Valbonnais Canal Circular Loop

A lovely route between Valbonnais and Entraigues. This peaceful valley, surrounded by high peaks, allows us to discover the two villages and the 14th-century irrigation systems.

Details

6902086
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.84 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 245 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 244 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 858 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 701 m

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the exit of Valbonnais coming from La Mure.

(S/E) Go up the main street towards La Mure and, shortly after the town hall, you will find the crossroads with Rue de la Vie Close.

(1) Turn left, walk past the cemetery, then cross the Vie Close neighbourhood and, at the bottom of the hill, you will reach Le Moulina and a four-way crossroads.

(2) Turn right and go around the leisure centre. Once you have passed the lake, continue straight ahead along the path that runs alongside the Bonne river to the covered bridge at Les Fayettes.

(3) Cross the bridge and, a few hundred metres further on, take the path that climbs to the right at the bend near the farm. Then turn right to pass under the power line and reach the hamlet of La Roche.

(4) Turn left towards Entraigues and you will reach a new crossroads at the end of the fields.

(5) Take the path on the right that runs along the cliff. Continue through the woods, descend towards La Bonne and cross it.

(6) Head back up towards the village on the left. At the cemetery, turn right, pass the school and take a path on the left that runs alongside an old canal. Continue along this path until you reach the D526. Walk up the D526 for a few metres until you reach a crossroads.

(7) Take the path on the left and continue along the edge of a wood to reach the Pont des Ayes bridge after joining and following the D526 on the right.

(8) Cross the bridge and turn right to walk up the Malsaine for about a hundred metres to reach the Canal de Valbonnais water intake. Turn left to join the path that runs alongside the Canal de Valbonnais, which is still very much in use and well maintained. Follow this canal and you will rejoin theGR®50further on at the Pont Vieux.

(9) Stay on the bank of the canal to reach a footbridge.

(10) Leave the canal path here and turn right onto a track which, after a short climb, descends to Valbonnais. Cross the Péchal district, pass in front of the forest house and then return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 787 m - Car park at the Valbonnais exit
  2. 1 : km 0.21 - alt. 791 m - Carrefour Vie Close
  3. 2 : km 0.98 - alt. 718 m - Le Moulina
  4. 3 : km 4.36 - alt. 738 m - Pont des Fayettes
  5. 4 : km 5.27 - alt. 787 m - La Roche
  6. 5 : km 5.99 - alt. 797 m - Crossroads at the end of the fields
  7. 6 : km 6.91 - alt. 796 m - Crossing La - Bonne (rivière)
  8. 7 : km 7.2 - alt. 813 m - Crossroads of paths
  9. 8 : km 8.95 - alt. 807 m - Pont des Ayes - Malsanne (rivière)
  10. 9 : km 10.14 - alt. 829 m - Old Bridge
  11. 10 : km 12.24 - alt. 822 m - Footbridge
  12. S/E : km 13.84 - alt. 788 m - Car park at the Valbonnais exit

Worth a visit

(3) The Pont des Fayettes is covered, which is very rare in this region but very common in Quebec.
Before (7), you can have lunch in front of the Entraigues cemetery. There is a table and benches just in front of the war memorial. It is quiet.
Before (7) note the remains of old manual sluice gates along this old canal.
(8) Just as peaceful but wilder, the meadow after the Pont des Ayes bridge can also be a good place for lunch on the grass.

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

4.8 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
MiChaBa
MiChaBa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, very accessible hike in a magnificent setting.

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isabelledevauxp
isabelledevauxp

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with varied trails, ideal for getting back into shape, working up a sweat or simply enjoying a walk in the fresh air.

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foxy26
foxy26

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy route to warm up! Note that at point 3, once we had crossed the bridge, we turned left onto the small shaded path along the stream that leads to Entraigues, passing by the Maison du Parc. Leaving the village, we turned off at the old bridge to reach the canal.

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wlassow
wlassow

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy family hike, partly shaded. Trail is very well marked throughout.

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Phasme91
Phasme91

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and varied hike with a lunch break and a swim in the lake.

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hchevalley
hchevalley

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant circular route along the Valbonnais Canal, easy going with very little elevation gain and points of interest along the entire route.
The end of the route is in the sun, so if it is very hot, it is best to walk in the opposite direction so that you finish in the shade.

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