Encountering vultures

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A walk to discover vultures in the cliffs of the Jonte.
Please note that the elevation gain calculated automatically by the app is incorrect; it is only about 600 m.

Details

n°6835
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.28 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 629 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 633 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 868 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 485 m
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Photos

rocks
The sèvres vase
Ascent to the Rocher ... Be careful, it's very steep!
From the base of the Rocher de Capluc, a breathtaking view ...

Description of the walk

At Le Rozier, on leaving the village towards the Gorges du Tarn, turn right towards Capluc and park in the car park under the antenna.

(S/E) Continue on the wide track that serves the 4 or 5 houses in Capluc.

(1) At the houses, follow theGR®6signs, which wind gently through the forest.
Ignore the Jacques Brunet trail that branches off to the left and, after a steady climb with hairpin bends, you will reach a T-junction.

(2) Leave theGR® de Pays on your right and climb up to the left on theGR®6. Reach the turning point towards the Tarn valley on your left. The trail continues to the Teil fountain and gives way to a wide track.
Head towards Cassagnes and follow this direction at the first sign. You will then reach a large crossroads.

(3) This is the junction with theGR® de Pays mentioned above. Take thisGR® on the right, which starts by descending and remains horizontal for a good while before reaching a low point.

(4) Begin a short climb. Pass by the Vase de Sèvre and the Vase de Chine, two remarkable monoliths.

(5) You will then reach the first crossroads.

(2) Turn left and follow the same route you took on the way there to return to the car park (S/E) via the GR®.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 489 m - Car park at the antenna - Tarn (rivère)
  2. 1 : km 0.38 - alt. 570 m - Houses in Capluc
  3. 2 : km 1.8 - alt. 752 m - GR6 - GRP crossroads
  4. 3 : km 3.73 - alt. 868 m - GRP - GR6 crossroads
  5. 4 : km 5.67 - alt. 766 m - Return trail
  6. 5 : km 6.55 - alt. 757 m - Vase de Sèvres et Vase de Chine
  7. S/E : km 9.28 - alt. 485 m - Car park at the antenna

Notes

Before reaching the car park, you can take a detour to the hamlet of Capluc (1), turn right (signposted Croix de Capluc) to reach the viewpoint overlooking Le Rozier and the Tarn and Jonte valleys.
Be careful, the last part of the climb to the summit is via three fixed ladders. Water supply at the Teil fountain.
Be careful on theGR® de Paystrail, which runs along a cliff overlooking the Jonte valley for a few metres... and the walk is high (approximately 150 m).
Please note that there has been a significant error in the calculation of the elevation gain: it is not 950 m but 450 m.
Possible alternative suggested by a visitor
Park in the car park 500 m before Cassagnes. Take theGR®6on the left, which joins the GRP®. Continue to access the (3) and start the return loop here at the (3), turning right to return to the car park.

Worth a visit

The first thing to see here is in the air: vultures, the kings of the area. Reintroduced in the 1980s, they now form a community of around 1,000 members. Three species are present here:
- griffon vultures, the most numerous,
- black vultures,
- Egyptian vultures,
And now even the bearded vulture, reintroduced this year, has arrived.
The vultures
Next, you can admire the dolomitic rocks with their many shapes, culminating in the Chinese and Sèvres vases.
Finally, adrenaline junkies will enjoy the hundreds of climbing routes that await them here.
Tourists are spoilt for choice: Montpellier le Vieux, Bramabiau, the Aven Armand, Dargilan and the Gorges du Tarn. Don't forget that the famous Millau Viaduct is also nearby.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 77 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Shigeo_kgm
Shigeo_kgm
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Extremely well-marked trail!

We did it on a rainy day (after severe weather had hit the region). We chose to walk it in the opposite direction so that we could enjoy the view before the rain and fog set in. In this direction, the app calculated a total elevation gain of around 450 m for 5½ hours, including breaks and snacks.

Despite the conditions, we saw lots of vultures. Doing it this way gives you more time to watch them and enjoy the spectacle. The scenery was magnificent: it's really worth it!

I highly recommend this hike.

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reginedelempdes
reginedelempdes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike through breathtaking landscapes, with vultures adding to the spectacle of this already stunning walk.
Some sections require a little caution as bad weather has caused some damage.
I highly recommend it for people staying in the area.

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GM2S
GM2S

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done on Friday, 10 October 2025 with my dog.
I parked at the top of the path as indicated by the GPS. There aren't many parking spaces, but as the route was not very busy, I was able to park easily. The climb is a bit steep.
The signage is very good. Incredible hike with breathtaking views.
The paths vary between narrow trails along the cliff (caution for those prone to vertigo) and wide forest paths through pine trees.
Some sections are in rock crevices, so you need to wear sturdy footwear..
It took me six hours, but I took the time to have a picnic and, above all, to admire the vultures (around point 4)... it was just magnificent... nature is incredibly beautiful..
I recommend this hike 10000%..

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mdtexier
mdtexier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent hike: the landscapes, the vultures flying overhead.
The car park near the antenna is small. It is possible to park down in Le Rozier and walk a little further uphill.
It was hot that day, but there are several shaded sections. I had planned on 1.5 litres of water, but I think 2 litres would have been more comfortable.
Some sections require you to hold on with your hands, but it's still easy going.
I came across quite a few people, but that didn't bother me because the view is splendid

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User 277895

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike, done in the opposite direction. I recommend it

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User 12449067
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike with incredible views.

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mawashi60
mawashi60

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 27 May 2025. A magnificent hike with spectacular scenery and lots of vultures. Be careful from the Balcon du Vertige (point 4) to the Rocher de Francbouteille (point 2), as some sections are vertiginous because the path runs close to the edge of the cliff. Take care if you are with children.

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Marmotte39
Marmotte39

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent hike on 18 May and the sun was out in force. The path along the cliffs is really great! A good climb at the start and a slightly steep descent on the way back. Incredible, spectacular views of the Tarn gorges. A bit crowded because it was Sunday. A Chinese vase and a magical Sèvres vase to admire in this magnificent setting.
Top signposting! The vultures are very present, you can see them flying regularly 😉👍.
I recommend this walk 200%.

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Djudju Smile
Djudju Smile

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

One of the best walks I've ever done! It was crowded, of course, but it was a great opportunity to share! Thanks again to the hiker-photographer who helped me set up my camera on the vertigo balcony ^^ It's a long hike and not always an easy one: I went with my dog and she revealed some real chamois skills in places where I had to put my hands out myself to lean safely! But the views are spectacular and you rarely get to see the vultures from above, so it was really incredible! I recommend it ++!

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NAT CHRISTOL
NAT CHRISTOL

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

GREAT TOUR IN INTERMITTENT RAIN WITH A PICNIC AT THE END IN A CAVE.
AT THE END OF THE ROUTE IN A CAVE, ALL IN 4 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES.

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Fabolo
Fabolo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

For information: the manager of our campsite advised us to start from Cassagnes (near point 3) and do a loop rather than starting from Le Rozier. In his opinion, the path from Le Rozier to point 2 was of little interest.
We followed his advice and did a 7.8 km hike with an ascent of around 650m + & - (in total). At Cassagnes, there's a car park and the signs take us directly to the path on the map.

It's a sporty hike, but nothing to worry about. The views are extraordinary, the vultures are out in force and the paths are very pleasant and varied.

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trantole
trantole

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike to see the vultures that can be spotted on the path back along the cliff, with beautiful views all along the way.
No particular difficulty
Small GPS bug between points 4 and 5 (follow the yellow marker)
10km walk in 3h30 with photo breaks

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jacques15
jacques15

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The views are magnificent and the walk very pleasant.
There are a few vertiginous sections.
The Visorando itinerary deviates from the actual route as you approach the vase de Chine.
Don't forget your binoculars to watch the vultures.

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Mae25
Mae25

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I'd gladly give this tour 6 stars if I could! The beauty of the scenery, the path that alternates between cliffside and forest, the reasonable gradient and the unforgettable sight of the fifty or so griffon vultures (yes, fifty or so!), with a good half-hour break to watch them circling in the sky... I'd add two tips: set off in the cool of the morning, to get used to the gradient before the heat sets in, and bring a good pair of binoculars. Yes, they're heavy in the rucksack, but it would be a shame to miss out on the chance to observe the birds 'up close'.

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello, I think there's been a mistake about the hike. The one I described, which is linked to this message, is in the Jonte gorges and not in the Vercors.
Bonne fin de journée

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