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On the road from Saint-Chamond to La Valla-en-Gier, park in the small car park near the Soulage Dam wall.
(S/E) From the car park, walk down the road and immediately turn right onto Chemin du Moulin de Soulage.
(1) After the mill, cross a small bridge over the Gier and climb up the small road towards Pouay and Les Mures.
(2) Continue straight ahead on flat ground and cross Pouay, staying on the small road. Continue on Chemin de la Font du Rot to the hamlet of Les Mures.
(3) At a crossroads near a house with a small turret, turn right then left and go down the small path towards the Barrage de la Rive dam. Viewpoint over the two dams. Continue downhill. Join the upstream part of the difficult path around the dam (which our route avoids).
(4) Cross the Gier upstream from the Soulage Dam to go up the small road and arrive at La Rive.
(5) Turn left and, 50 m further on, take the path that climbs up to the wall of the Barrage de la Rive.
(6) Near a restaurant, cross Route de La Valla and climb up opposite. Ignore the path opposite that climbs up to La Valla and take the path on the right that goes around the Rive Dam.
(7) Cross the Jarret stream over a small bridge, then cross the Ban stream over another small bridge. The area equipped with small benches is a good place to stop for a break. Turn right towards the Barrage de la Rive dam.
(8) Join the small road to Laval before crossing to the right onto the dam wall.
(6) Turn left towards the restaurant and take the path in the opposite direction to descend to a place called La Rive.
(5) Continue straight ahead and cross the bridge.
(9) At the end of the bridge, immediately turn right onto the steps leading down to the water's edge. Walk along the water's edge, leaving the access paths on either side. Walk briefly along Route de la Valla (safe passage) and descend back to the water's edge.
(10) At the wall of the Soulages Dam, head to the small car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Difficult 
Easy 
