Gouffre d'Enfer and Pas du Riot dams from Planfoy

Car-free route: depart from Saint-Étienne Bellevue station, accessible by tram from Chateaucreux, and take the L14 regional bus towards Jonzieux. Get off at Planfoy Route du Bourg, paying attention to the timetable, especially on weekdays outside school holidays. It is best to travel in the morning.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.62 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 238 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 238 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,005 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 777 m

Description of the walk

(S/E) At the bus stop in Planfoy, Route du Bourg, take Route du 19 Mars 1962 and continue to the multi-way intersection opposite the Saint-Étienne Church and the primary school.

(1) Turn left onto Rue Clémenceau, then right onto Chemin de Corbières. Continue to the end of this road and reach the crossroads with a path at the Croix du Soldat.

(2) Turn right and descend into the forest until you reach the Gouffre d'Enfer site and its dam.

(3) Turn right heading south, follow the right bank of the Furan river slightly uphill until you reach a bridge.

(4) Cross the Furan on this bridge and continue climbing until you reach the Pas du Riot dam.

(5) Take the dyke, then turn right to follow the right bank of the dam until you reach the end of the dam.

(6) Cross the Furan, go up the left bank to the Pont de Turenne

(7) Take the path on the left, begin a steeper climb, then join a hairpin bend at a stream.

(8) Cross it and continue climbing to the right into the Saint-Étienne Communal Forest at the bend. At the top, you will reach a trail junction.

(9) Continue straight ahead, now on a slight descent. Reach the hamlet of Bie, then the initial crossroads passed on the way there.

(1) Turn left and follow the same route as on the way there to return to the Planfoy bus stop (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 937 m - Planfoy bus stop
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 946 m - Crossroads of the loop - Église Saint-Étienne (Planfoy)
  3. 2 : km 0.7 - alt. 930 m - Soldier's cross
  4. 3 : km 2.04 - alt. 786 m - Gouffre d'Enfer dam
  5. 4 : km 3.62 - alt. 800 m - Bridge over the - Furan (rivière)
  6. 5 : km 4.48 - alt. 850 m - Pas du Riot dam
  7. 6 : km 5.95 - alt. 853 m - End of the dam lake
  8. 7 : km 6.44 - alt. 851 m - Turenne Bridge
  9. 8 : km 7.21 - alt. 954 m - Stream
  10. 9 : km 7.82 - alt. 1,004 m - intersection
  11. S/E : km 9.62 - alt. 935 m - Planfoy bus stop

Notes

No water source. There are no benches around Pas du Riot.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 1 review

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
User 25342982

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike with magnificent views

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