Around the Haute Gillarde springs

A pleasant walk, accessible to all, where you can take your children along, under supervision of course.
The trickier sections are protected. Take your time.
Enjoy the view of the crushing foothills of Dévoluy and discover an unusual phenomenon: the resurgent source of Haute Gillarde and its confluence with La Souloise.

Details

1259687
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.07 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 312 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 306 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 963 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 793 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The car park at the entrance to the hamlet of La Posterle was chosen because of its location, which, unlike the main car park at Les Sources, does not attract many tourists.

(S/E) Take the road north-west, past the chapel. At the fountain, turn left onto the path. Cross the Posterle stream and continue along the track opposite.

(1) Junction. Continue on the main track opposite. Ignore the path on your left (yellow markings). Arrive at a crossroads (mark 812m) track, paths, continue on the track.

(2) (Mark 907m). Leave the track and turn left onto the downhill path (yellow markings).
Follow the signs for "Les Gillardes" and then "Les Gillardes variante", which will take you to the river.
At the Sources site, take time to visit it all: the resurgence, the confluence and the surrounding undergrowth.

(3) Retrace your steps a few metres. Follow the signs for "Pellafol La Posterle" or "Monestier d'Ambert" on the left bank of the river. Cross the river at the first footbridge, continue along the right bank, the track following the D217 road for a few metres until you reach a new, more marked track.

(4) Take the uphill track and follow it for a few hundred metres before leaving it for the path on the left. You'll come to the Infernet site (approach with caution), a gorge which you can cross via the footbridge to rejoin the left bank. Continue up to the top of the "diversion" and descend to the level of the river.

(5) Head south-east on the Sentier de découverte, towards Le Grand Cros (ignore the left-hand path and the footbridge on your right). The path runs along the left bank.
From Le Cros du Moulin, the trail will take you a little over 1.5km to a fork in the paths.

(6) Take care! Take the path uphill on your left. Leave the direction of Grand Cros by taking the path uphill on your left to complete your ascent. At the top, you come to a large agricultural field, follow it along the edge, past an antenna and a cross to the D537 road, which leads to the hamlet of La Posterle, the parking area for the start.(S/E

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 957 m - Easy parking with no particular constraints
  2. 1 : km 0.89 - alt. 839 m - 1st intersection
  3. 2 : km 2.35 - alt. 906 m - Leaving the track...
  4. 3 : km 3.33 - alt. 876 m - We start the return journey...
  5. 4 : km 4.17 - alt. 858 m - Exit the main track to the left
  6. 5 : km 5.64 - alt. 809 m - Le QuicetPrendre Le grand Cros - Souloise (rivière)
  7. 6 : km 7.07 - alt. 879 m - An intersection not to be missed...
  8. S/E : km 8.07 - alt. 961 m - Easy parking with no particular constraints

Notes

Low mountain boots with good soles, water, map, gps, description, just in case.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 27 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
vental42
vental42

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A truly beautiful route, easy to follow, with the sound of the river accompanying you for much of the way. It was a real treat for the eyes, with all the colours of autumn. There's a steep descent at the start, then a very easy walk, and the climb at the end is long but gradual. I highly recommend this fantastic hike.

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Karole13860
Karole13860

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and challenging hike on the way up.
Very pleasant walk along the water's edge.
We were sheltered from the direct sun for a long time under the trees, but it was still hot... Normal for August

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farfadet42
farfadet42

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very good idea to do the circuit in this direction (and not to start from the springs): the discoveries are more and more beautiful and interesting as the walk goes on.

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Degiusti
Degiusti
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very shady route with refreshing sections. A great walk.

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Manu R
Manu R

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike, very pleasant in hot weather because it's in the forest.
The end is a bit uphill but overall it's fairly straightforward.
Please note that a stage described (1) on visio rando mentions a fork with yellow markings. Don't pay any attention to the colour of the markings, which at the moment tend to be blue! The IGN map isn't fine enough to show exactly where the fork is.
Thanks in any case to Visorando

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Juliette_22
Juliette_22

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

A superb hike I did in April, starting from the Sources car park (not very busy at that time of year). As a beginner who took several breaks, it took me 4.5 hours to complete the loop. The waterfalls and stream are magnificent. However, beware of the forestry work that sometimes takes place.

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Jon et Michelle
Jon et Michelle

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We had a wonderful time.....This is a magnificent site! The walk is easy!
We took a wrong turn at one of the junctions.....

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Guy M.
Guy M.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

magnificent

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Guy M.
Guy M.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I loved this walk with my 6 year old daughter, the springs are magnificent, the route very well signposted, really worth doing.

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medaral
medaral

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A great trail with beautiful views of the river and the resurgences. A must!

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Vincentdesgms
Vincentdesgms

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike in glorious weather. The spring and some parts of the river are spectacular.
A steep descent at the start and a very long ascent at the end. Some sections are a bit strenuous, but the path is well laid out, well maintained and safe. Be sure to follow the route, as some of the junctions are not so easy. The best way to do this is with the GPS track.

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apherve
apherve
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk, made in mid-June 2023, after the rains, the spring had a magnificent flow, amazing blue water, superb rocks, no difficulties, easy route.
Thank you for a great time.

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louve.ttt
louve.ttt

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this walk today in wet weather, as a break between two more complicated hikes.
The scenery was really superb, and apart from the last little climb at the end, which was a little steep, there were no particular difficulties to report.
The tricky sections are well supervised, so there's nothing to worry about.
Just be careful at the "les gillardes" junction, where you have to take the path on the far left that leads downhill. The position of the signs is confusing!

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Tramp
Tramp

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice signposted walk, sometimes a bit confused and faulty
It goes downhill quickly at the start, so it's a bit hard uphill on the way back.
In short, we're a bit tired on the way back, but that's the price of hiking.

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Lyric83
Lyric83

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's the perfect way to take in the surrounding high peaks.
Refreshing with magnificent scenery
Thank you

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