Arphy walks

This magnificent hike is featured on the beautiful Massif de l'Aigoual map published by the Mont Aigoual Causses Tourist Office. Enjoy the diversity of the forests you will pass through, where you will constantly switch between beech, oak, fir and spruce trees. The panoramic views at (3) and at the André Chamson Monument are sublime.

Le Vigan is not a particularly pretty or touristy town. However, if you stop off there, here's a walk to discover a few aspects of the historic centre and the banks of the river Arre.

A circuit on the southern slopes of the Aigoual massif around the Lac des Pises, which can be done in winter on snowshoes (average altitude 1250 m) or on foot.

These paths lead to terraces that were once cultivated and offer views of the surrounding hamlets. Most of this hike is in the shade of holm oaks and chestnut trees. You'll feel like you've stepped back in time in these typical Cévennes landscapes.

From Molières-Calaillac (greenway car park), climb towards Esparon, then descend towards Bez, then Lasfons and along the greenway.

From Valleraugue, take the famous 4000-step trail that climbs up to the Mont-Aigoual observatory. To complete the loop, follow theGR®6for a long descent through the forest towards Aire de Côte, before finishing with a crossing of the chestnut grove above the hamlet of Berthezène.

For experienced hikers, here is a 40 km loop starting from Valleraugue and reaching Aigoual via the famous 4,000 steps. It descends to Lac du Bonheur near Camprieu, then climbs back up to Espérou and ends along the ridges facing Mont Aigoual, which you will have discovered a few hours earlier. This hike is not technically difficult but is very long with some steep sections and requires good stamina.

The route follows part of the drovers' road from Colognac to Mont Aigoual.

A complete hike to discover Mont Aigoual, its panoramic views and forests, passing through the Hort de Dieu Arboretum. Partially shaded route alternating between large and small forest paths and open trails. A few kilometres on a DFCI track that quickly joins a more shaded area.

When it's very hot in the plains, there's nothing like coming to cool off on a short route in the Aigoual forest on its northern slope.

From the summit of Mont Aigoual, discover l'Hort de Dieu, the Garden of God, a favorite spot for botanists since the Renaissance, and a testing ground for today's botanists."Remembering the good advice of the fabulist, we wanted to plant without delay; in the spring and especially in the autumn of 1903, we planted more than 1,200 plants, including 773 trees at the Hort de Dieu... As of now, we have 219 species of trees and shrubs in cultivation or under study at the Aigoual". Charles Flahault, 1904.

A short, easy hike, provided you're not prone to vertigo, from the summit of Mont Aigoual, offering breathtaking views of the Cévennes and the Hérault valley.

Tour of the Rieutord valley via the ridges between Sumène and Ganges, with the unique feature of crossing the Baume Clauside cave. You will enjoy the typical panoramic views of the southern Cévennes.

This circular hike takes you through the Combe Chaude Nature Reserve, a nesting area for birds of prey and bats in the numerous caves. This limestone barrier overlooks the Rieutord valley and offers a beautiful view of much of the Cévennes in the Gard department. Don't miss the unusual crossing of the Baume Clauside, the climb up the Ranc de Banes offering a 360° panorama from Pic Saint-Loup to Mont Aigoual, and a short tour to discover the village at the end of the circuit.

A beautiful autumn walk. Moderator's addition: For a slightly tricky section on the descent, it is advisable to do this hike in the opposite direction to the description

A 360° panorama of the Cévennes valleys and Mont Aigoual. Information panels are provided along the route.

Despite its uninviting name, this is a superb hike under the forest canopy. The name comes from the fact that there was once no cemetery in Camprieu, forcing the inhabitants to carry their dead to the hamlet of Saint-Sauveur.

This loop around the village of Alzon is ideal for families, allowing you to hike along an old railway line through tunnels and over viaducts. Bring a torch for certain sections.

From the cliff top, there is an exceptional view over the Cirque de Navacelles. The Blandas plateau is at an average altitude of 700 metres, offering unobstructed views of the surrounding region. The vegetation is constantly changing, with black pines, cedars, box trees and meadows. This plateau also conceals many prehistoric remains.

A lovely hike from Les Plantiers to the Saint-Marcel church in Fontfouillouse, passing through the hamlet of Monteils, the Col de l'Espinas and Faveyrolle.

From the village of Laroque, take a tour of the Thaurac plateau and its many karstic caves.

A spectacular cirque with breathtaking views.

This walk takes place entirely within the "Les Causses et les Cévennes" site, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Navacelles, you climb up the Gorges de la Vis to its resurgence. After visiting the Moulins de la Foux, the return journey halfway up the southern slope of the Causse de Blandas offers spectacular views of the Gorges de la Vis and the Cirque de Navacelles. You have to walk in the Cirque de Navacelles at least once in your life, that's all there is to it! Don't think twice: just go!

A beautiful hike in a magnificent setting, with one of the most beautiful cirques in the region and the resurgence of the Vis.

A fairly conventional circuit that lets walkers admire the Cirque de Navacelles and hike in the gorges of La Vis. The ruins of the Moulins de la Foux are the ultimate goal of the hike, with beautiful explanations of these water mills and on the underground portion of the screw, not yet fully explored.

A short but fairly difficult hike offering exceptional views of the Gorges de l'Hérault. The climb is on a shady but stony path to reach the vertiginous edge of a cliff. The route is generally well marked except for one section. Moderator's warning on 02/04/2021: Caution! Some sections are overgrown with vegetation; see the reviews of this hike at the bottom of the page

Brissac Park is home to numerous springs that form the Avèze River, creating a haven of coolness. The eastern slope of Bois de Long is home to karstic caves and sinkholes. On our route, we will visit the Aven de la Dame, the Bois Long cave and the Rabanel chasm.