb up to the village of Semons and enjoy the view over the market garden plain of Ampuis.
Descent into the vineyards of the Côtes Rôties to discover the intertwining terraces and low walls.
The Gouffre d'Enfer
5.45 mi
+568 ft
-564 ft
3h 00
Easy
Departure from Saint-Étienne (Loire)
A walk at the gateway to the Pilat mountains to discover the Lac du Pas du Riot and two dams built under Napoleon III.
This walk is easy, suitable for families and without difficulty. The hardest part is climbing the 52 steps of the dam.
Stream crossings near Loire-sur-Rhône
6.95 mi
+1,306 ft
-1,306 ft
4h 20
Moderate
Departure from Loire-sur-Rhône (Rhône)
Shaded walk along the banks of streams in a Rhône ravine. A surprisingly peaceful natural area given its proximity to urban centres.
The vineyards of Ampuis
4.36 mi
+837 ft
-814 ft
2h 45
Moderate
Departure from Ampuis (Rhône)
A short hike to discover the vineyards of Ampuis, with superb views of the terraced vineyards and the Rhône valley.
Variation around the Pilat ridges
5.69 mi
+1,063 ft
-1,040 ft
3h 30
Easy
Departure from Véranne (Loire)
This is a lovely hike for exploring the Pilat ridges, with superb panoramic views of the entire Alpine range. The route takes you through a variety of landscapes, from scree slopes to coniferous forests and heathland covered with heather and broom. In season, you can pick wild raspberries and blueberries.
This route offers a return via a less frequented path through a deciduous forest.
The Dentillon hut from Pelussin
7.32 mi
+2,018 ft
-2,024 ft
5h 05
Moderate
Departure from Pélussin (Loire)
This walk starts from Pelussin (in the heart of Pilat) and involves a slight climb (just under 600 m) to keep you in shape, which rises continuously. You will arrive at the Dentillon hut, with its arboretum and orientation table. You can then continue on to the 3 dents, which will add another 45 minutes and 250m of elevation gain.
Tour of Mont Ministre and Mont Monnet
10.10 mi
+1,785 ft
-1,808 ft
6h 10
Moderate
Departure from Chuyer (Loire)
The hike combines the Odouard and Jean-Jacques Rousseau trails, starting from Chuyer. The first part, to the south-east, on the Odouard trail, offers beautiful views of the Rhône valley. At the Col de Grenouze, the small loop takes you up to Mont Monnet: orientation table, beautiful view in good weather over the valley, the Vercors and the Alps (Mont Blanc). Forest paths then follow the Jean-Jacques Rousseau trail to the Col de Pavezin, and return via the Odouard trail.
Pilat - From Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez to Longes
10.27 mi
+1,654 ft
-1,657 ft
6h 10
Moderate
Departure from Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez (Loire)
This hike takes us to Les Roches de Marlin, which is somewhat overgrown with broom and other vegetation, and the beautiful flower-filled village of Longes. Don't forget to enjoy the beautiful views of the Gier valley and the crosses at almost every crossroads.
Couzon dam
5.35 mi
+548 ft
-558 ft
2h 55
Easy
Departure from Châteauneuf (Loire) (Loire)
This is a beautiful hike that allows you to see different landscapes: lake, forest, path and, finally, the river bed as you pass over a pretty aqueduct. This hike is a shorter variation in the opposite direction to the hike I found on this website, called 'Around the Couzon Dam'.
Around Le Colombier
9.95 mi
+1,391 ft
-1,411 ft
5h 45
Moderate
Departure from Loire-sur-Rhône (Rhône)
Walk in the forest with three charming streams and beautiful views of the valley. A complete change of scenery for the day.
The southern Pilat from Graix to La Perdrix
8.56 mi
+1,644 ft
-1,644 ft
5h 20
Moderate
Departure from Graix (Loire)
The Pilat massif on its southern slope with a passage at its highest point, the Crêt de la Perdrix.
The Mont Pilat loop from Doizieux
10.75 mi
+3,163 ft
-3,146 ft
7h 40
Moderate
Departure from Doizieux (Loire)
A long route along the panoramic ridges of Mont Pilat.
From Chavanay to Malleval
9.20 mi
+1,371 ft
-1,388 ft
5h 25
Moderate
Departure from Chavanay (Loire)
Walk through the orchards of Chavanay. Best done in April when the fruit trees are in bloom. As a bonus, you'll see the charming village of Malleval and the Epervier valley.
Please note: read carefully at marker No. 8
Tour of the Sapt dam
4.52 mi
+217 ft
-226 ft
2h 15
Easy
Departure from Saint-Genest-Malifaux (Loire)
A pleasant Sunday walk, very popular and enjoyable in good weather.
From Trois Croix to Chaussitre
8.22 mi
+866 ft
-843 ft
4h 30
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Genest-Malifaux (Loire)
Hike on the plateau from the Col de la République between Saint-Genest-Malifaux and Saint-Régis-du-Coin.
Rochetaillé - Dams, Gouffre d'Enfer and Pas du Riot
12.05 mi
+1,565 ft
-1,555 ft
6h 55
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Étienne (Loire)
The Gouffre d'Enfer dam is one of the most famous sites in the Rhône-Alpes region and a popular walk in the Saint-Étienne area. It was built in 1860 in the Furan valley, near Rochetaillé, and completed 17 years later by the Pas du Riot dam. We then continue along the dam trail to the Pont de Souvignet. The return journey takes us via Les Palais, Les Sagnes and La Croix de Givet before joining theGR®42to arrive at Le Plateau and Rochetaillé.
The Polish maquis monument
4.36 mi
+705 ft
-705 ft
2h 35
Easy
Departure from La Versanne (Loire)
This easy, short walk through the woods in the heart of the Grand Bois in the Pilat Regional Nature Park is a chance to remember a tragic event from the Second World War, around a small monument that has been somewhat forgotten as it does not appear on any maps.
Route updated on 18 July 2020.
Le Crêt de Marcoux
4.58 mi
+837 ft
-820 ft
2h 50
Easy
Departure from La Terrasse-sur-Dorlay (Loire)
A walk to discover beautiful views of the Dorlay valley, an opportunity to explore an old Roman road and an old railway line.
The Crêt de la Perdrix from Chaubouret
7.79 mi
+1,224 ft
-1,204 ft
4 hrs
Moderate
Departure from Le Bessat (Loire)
Long snowshoe hike on the Pilat ridges.
Can also be done on foot if there is no snow.
From the Couzon Dam to Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez
6.47 mi
+955 ft
-932 ft
3h 50
Moderate
Departure from Châteauneuf (Loire) (Loire)
Discover Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez and its Chartreuse in the Pilat region, starting from the dam on the Couzon.
Salvaris and the Sapey woods
4.63 mi
+420 ft
-423 ft
2h 30
Easy
Departure from Saint-Étienne (Loire)
A pleasant walk for summer days, as it is almost entirely in the shade. A spectacular finale with a unique and magnificent view of the city of Saint-Étienne.
Discover the beech forests in the municipality of Pavezin
6.03 mi
+1,119 ft
-1,109 ft
3h 45
Moderate
Departure from Pavezin (Loire)
Most of this hike takes place in beech forests. It is perfect on sunny or windy days. It overlooks the village of Pavezin.
On the heights of Condrieu, starting from Vérin
8.25 mi
+1,033 ft
-1,030 ft
4h 40
Moderate
Departure from Loire
An easy walk in the countryside on the heights around Condrieu. This hike offers beautiful views of the Rhône valley and the Pilat mountains.
Boucle au départ du Col de la République
5.49 mi
+449 ft
-430 ft
2h 55
Easy
Departure from Saint-Genest-Malifaux (Loire)
a peaceful walk with no difficult sections but not recommended for young children or pushchairs, through forest, alongside ponds and numerous fields in the Pilat Park.
Update 20/08/25: photos added and details provided for the fork at point (7)
Update 15/07/2025: route modified between points (5) and (7) due to the gradual disappearance of the path on the western edge of the pond.
Tour of the Crêt de l'Aireiller
6.57 mi
+1,329 ft
-1,329 ft
4h 10
Moderate
Departure from Graix (Loire)
A short, varied tour in the Pilat Massif around the Crêt de l'Aireiller, with a 360° view from the Crêt de la Perdrix as the grand finale.
The secrets of the Grand Bois
4.93 mi
+571 ft
-558 ft
2h 45
Easy
Departure from Le Bessat (Loire)
An easy walk in the forest, refreshing on summer days, in the heart of the Pilat Regional Nature Park, to discover the somewhat secret sites of the Grand Bois.
The Chemin du Tacot to the east of Pélussin
9.15 mi
+1,647 ft
-1,650 ft
5h 40
Difficult
Departure from Pélussin (Loire)
At the start and end of the route, this circuit follows the Tacot, a local railway line that connected the two sides of the Pilat Massif, the Loire and the Rhône, until 1930. Magnificent views of the Pilat Massif, but above all of the Rhône Valley and the Alps, with Mont Blanc visible on the left when the sky is clear. Most of the circuit is in the forest.
The Pilat de Vanosc peaks
9.53 mi
+2,067 ft
-2,070 ft
6h 10
Moderate
Departure from Vanosc (Ardèche)
Beautiful views of the Vocance valleys, the Annonay region, the Pilat massif and, on a clear day, the entire Vercors chain with the Alps in the background.
A breath of fresh air in the Taillard forest.
Loop starting from Croix Régis
6.81 mi
+1,112 ft
-1,106 ft
4h 05
Moderate
Departure from Les Haies (Rhône)
This is a hike through the woods in the Pilat massif, best done in dry weather and avoided in strong winds as most of the route is in the woods with few paved roads.
Crêt de l'Oeillon from Saint-Sabin
6.71 mi
+1,378 ft
-1,358 ft
4h 15
Moderate
Departure from Véranne (Loire)
A lovely hike in the Pilat hills offering 360° views of Pilat, the Alps, the Monts du Lyonnais and the Monts du Forez.
The Saut du Gier from the Col de la Croix du Planil
5.28 mi
+1,867 ft
-1,864 ft
4h 05
Difficult
Departure from La Valla-en-Gier (Loire)
This is a fairly strenuous hike with beautiful views. If you wish, between (1) and (2), you can take a slightly easier route. The waterfall is worth the detour.
Rochettes loop
4.34 mi
+407 ft
-407 ft
2h 20
Easy
Departure from Le Bessat (Loire)
A hike starting from Le Bessat, in the Pilat Regional Nature Park, offering unobstructed views of the Mont Blanc massif and then the Mézenc.
N.B. Hike not accessible in winter (area reserved for skiing).
The Saint-Sabin chapel from Saint-Appolinard
7.61 mi
+2,182 ft
-2,182 ft
5h 25
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Appolinard (Loire) (Loire)
Another original way to get to this beautiful viewpoint that is the Saint-Sabin chapel on a small bluff in the heart of the Pilat Park, pouring into the Rhône Valley, with some of the best views of the Alps and pre-Alps (especially across the south). At the chapel, many signs and indications tell the story of the place and its flora.
The Chirol Cross in Burdignes
4.24 mi
+410 ft
-427 ft
2h 20
Easy
Departure from Burdignes (Loire)
A relatively easy walk to a viewpoint overlooking the Rhône valley, the Pilat and Ardèche mountains, and a superb view of the Alps on clear days.
From the village of Malleval to the village of Roisey
8.81 mi
+1,066 ft
-1,053 ft
5h 00
Moderate
Departure from Malleval (Loire)
An easy walk between the village of Roisey and Malleval. At the start of the walk, you can see the Cascade du Saut de Lorette when there is water in winter and, on the way back, before reaching Malleval, you will pass through woodland along the Ruisseau de l’Épervier, which will provide a pleasant coolness if you are doing this walk in summer.
⚠️Access along the Ruisseau de l’Épervier is prohibited from the hamlet of Le Pont Jacquet (9) by municipal order following rockfalls caused by heavy flooding. Reported on 31 July 2025.
The Pilat ridges from the shepherd's hut
8.72 mi
+1,591 ft
-1,591 ft
5h 25
Moderate
Departure from La Valla-en-Gier (Loire)
Enjoy the atmosphere of northern Ardèche with this exceptional hike in the heart of Pilat. Pass through the main ridges of Pilat to discover breathtaking views and small steep paths.
Panoramic view of Mont Monnet from the Col de Grenouze
2.50 mi
+512 ft
-512 ft
1h 35
Easy
Departure from La Chapelle-Villars (Loire)
Magnificent panoramic view of the Alps on a clear day. Partially shaded return route through the woods. Somewhat strenuous climb but no technical difficulty.
Historic Pélussin and the Scie valley
6.42 mi
+1,211 ft
-1,204 ft
4h 00
Moderate
Departure from Pélussin (Loire)
This easy walk allows you to stroll around the beautiful village of Pélussin before plunging into the wooded valley of the Scie stream.It partly follows the Priel trail (Pelussin 1, yellow/white markings).
Bessey and its mysteries
5.48 mi
+469 ft
-440 ft
2h 55
Easy
Departure from Bessey (Loire)
An easy route to discover some of the attractions of the commune of Bessey in the Pilat Regional Nature Park.
A circular in Le Bessat via Les Grands Bois and Le Sapin Géant
9.83 mi
+1,161 ft
-1,175 ft
5h 30
Moderate
Departure from Le Bessat (Loire)
The route takes you through forests of tall trees on the cross-country ski trails of the Bessat resort.
The hillsides of Maclas
8.41 mi
+909 ft
-889 ft
4h 40
Easy
Departure from Maclas (Loire)
fairly easy hike on the foothills of Mont Pilat, facing it and the Rhône plain
Tour of Crêt de Montieux
8.18 mi
+1,211 ft
-1,191 ft
4h 50
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Paul-en-Jarez (Loire)
This hike around Crêt de Montieux offers beautiful views of Mont Pilat, the Couzon dam and the Col de Pavezin.
Le Pas du Riot and Gouffre d'Enfer starting from Rochetaillée
9.52 mi
+1,732 ft
-1,729 ft
5h 55
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Étienne (Loire)
A very beautiful, easy circular alternating between forest paths, magnificent landscapes and breathtaking views of the Château de Rochetaillée, the Roche Corbière (117 m high) and the Pas du Riot (1878) and Gouffre d'Enfer (1866) dams, whose surroundings have been converted into a very pleasant relaxation area for the end of this walk.
The dam route from Tarentaise
9.81 mi
+1,575 ft
-1,562 ft
5h 55
Moderate
Departure from Tarentaise (Loire)
This hike will take you to the north face of the Pilat massif and the Mézenc plateau, with beautiful forest crossings. Enjoy the coolness of the two dams visited and climb a rock to admire the rugged landscape of the Gouffre d'Enfer.
