Circular walk around Pic Saint-Guiral and Lac des Pises, starting from Alzon

Park to the left of the Oratory of Saint-Guiralhet, north of the village of Alzon.

(S/E) Take the^GR®71A, marked in red and white, and walk along the ridge. Reach the Font de Truc crossroads, where you’ll rejoin the^GR®71.

(1) Turn right here and continue until you reach a crossroads marked by a menhir.

(2) Leave the forest track here to stay on the^GR® and head for the junction – where there is also a menhir – at the Pic de Saint-Guiral.

(3) Turn right and follow a short out-and-back path to reach the peak. Then rejoin the^GR® on the right, pass to the left of the peak and head down onto the forest road.

(4) Opposite, take the^GR® which runs alongside the 3 Quilles nature reserve.

(5) Leave the forest road and take the path on the right, under the pine trees, which leads to the Col de l’Homme Mort. Go round the fallen trees.

(6) Here, rejoin the^GR® and follow it uphill through the pine trees between the road and the wide path leading off opposite. At the top of the climb, you’ll reach the Col des Pises.

(7) Leave the forest track and continue along the^GR® as it heads across the grassy area and descends into the beech forest. Walk past the observatory and reach the shore of Lac des Pises.

(8) Turn right onto the^GR® shared by routes 66 and 71, crossing the wooden bridge. Leave the^GR® by turning right uphill before the dam. Pass the Baraque de Pialot. Join the^GR® again and follow it to the right. Turn right uphill again at a Y-junction. Reach the Col des Portes.

(9) Continue along the forest track, taking the path up the hillside to the right at a Y-junction. Then leave the track, heading left and crossing a small grassy area. Turn right onto the path hidden by broom. Follow the cairns until you reach the riverbed.

(10) Turn left as you head downhill. Keep the river on your right. Follow the yellow markings on the trees. Reach a junction by the riverbank.

(11) Turn right to cross the river. You’ll reach an old, wide path on the hillside which gradually becomes overgrown with broom in the middle. Make a wide circular loop along the hillside to the right; the path widens again as it climbs northwards. You’ll arrive at a sheepfold.

(12) Continue due west to reach the Ruisseau du Garel in the forest. Cross it, then head south-west to reach the junction with a forest track.

(13) Turn left onto this track and head downhill to reach a shelter and the River Vis.

(14) Cross the river and continue along the track on the left; after a few bends, you’ll reach the Col des Tempêtes.

(15) Continue downhill along the track on the right, passing a shelter. Then cross the hamlet of La Fabrié to reach a hairpin bend.

(16) Turn right onto a grassy path. Pass through a gate. Continue along the grassy path on the hillside. You’ll reach another junction at a hairpin bend.

(17) Turn right onto the path that climbs up the ridge. Keep left at the next junction. Cross a stream a little further on, where the track becomes somewhat overgrown. Climb up the opposite slope, still following the contour line, to rejoin the path. Continue before descending along the ridge towards the Vis valley until you reach a road.

(18) Turn right onto the road to Villaret, pass Mas Delmas and then Mas Delfe to return to the car park at the Oratory of Saint-Guiralhet (S/E).

No particular difficulty apart from the distance.
Drinking water tap in front of the Lac des Pises observatory (off in winter).
Please note: this walk is very long with a steep gradient; it is only suitable for very experienced walkers. It is therefore classified as ‘Very difficult’.