Around the Pas du Pont

A short, wild loop very close to Baume-Cornillane, which can be adapted for a short half-day outing.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.91 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 300 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 298 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 560 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 304 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Pas du Pont car park located on the D208a about 1.2 km from La Baume-Cornillane towards Montvendre.

No signposts

(S/E) From the car park, go to the signpost at the end of the bridge. Facing the signpost, follow the small tarmac road that climbs to the right (no trial bikes sign) towards Les Pialoux. Do not take the road furthest to the right, which continues from the car park. Continue to a flat section where the tarmac disappears and leave the ford on your left.

(1) Continue straight ahead on the road that climbs and becomes paved. Reach a flat area at a meadow and look for a path on the left at the end of the meadow.

Leave the road and follow the path on the left (there is a path further to the left on the map, but it is almost invisible on the ground). Shortly afterwards, leave a path that climbs up to the right and another a few metres further on that branches off to the right on flatter ground; continue and reach a ford.

(2) Do not cross the stream via the main path that turns left, but just before the ford, take a small, barely visible path on the right. Cross the ford, following the path, which becomes more obvious as you climb. The trail turns left and arrives at a crossroads on a flat area.

(3) Turn right to continue on a path that becomes very stony. At a fork, continue straight ahead on the main path. About 400m higher up, the trail turns left and joins a flat area (there is a slight discrepancy between the trail and the map). Turn right at the hunting club signs and you will come to a fork. Turn left downhill and then left again 80m further on to reach a more clearly marked trail.

(4) Follow this path on the left, which is flat at first and then descends over rocky ground a little further on. Stay on the main path, which joins a more open and flatter area. Ignore a path coming from the left and continue for a few metres until you reach a large crossroads (two cairns).

(5) Continue straight ahead on the trail, first slightly uphill, then along the hillside, and finally downhill to join a path. Turn left, following the horse paddocks.

Random yellow markings

At the next crossroads, at the end of the enclosure, turn sharply left. Ignore a path on the right and left (not visible on the map), continue to cross the ford and resume the climb opposite for a few metres.

(6) Turn right onto the path that curves in an S shape and continue until you reach a cairn at the entrance to a right-hand bend. Leave the main path and continue straight ahead on the path through the woods. Walk along the plateau, then leave a path on the left that descends and continue straight ahead. About 200m further on, the path begins to descend and joins a track close to the road. Turn left and head back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 316 m - Pas du Pont car park
  2. 1 : km 0.93 - alt. 360 m - Fording (variant 1)
  3. 2 : km 1.5 - alt. 383 m - Fording (variant 2)
  4. 3 : km 1.9 - alt. 437 m - Crossroads on a flat section (variant 3)
  5. 4 : km 2.72 - alt. 541 m - Turn left onto the path
  6. 5 : km 3.68 - alt. 394 m - At the large crossroads, continue straight ahead
  7. 6 : km 4.67 - alt. 304 m - Turn right after the ford
  8. S/E : km 5.91 - alt. 316 m - Pas du Pont car park

Notes

Despite the distance, this circuit is classified as moderate because there are a few steep sections and because there are virtually no signposts along most of the route.

Variation 1: 2.8 km - 100 m elevation gain
(1) Turn left at the ford and follow the path. Just before the stream, turn left to reach the crossroads (6).

Variant 2: 4 km - 130 m elevation gain
(2) Turn left to cross the ford and follow the path that joins a crossroads marked by two cairns (5).

Option 3: 4.4 km - 170 m elevation gain
(3) Turn left and follow the path that joins a track, turn left and you will soon reach the crossroads with two cairns (5).

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 49 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
PEYRIN
PEYRIN

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice tour 👍.

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pierre0326
pierre0326

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

the route has reached a private property, an equestrian centre with a barrier and a no entry sign!

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Cavalrando
Cavalrando

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

As mentioned in previous reviews, there are no signposts and you must use the app with the route throughout the hike.

Hike completed on horseback and not on foot; riders, take care if you do not have a sure-footed mount! In addition to the elevation gain, the paths are very stony and the numerous low branches make access difficult at times. A narrow passage along the edge of a ravine can be daunting, but this type of path is not a problem for hikers

The weather forecast is accurate and the exposure is pleasant in summer.

Watch out for horseflies!

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DidierRando26
DidierRando26

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
We did this hike on a Sunday afternoon. It was a very beautiful hike, but the season wasn't ideal. A little sad for March, with lots of undergrowth, so it would be very pleasant in summer. There are no markings, and following the instructions is a real headache. Luckily, the route is marked on Visorando (I've just read the other comments and am repeating myself...). Beautiful view of the Rhône valley and the Vercors cliffs. The car park was full, probably the starting point for many hikes as we only came across two other people. The circuit seemed long to us and my pedometer showed 8.26 km. A great idea for a half-day outing. I can confirm the change at the equestrian centre but the fences guide you along the way. The path is very uneven but we crossed what appeared to be private property.

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herveg07
herveg07

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful winter walk (well, winter if you can call it that ). At point 4, we continued straight ahead to cross the valley horizontally and descend via the next ridge (further north), which was sunny, before rejoining the circuit at the equestrian centre (~500m further, map or GPS required).
Regarding the path at the equestrian centre (and the many previous comments...): follow the description from 09/12/2021 carefully; the GPS track is no longer accurate and would take you through the middle of a horse paddock. You no longer pass through the ford (point 6). The disadvantage is that the path is used by horses and is rather muddy before the pretty little bridge over the stream (even in dry weather)!

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morilles
morilles

You can't miss the entrance to the equestrian centre!
Don't go all the way to the centre. When you start to see horses in the park and a sign for the equestrian centre on the left, there is a passageway leading to the centre. It is a lane between two fenced-off areas for horses

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krisV
krisV

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please note: GPS ESSENTIAL. We got a little lost around the equestrian centre but quickly found our way back thanks to GPS. A very pleasant, easy walk with beautiful views

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Daniel Maciocia
Daniel Maciocia

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk. I couldn't find the path towards the end after the horse paddock. Slippery in wet weather.

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madydou
madydou ★

Hello,
The author of the route clearly stated that there are no signposts.
In this situation, the Visorando app is a great help.
Check it out and use it on one of your next outings (???)

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mmv1
mmv1

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
The lack of signage is indeed a drawback.
We probably made a mistake at point 2, so we never found point 3, let alone the hunting society signs.
Despite this, we had a pleasant walk there and back. At point 1, we joined point 6 and then returned to the starting point.
This hike is therefore not easy for those with little or no experience.

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banditxxx
banditxxx

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Quite a nice ride, but it gets particularly tricky around the equestrian centre where electric fences have been added, making the trail difficult to follow. It is possible to bypass the area to avoid going under the wires (the map is not very accurate in this area) In addition, the final descent is on a rocky path, which can be slippery in wet weather, with an option on the left that may allow you to rejoin the starting route. There are possible variations if you have the GPS track and a map to help you find your way more easily. There are hunters on the climb, but it is perfectly safe.

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morilles
morilles

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

some people will have to go back to learning how to read! It's impossible to miss the way when you arrive at the equestrian centre!
don't go all the way to the centre. Just before the "centre équestre" sign, the centre has put up fences that you have to go through

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matheo07
matheo07
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Overall, a very nice and enjoyable loop.
There are a few obvious inaccuracies at certain junctions, in particular:
- in the first part (near the ford): it says "Cross the ford and continue uphill for a few metres. (6) Turn right onto the path that curves in an S shape and continue until you reach a cairn at the entrance to a right-hand bend": there has clearly been a change!
- after the horse paddocks: take a path marked "private property" (on the equestrian centre sign: this is confusing)

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Mitch
Mitch

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for allowing us to go on this unique hike (part of which was snow-covered, which was wonderful).
There was a little confusion at the horse park because the GPS and the path were slightly different :-)
Without your guidebook, we would never have found it!
Thanks again!!!

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leodis
leodis

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with beautiful views, partly shaded by trees. Best to do when it's not so hot, as the sun beats down on the unshaded parts
Follow the change to "morilles" made on 9 December 2021 at point (5) to avoid getting lost when leaving the equestrian centre...

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