Discover the thermal springs of the Dordogne

Starting from La Bourboule, this hike follows the spring trail along the banks of the Dordogne. Halfway through, you can either retrace your steps or go via Rigolet Bas as described below.
This hike allows you to discover thermal springs such as the Félix Spring and the Croizat Spring.

Details

3651721
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.58 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 216 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 216 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,080 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 892 m

Description of the walk

Park in the small car park in the Vernières business park, on the right-hand side of Boulevard des Vernières, near the D130 roundabout.

(S/E) With your back to the roundabout, turn right (east) onto the path that runs along the right bank of the Dordogne. Cross the railway line via the small gate and join the tarmac road at Le Genestoux.

(1) Turn right. About 50 metres further on, leave the road and take the path on the right. Approach the river, then cross it to reach the left bank and follow the railway line.

(2) Cross the Dordogne to reach the right bank, then cross back to the left bank via another footbridge. You will come out onto the small road that leads to Les Marais. Turn right to cross the railway line and reach the D130.

(3) Cross this busy road with extreme caution as there is no protected crossing. Follow it on the right for about 30 metres, then turn left onto a path that initially runs parallel to it and eventually rejoins it further on.

(4) Turn left to walk carefully along the road again for about 100 metres, then turn left onto the path that leads to Rigolet Bas. Once you reach the hamlet, turn right and then immediately left to arrive at a crossroads.

(5) Turn right. Turn left at the next junction to take a shortcut path before rejoining the path you just left.

(6) Continue straight ahead until you reach the roundabout on the D130. Cross the roundabout on the right (be careful, there is no pedestrian crossing) and return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 892 m - Boulevard des Vernières car park
  2. 1 : km 0.82 - alt. 938 m - Le Genestoux
  3. 2 : km 1.89 - alt. 935 m - Crossing the - Dordogne (fleuve)
  4. 3 : km 2.67 - alt. 970 m - D130, on the right
  5. 4 : km 3.02 - alt. 967 m - D130, on the left
  6. 5 : km 4.12 - alt. 1,080 m - Rigolet Bas
  7. 6 : km 4.85 - alt. 982 m - Crossroads, path opposite
  8. S/E : km 5.58 - alt. 892 m - Boulevard des Vernières car park

Notes

The first part of the hike to (3) is easy. However, the return is more difficult as it involves a steep climb on stony paths.

Those who do not wish to make this climb can turn back and return to (S/E) via the same route.

Worth a visit

Discover thermal springs such as the Félix Spring and the Croizat Spring.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 26058224

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route, with thermal springs, of course, but also many other viewpoints that are worth the detour.
We did this hike together at the end of February, and the weather was perfect, which allowed us to enjoy our surroundings to the fullest. What was supposed to be a 2-hour walk turned into 4 hours of contemplation and pure bliss.

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User 12543465

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, shaded walk. Good walking shoes are necessary because the paths are very stony in places, often wet and turning into small streams when it has rained, and sometimes quite steep.

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Corinne33
Corinne33

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The start of the walk is interesting, but the part through the town is less so

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Davisa
Davisa
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Walk taken on 02/02/25.
No snow on the route.
the first part runs alongside the Dordogne, with a possible stop at the hot spring, which is very popular even at this time of year.
the second part crosses a small village and takes you through the woods.
Tracked by mobile phone GPS -> OK
Pleasant hike.

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Caroli*
Caroli*

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route with a wide variety of landscapes.
Popular hot springs.
Some areas were icy, so bring walking sticks.

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Aula
Aula

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant walk, but the description of the second part of the route was unreliable.
Beautiful, varied landscapes all along the way.

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Christi19
Christi19

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Do not park in the coach company's car park, which is private property, but rather near the start of the trail. A very pleasant walk. Easy and enjoyable along the Dordogne. The waters of the Croisat spring are very warm, but swimming is prohibited. (Many swimmers ignore this rule, however.)
The climb to Rigolet is a little more challenging, but perfectly doable even for pensioners.
After 5, we didn't take the shortcut, as the main path descends more gently.
Thank you for suggesting this walk.

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nadichamau
nadichamau
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful route, especially the first half up to point 3, with a lovely shaded path along the Dordogne. If it's not too crowded, you can even take a dip in a hot spring just before point 2.

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brigitte_aloth@hotmail.fr
brigitte_aloth@hotmail.fr

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A short walk that's perfect for your first afternoon here, the Vernière waterfall is not to be missed. This walk allows you to familiarise yourself with the area so you can enjoy swimming in the warm water (where we'll go every afternoon after our other walks)

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herve gueguen
herve gueguen

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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Jerom
Jerom

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful two-part walk,

An easy and refreshing walk along the river

Climb up to the village of Rigolet Bas to admire the beautiful scenery

Recommended except for young children

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laurentdouard
laurentdouard

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route with few visitors. Despite the cool morning air, bathers were enjoying the Croizat spring. The hamlet of Rigolet Bas is very charming, with old houses that have been tastefully renovated. The Vernière waterfall is well worth a detour.

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jrome63
jrome63

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, shame that there were too many people at the hot spring.
In terms of the route, there's a bit of a lack of detail at Rigolet Bas, so we took a wrong turn and ended up adding 50 minutes to our walk.

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Letdel
Letdel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, easy and pleasant walk. Best done outside of peak hours if you want to enjoy the fountain.

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madopat
madopat

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

quite tough at the end of the hike
but very beautiful

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