Circular of Garnier shepherd's huts starting from Courreau

A beautiful walk to the high pastures, passing by the shepherd's hut de Garnier and the beautiful Chorsin waterfall.

Details

23705094
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.73 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 493 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 491 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,362 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 972 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Pass the hamlet of Courreau, take thefirst road on the left and park in the car park, which is also a wood and gravel storage area. Park in front of the information boards.

(S/E) Take the road to the right towards Les Jasseries de Garnier, following the red and white markedGR®3trail. After thefirst house, take the path on the right. Follow this forest path, which climbs gently towards the Garnier plateau. You will come to a crossroads.

(1) Keep left on theGR® and continue slightly uphill to reach a road junction.

(2) Continue to the right until you reach the Jasseries de Garnier car park.

(3) Before the restaurant, take the path on the right that climbs towards the summer pastures. You will soon reach a Y-junction.

(4) Leave the GR® here and go through the gate to take the path on the right through the grass (parallel to the fence on the right). Follow the red arrows.
You will reach the forest. Continue along the path through the undergrowth, which is very stony in places. You will come to a crossroads of paths at Russeu de l'Oule.

(5) Continue to the right until you reach a sign indicating the Chorsin Waterfall. Descend to reach the river and admire the waterfall.

(6) Continue downhill along the stream on a red-marked trail. Reach the stream.

(7) Cross it by walking carefully on the stones, avoiding it when the flow is strong, and continue downhill to Font Fort, taking the opportunity to see the ferruginous spring to the right of the bridge.

(8) Continue to the right on the wide forest path. You will reach a Y-junction leading to the hamlet of Le Crozet.

(9) Leave this hamlet on your left and continue downhill to the right. Cross the hamlet of La Fayolle and arrive at the lowest point at a multiple crossroads.

(10) Continue along this main path for 300 metres and, as soon as you reach the tarmac road, turn right onto an uphill path.
At Buissonet, keep left and join a road at a hairpin bend.

(11) Follow the road to the right. After passing the houses in Paley, turn left and you will soon come to a crossroads with a forest path.

(12) Take it to the left, continue through the forest and join the wide forest path from the outward journey.

(1) Take this path and, in the opposite direction, return to the storage area car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,055 m - Storage area car park
  2. 1 : km 2.01 - alt. 1,176 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 4.14 - alt. 1,260 m - Les Planches
  4. 3 : km 5.49 - alt. 1,336 m - Garnier
  5. 4 : km 5.82 - alt. 1,362 m - GR crossroads
  6. 5 : km 7 - alt. 1,210 m - Oule Stream
  7. 6 : km 8.08 - alt. 1,128 m - Chorsin Waterfall
  8. 7 : km 8.67 - alt. 1,058 m - Ford
  9. 8 : km 9.82 - alt. 978 m - Font Fort
  10. 9 : km 11.03 - alt. 977 m - Le Crozet crossroads
  11. 10 : km 12 - alt. 977 m - Low point
  12. 11 : km 12.69 - alt. 1,038 m - Route de Paley
  13. 12 : km 14.04 - alt. 1,134 m - Forest track
  14. S/E : km 16.73 - alt. 1,055 m - Storage area car park

Worth a visit

(6) From the Chorsin Waterfall, you can reach (8) Font Fort by following the forest path.

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.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 19465545

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Review of the hike: Boucle des Jasseries de Garnier (variant from the Pont de Font Fort)
Hello to all hikers!

I'd like to share my experience of a modified version of the "Boucle des Jasseries de Garnier au départ de Courreau" hike. Rather than starting from Courreau, I chose to begin my route at the Pont de Font Fort car park, the lowest point of the trail. There you will find a small iron-rich spring, easily recognisable by its orange colour. I did this hike after a heatwave, during a dry period, which made some sections more technical than usual.

To adapt the route, I followed the direction initially suggested, but I "cut" the return section towards Saint-Bonnet-le-Courreau. To do this, I took a path that was clearly visible on the map.

The climb to the summit is fairly straightforward, mainly on roads suitable for vehicles, making it pleasant and easy going.

The descent, on the other hand, is more technical and requires good physical condition and balance, particularly due to the sometimes slippery rocks and a few trees (currently) that need to be stepped over. I removed one myself, but there were others, larger ones. Closed walking shoes are essential for this section.

Shortly after the Auberge de Garnier (which is the only refreshment point on the route and halfway along), I had to use my GPS for 50 to 100 metres to find the descent path, as the vegetation had taken over at this point. Next, you will find a footpath/cycle path that can be stony and slippery until you reach the Chorsin waterfall. I cannot confirm whether the water from the waterfall is drinkable.

From the waterfall, you have two options for the return journey:

-Follow the suggested path along the riverbed. It's a pleasant section, but expect some rocky areas.
-Join a road (located at the top left when the waterfall is behind you).

The signposting is generally good, although a small area at the top is a little less visible. Remember to close the gates behind you after passing through.

Most of the walk takes place in the forest, offering a beautiful immersion in nature. Only the area around the inn and the summit, characterised by pastures, are more exposed to the wind. You will of course see some sheep. It is easier to picnic between the Font Fort bridge and the waterfall.

In good physical shape and with very few stops, I completed this hike in 2½ to 3 hours.

I hope this review will help you plan your next outing!

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B Chris
B Chris

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike worth repeating

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L’ardennais 03
L’ardennais 03

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Walk along the river with a few waterfalls

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gforez
gforez

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, route completed on 23 July 2024. We did the route in reverse because it was better to climb the steep slope from the waterfall to the high pastures. At point 1, we turned right. At point 8, we crossed the bridge to go to elevation 1045 and took the path on the left towards the waterfall, which added 600 metres to the route.
A very beautiful hike with views of Sauvain and, the icing on the cake, the waterfall.
It is best to set off early as it is preferable to have a picnic at the start of the high pastures.

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did1304
did1304

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, the weather was beautiful but from point number 2 there was snow, so the landscape was magnificent. Point 4 was difficult to find because the red markings were almost completely erased, and the descent along the path leading to the waterfall was very difficult because it consisted of large rocks covered by snow, making it very difficult to know where to walk. However, it was worth the effort because the waterfall was superb, with heavy rains giving it a high flow. However, the descent from 5 to 7 is not easy because the path along the stream is barely marked, so you often have to search for the way. In addition, you have to cross the stream several times, which is not easy because of the flow. Be careful at 7, where a huge tree trunk blocks the path, so go around it on the right. Otherwise, I recommend this very pleasant hike!

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Chrlemagne
Chrlemagne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, we got lost when we stopped at Saint Bonnet le Courreau. Courreau is further on. Otherwise, it was pure bliss, well marked. When we reached the plateau, it was enchanting, but the descent was a bit difficult, I must say (lots of large rocks), with all these streams merging into the beautiful waterfall. Magical. From the waterfall, we took the path that branches off to the left (to avoid the large rocks) and brings us back to the circular. Thank you, Mike42m.

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Franck D
Franck D

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The section that runs alongside the Pierre Brune stream to the waterfall is very peaceful: beautiful undergrowth, green everywhere, cool ... We preferred to reverse the direction of the hike to climb along the stream and then emerge from the woods onto the high stubble fields, which was great.
To shorten the hike (12.5 km), we started from Chamarel (leaving the car on the side of the D44, several parking spots available).

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Choudis
Choudis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with magnificent and varied landscapes. The waterfall is superb, but the last part of the route is really less interesting, which is a shame. We did the hike with two children aged 8 and 11 without any problems, but we were cold at the mountain pasture on 4 August, so be sure to bring a good windbreaker!

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Loz42100
Loz42100

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, no problem following the route with the app.
After point 7, the path is blocked by a fallen tree. To continue, you have to go around the tree on the right and return to the path.

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Walker39380
Walker39380
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The hike to the Jasseries de Garnier inn went smoothly; it was at point 4 that we thought we had taken the right path, only to realise much further on that we were no longer on the planned route (we found ourselves on a path between the Jasseries de Colleigne and the Jasseries Renat); and clearly the problem with point 4 is not only related to the description of the hike on the website: we met a couple of hikers who had turned back at the same place as us and they were using a different guide (a book).
Thanks to the Visorando app (5 ), we found the paths that allowed us to return to the route at point 8.
Apart from this point (which could be a variation to the hike ), there are magnificent landscapes, superb views and a beautiful variety of trails.

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JUCLMALIAN
JUCLMALIAN

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, first through the forest and then across mountain pastures after passing by the Garnier inn. The Chorsin waterfall is truly magnificent.

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Mike42
Mike42

Thank you for your comments.
We have just completed this hike again.
It's true that the route is not very well marked after Garnier and the end of the route is not signposted, so you need to follow the GPS with the app.
A few suggestions for changes:
(4) Leave the GR® here and go through the gate to take the path on the right through the grass (parallel to the fence on the right). Follow the red arrows.

(10) Continue along this main path for 300 metres and, as soon as you reach the tarmac road, turn right onto an uphill path.

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Gigi42
Gigi42

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike starting from Courreau with beautiful and varied landscapes. You arrive at the high stubble fields that I love, the Jasserie de Garnier, the magnificent Chorsin waterfall, which can be accessed via a very stony downhill path, and the ochre-coloured ferruginous spring, which is worth seeing...
We had some difficulty finding the path after Garnier when we had to descend into the forest via a poorly marked path in a meadow, with red signs that were difficult to see.
Towards the end of the hike, after the track crossed by numerous cars on Sunday, we had trouble finding our way, as there were no signposts and the various hamlets we passed through had no signage.
At the end of the track, the view of the village of Sauvain is superb.

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