Country:
District:
Go to Croix de Chaubouret, near the town of Bessat, and park in the car park near the cross. If you are coming from the west, from the Saint-Étienne region for example, the Croix de Chaubouret is located after you have passed through the town of Bessat. If you are coming from the east and the Rhône valley, the car park is located before you enter the town of Bessat. The hike starts from this car park.
(S/E) Leave the car park via the car entrance on the east side, where the cross stands. Take the road immediately after this exit, on the left. Walk about ten metres along this road, then turn right onto a road, then right again onto the dirt track that climbs gently uphill. There is a hiking signpost at this point.
Continue straight ahead on this path for about one kilometre. You will reach a crossroads.
(1) Stay on the dirt track alongside the tarmac road visible on the right. Continue along this dirt track. Keep going straight ahead, staying on the main track.
When you reach a fork in the path, stay on the path that branches off to the right and continue along it.
The path will join another wider path, which you should take on the right. Continue along this path. After winding your way along, you will reach a fork.
(2) Here, you must be very careful not to miss the path on the right. Take it, leaving the main path. Follow this new direction on this uphill path. You will reach the D8.6 road.
(3) Cross it to reach the dirt track opposite. Take this track on the left uphill, passing close to a standing cross. Continue uphill through the woods until you reach a crossroads with a hiking signpost.
(4) Turn right to continue climbing through low vegetation to the top of Crêt de la Perdrix, indicated on the signs. Take advantage of the orientation table and panoramic view here.
(5) Continue to the left to reach the D8.6 again, cross it and take the dirt track opposite downhill. On the path there are barriers to allow hikers to pass but prevent livestock from crossing. Follow this path to reach the shepherd's hut below. Head towards the shepherd's hut restaurant.
(6) Before entering the restaurant courtyard, turn left at the hiking signpost and take the path that descends steeply. Pass the remains of the ski jump and continue straight ahead on this path. Ignore the paths branching off to the right and left, continuing straight ahead downhill. You will reach a wider path.
(7) Cross it and continue straight ahead on a downhill path. Continue downhill, ignoring a path on the left, then at a path intersection, continue straight ahead, ignoring the paths on the right and left.
From this point, the path is very steep and you must be careful as there is a high risk of falling in this section.
Continue down the steep slope until you reach a path and a flat section. Take this path on the right to head towards the Saut du Gier waterfall.
(8) After admiring the waterfall, retrace your steps, this time continuing straight ahead on the path and the flat section without taking the steep path you came down to reach the waterfall. Pass through a scree, a chaos of stones, and continue straight ahead on this path. Cross the woods downhill, ignoring the paths on the right and left, to reach the hamlet of La Scie du Bost. The path leads to a paved section and then to an intersection.
(9) Take the tarmac road on the right, then a few metres further on at the next intersection, take the road that climbs up to the left.
After another hundred metres or so, you will reach a fork in the road where you should keep to the left. You will reach another fork and should once again take the left-hand path uphill.
Continue straight ahead uphill, staying on the main road for about one kilometre to reach the hamlet of La Fare.
(10) Pass between the houses in the hamlet, then at the fork in the road, take the left-hand path uphill. Cross the Ruisseau de la Fare stream, then continue to the right to reach a clear path. Take this path to the right and you will soon reach a crossroads.
(11) Be careful here as this fork is easy to miss. Turn left onto the path. Continue climbing this path until you reach another clear path where you should turn right. A few metres further on, you will reach the D2 road.
(12) Cross it and take the path opposite, then after a few metres, turn left at the fork and take the downhill path, leaving the Chemin de la Goutte de la Gerbe (signposted). Pass under the Le Rot hiking signpost.
Continue straight downhill until you reach a crossroads with a signpost for La Petite Chomiènne.
(13) Turn left here and head uphill. Continue straight ahead, ignoring a path branching off to the right.
You will come to a fork in the path where you should turn left and continue uphill.
(14) You will come to another crossroads where you should turn left uphill, ignoring the path straight ahead, even though there is a brown and white X-shaped marker on a tree. Continue uphill and follow the path, which will make a sharp right turn.
The path will lead to another path where you should turn right and continue uphill.
Continue uphill, staying on the first fork in the path on the right, which is not marked on the map.
Then, at asecond fork, keep left, which is not marked on the map.
At thethird fork, take the left path, which is not marked on the map.
The path will lead to another path where you should turn left uphill and continue on the main path.
Reach the D8 road, take it to the left to reach the Croix de Chaubouret car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Easy 
Moderate 
