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Start from the car park at the bottom of the village of Balazuc.
(S/E) Follow the D294 down to the bridge over the Ardèche river, then after the bridge, take the road on the right towards the hamlet of Servière.
(1) In the hamlet, after the bridge over the stream, turn left between the houses. You will come to a sign indicating Lanas on both sides: take the left-hand path. Continue until you see the sign for Les Chabasses.
(2) Leave the path leading back to Balazuc on your left. A few metres further on, take the path marked in white and yellow on the left. The path on the right is a dead end. Continue on the marked path, which first passes through the bottom of the valley, then climbs up through oak and holm oak trees. After the summit, you will reach a house.
(3) Just after passing it, leave the markings and turn right onto a wide path that descends. About 600m further on, you will reach a crossroads and find a marked path coming from Lanas.
(4) Take the path on the right and continue following the white and yellow markings until the end. The path runs alongside old vineyards and then crosses a small stream.
(5) A little further down, when you reach a fence, follow the markings carefully: the path continues on the right below. The trail continues through the woods above a dead arm of the Ardèche. At the edge of the woods, rejoin the Ardèche river. About 50 metres further on, cross a series of bare rock steps.
(6) The Grotte des Estinettes is there, just below the path. It is easy to pass by without seeing it. The visit is safe for children (but adults should watch their heads). A horizontal gallery a few metres long divides into two dead-end galleries. In summer there is usually little or no water, but after a period of rain the stream can flow quite strongly, making it impossible to enter the cave.
Continue straight ahead on the return path, which descends to the Ardèche river, then climbs back up and passes along ledges below the cliff. You will then find a good path that leads back to Servière.
(1) Retrace your steps, crossing the bridge over the Ardèche to return to the car park at the starting point (S/E).
Then you miss the cave because it's below you and blends in with the stone bank. Otherwise, it's a very small cave that's really cool in summer! The route ends well along the cliffs, which are reminiscent of those of the Tarn.
made in November in the rain ... downhills a little slippery but good!
because it would be a shame to miss it!)
Visorando Member
Difficult 
Moderate 
