Roche Aigüe and Baulme-la-Roche Cliffs Viewpoints

Park in the car park at the Baulme-la-Roche cliffs.

(S/E) Head right onto the road towards Baulme-la-Roche for a few dozen metres, then take the signposted path that descends towards the village. At the bottom of the path, you’ll come to a road. Follow it to the left for a few metres, then turn left to reach the Baulme-la-Roche wash house at the entrance to the village.

(1) Take the small path leading uphill to the right, then cut through the woods to the source of the Douix. Walk round the spring and head back towards the village, admiring the reservoir and the washhouse on your right. Continue left along Rue Georges Clémenceau until you reach Baulme-la-Roche Town Hall.

(2) Turn left onto Rue du Maréchal Foch; at the end of the houses, you’ll reach a Y-junction marked by a cross.

(3) Turn right onto the track through the hedgerow, follow a power line, then enter the woodland. At the end of the track, carry on straight ahead along the path that follows it. You’ll reach a Y-junction.

(4) Carry on straight ahead for about a hundred metres, then keep to the right at the next junction. Walk gently uphill to a junction at the foot of Roche Aigüe.

(5) Take care here: this is a tricky section. Do not stray from the GPS track; head diagonally to the right and, via a steep climb, reach the transmission masts and Roche-Aigüe, with the viewpoint below.

(6) Head up towards the mast, then follow the tarmac road for about 100 metres, passing the first path on your left. Further along the road, you’ll come to a junction of paths.

(7) Take the signposted path on the left; a few metres further on, leave the signposted path and turn left, then return to the Y-junction you passed earlier.

(4) Turn right and, following a very gentle climb through the forest, you’ll emerge at a rest area in a clearing.

(8) Take the signposted path opposite and continue uphill towards the cliffs. Pass the paragliding launch site and finish the climb at the Baulme-la-Roche Cliffs Viewpoint with its orientation table.

(9) Carry on, following the signposts, to easily return to the Baulme-la-Roche cliffs car park (S/E).

(1) Source de la Douix: its waters are swelled by the resurgence of the Ruisseau de Pâques, which flows through a siphon at the bottom of the enclosed Combe Pélerin valley (below the car park where you are parked).
(1) Above the spring is a small cave, guaranteed to be cool in summer.
Between (2) and (3) enjoy this picturesque village and the view of the castle below.
Between (3) and (4), you’ll see a tunnel and the remains of an old gypsum quarry on the right-hand side of the valley.
(6) Roche Aigüe viewpoint: enjoy the sweeping view and take a break, perhaps sitting on the small seats cut out of tree trunks with a chainsaw.