Around Petit Buëch via the Sentier des Bans trail

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After taking the famous Sentier des Bans balcony path, we will cross the Petit Buech to return via a small balcony path on the other side before reaching Rabou via a small Roman bridge.
There are a few tricky sections on the balconies, especially on the way back. This is where the difficulty lies. Not suitable for those who are afraid of heights.

Details

n°762599
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.02 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 659 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 659 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,306 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,047 m
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Photos

Right bank of the Buech
Roman bridge

Description of the walk

Park at the exit of Rabou (car park).
(S/E) Take the forest path (GR®93) northwards.

(1) At the oratory, continue onthe GR®: this is the Sentier des Bans, a balcony path built in the early 20th century to easily connect several hamlets.

(2) At the first intersection, turn left onto thePR® towards Col de Rabou. Cross the small Buëch stream and climb northwards.

(3) Reach the ruins of the hamlet of La Pousterle before descending to a stream.

(4) Cross it and climb 100 metres (clearing). From there, walk to the Chapelle de la Crotte chapel and back.

(5) Turn left towards Moissières. Climb above the "passage délicat" sign, where this poorly marked trail begins (landslide) for 200 metres to reach the real trail (better).
Follow this good path marked in yellow.

(6) Cross a first gully (stream) and climb 150 metres to the top, passing above the cliffs (follow the markings and cairns carefully) before descending into the forest towards Moissières.

(7) Continue along the path until you reach the right bank of the Petit Buëch.

(8) Cross the river via the Roman bridge (swimming possible) before climbing up the path to Rabou.

(9) At the town hall, turn left to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,184 m - Rabou car park
  2. 1 : km 0.29 - alt. 1,195 m - Oratory
  3. 2 : km 3.23 - alt. 1,161 m - Path on the left
  4. 3 : km 4.16 - alt. 1,275 m - La Pousterle ruins
  5. 4 : km 4.58 - alt. 1,256 m - Torrent (bridge)
  6. 5 : km 4.73 - alt. 1,282 m - Path on the left
  7. 6 : km 5.99 - alt. 1,236 m - Stream
  8. 7 : km 9.26 - alt. 1,139 m - Moissières
  9. 8 : km 9.71 - alt. 1,048 m - Roman bridge - Petit Buëch (rivière)
  10. 9 : km 10.56 - alt. 1,160 m - Rabou Town Hall
  11. S/E : km 11.02 - alt. 1,184 m - Rabou car park

Notes

Crossing several streams. Good shoes for the ledges and a map recommended.
I recommend walking sticks.
Water available at Rabou town hall.

Worth a visit

Explanatory signs along the Sentier des Bans trail.
The majestic Pic de Bure with its cliffs in view

 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

4.6 / 5
Based on 21 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
MACHRISTELLE
MACHRISTELLE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A wonderful discovery
Easy trail and diverse landscapes. Panoramic views of the surrounding peaks.

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brigitte38
brigitte38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in good weather! At point 4, La Chapelle, a beautiful picnic spot. A visit to the chapel is a must; it is always open (make sure to close it properly). The fords now have bridges. The scree slope has been cleared for easier passage. A very beautiful hike, best done in dry weather.

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ipg
ipg

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

easy route to follow. A few slightly exposed sections above the cliffs on the way back before descending into the forest, so best avoided in wet weather
a very beautiful hike. It only took us 4½ hours (plus a half-hour break at the chapel)

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Odette84240
Odette84240

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very beautiful hike with views of Pic de Bure. There are some exposed sections on the Sentier des Bancs trail, but these are not difficult. However, the return journey is much more challenging and requires sure-footedness and a head for heights. This route should be avoided in wet weather. The trail is mostly shaded and very beautiful.

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patembrun
patembrun

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike. At the fork below the Chapelle de la Crote, follow the green markings at the start and you'll have no trouble getting to Rabou.

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orchis888
orchis888

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Wonderful, it's a hike I'd happily do again!

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Patricia13
Patricia13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We really enjoyed this hike, but the return trip on the other side of the Buech is made more difficult solely because of the "tricky" passage, as indicated at the start of the route.
Be careful to take the path uphill from the chapel. The signposting is a little confusing at the start.
But the passage of Les Bancs under the cliff is truly spectacular... but shorter than I imagined! However, there were no difficulties.

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PHILIPPONNEAU
PHILIPPONNEAU
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

The route was followed to the letter, but it seems that the total elevation gain is much lower than that indicated in the description (600m instead of 835m). Nevertheless, this hike is still reserved for experienced walkers, with some tricky sections for those prone to vertigo, particularly on the second part on the right bank of the Petit Buëch.

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Patricia13
Patricia13

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The section described as "tricky" really is tricky!!! Not suitable for children or people who suffer from vertigo. But a very beautiful route!!

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pouget yves
pouget yves

Indeed, not to be done in snowy weather. That seems like common sense to me

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Jean Marc1
Jean Marc1

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very dangerous circuit in snowy weather.

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Mandara
Mandara

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike along the magnificent Bans trail, offering fantastic views of Pic de Bure and Crête de la Plane. The route is easy despite the aerial passages, which are wide enough to walk along. There are many swallows nesting in the rocks. The trail has been very well secured between points 1 and 2, making it easy to cross the scree. There is a small, welcoming meadow on the banks of the Buêch, after a gentle descent, which is ideal for a picnic break. There is a short but slightly steep climb to the ruins of La Pousterle, then you arrive at the chapel junction, which takes 5 minutes to reach and return. Then follow the signs for Moissières, indicated by a wooden sign. about 50 metres after this sign, do not take the path that branches off to the left (the "passage délicat" sign has been removed), which I believe is dangerous due to landslides. Instead, climb up to the right off the path for about 30 metres to reach a path marked with green signs, which will take you to the yellow PR marked path.We took a wrong turn, had a hard time and got scared! You then arrive at the cliff, which you have to go around. Avoid this section in rainy weather as the rocks are very slippery and make this stretch a little dangerous. There is a beautiful view of the Bans trail on the other side of the valley. Then, a very pleasant descent through the Moissières forest to the Roman bridge, then back up to Rabou where a break at the community bistro next to the town hall is welcome. Very friendly welcome. Another big thank you to the people who found my glasses, which I had lost and who, luckily, also stopped for a beer at the café!

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pouget yves
pouget yves

Thank you for this reassuring news.

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1950bba
1950bba

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Many thanks to those who equipped the scree crossing before point 2.
Last year at the same time, while hiking in Chaudun, I found this passage very unpleasant and even downright dangerous.
Now I have no reservations about this magnificent hike.
A little confusion after the chapel (several paths appear on the hillside, choose the one with the green dots)

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BLT DJM
BLT DJM

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Passage along the Bancs trail on 17 May 2021:
- the ravine crossing has been made safer and stabilised with wire mesh, maintaining a relatively wide path, all held in place by numerous sturdy posts
- two footbridges have been reinstalled, allowing the Buech to be crossed even after heavy rains without any particular difficulty and in complete safety
- the Crotte torrent can be crossed on a solid fallen tree trunk (50 to 60 cm in diameter)

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