Col des Laupies circular starting from Plan de Fontmort

This hike is accessible to everyone, young and old, in the Plan de Fontmort massif.
Part of the circular route is along the ridges with a view of Mont Aigoual, then descends to the refreshing Mimente before climbing back up the Chemin de Stevenson to Plan de Formont.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.46 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 477 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 477 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,111 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 705 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at Plan de Fontmort, where parking spaces have been set up under the trees.

(S/E) Take theGR® 7 and 67 trails. You will soon reach theGR®70crossroads.

(1) Continue straight ahead, following the red and white markings of the threeGR® trails. Begin a slight climb, then rejoin a wide track. Take it straight ahead to reach a crossroads.

(2) Continue left onGR® 7 and 67. Stay on this track to reach the highest point at the crossroads of a path. Here, as you leave the woods, enjoy a beautiful view of the Bougès Massif.

(3) Then take theGR® trails again to descend to the Col des Laupies (elevation 1001).

(4) Leave theGR® here and take the path on the left that descends towards Cassagnas. Pass close to the spring indicated by a yellow sign. You will reach a hairpin bend with a sign indicating Cassagnas.

(5) Be careful here: do not follow the purple route shown on the IGN map, as the path no longer exists and is very steep, with a risk of getting lost.
Turn right onto the yellow-marked path and continue downhill through the woods until you reach the intersection with the old railway line.

(6) Continue left towards Cassagnas, follow the Mimente river below and reach the bridge that crosses it.

(7) Turn left before the bridge that crosses the river to take the small uphill track. You will soon reach theGR®70crossroads, Chemin de Stevenson.

(8) Take it on the left and continue climbing through the woods to reach theGR® crossroads you passed on the way there.

(1) Turn right and, following the same route as on the way out, return to the Plan de Fontmort car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 896 m - Plan de Fontmort car park
  2. 1 : km 0.45 - alt. 939 m - GR crossroads
  3. 2 : km 2.65 - alt. 1,020 m - GR 7-67 crossroads
  4. 3 : km 5.6 - alt. 1,092 m - GR trail junction
  5. 4 : km 6.4 - alt. 999 m - Col des Laupies
  6. 5 : km 6.97 - alt. 919 m - Right towards Cassagnas
  7. 6 : km 8.62 - alt. 736 m - Old railway junction. Walk along the - Mimente (rivière)
  8. 7 : km 10.4 - alt. 713 m - Crossroads bridge
  9. 8 : km 11.06 - alt. 749 m - GR70 crossroads
  10. S/E : km 15.46 - alt. 896 m - Plan de Fontmort car park

Notes

(4) Col des Laupies: a pleasant spot for a picnic. There are 5 to 6 tables under the trees.
There is a spring below the Col des Laupies which flows very slowly in summer, if at all, so you can fill up your water bottles.
(6) Junction with the old railway line: in a few years' time, this line is set to become a greenway linking Florac and Sainte-Cécile-d'Andorge, just like the railway line of yesteryear...
Between (6) and (7), you can cool off in the Mimente River, after a short descent to the banks, but the river remains very cool even in the height of summer.
There are no water points along the way except for a circular loop through the Stevenson area.
Although the hike is often shaded, in hot weather and despite the altitude, temperatures can cause heatstroke, so remember to drink plenty of fluids and wear a cap or hat.

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 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
ethee
ethee

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with magnificent views
but I wouldn't recommend it in winter or after rain.
At Point 3, slight deviation from the explanations and the route on the app
A wonderful surprise encounter with a "herd" of deer and stags, a truly magnificent moment.

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philippe42340
philippe42340

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike. Done at the end of September, the vegetation is magnificent, and the route of this circular is accessible to experienced walkers. The markings are not always visible, but fortunately the explanations are reliable. The passage on the left to descend from the castle ruins is not very visible.

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User 27554516

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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Jutopi
Jutopi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant, easy hike. This hike must be very popular on fine days as there are numerous car parks.

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bernbla
bernbla

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this beautiful hike. Beautiful wide trails with no difficulty. Just one detail between points 4 and 5 when you leave the GR: there are lots of trees on the ground and the trail has practically disappeared, thanks to the wild boars. To reach the Laupies Pass, the easiest way is to follow the black and white forestry marks on the trees.We enjoyed the huge fields of daffodils between points 4 and 7.

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Brigitte GOIRIB
Brigitte GOIRIB

HELLO
We haven't done this hike yet, but we plan to do it later.

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ritchi13220
ritchi13220

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike.
95% of it is in the forest, so it's great to do in summer.
Some of the spots are magical, reminiscent of the forests in "The Lord of the Rings" :-)
The paths are wide and do not require any special technique.
The main climb is at the end.

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golgothic
golgothic

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I did the route in the opposite direction using GPS
And I don't regret it
A very pleasant trail with beautiful views
A small section is close to the Ales Florac road, so there is a bit of noise
Most of the walk is under trees, so it's not too hot (if you set off early enough)

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m30
m30
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I set off from Cassagnas at Stevenson's relay station and took the GR70 to join the trail.
A beautiful hike with a bit of trail but pleasant and nice views.
To return, follow the old railway line back to the car.
Thanks to the author.

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pietonnes
pietonnes

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Quite a pleasant route, despite a few long stretches on tracks.
I only met two people, but on the one hand it was Heritage Days and on the other hand the weather was gloomy!
I did the last 3 kilometres in the rain...

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