Circular route between Quié and Génat

To get to the start, take the street that begins between the town hall and the wash house. At the next junction, turn left then carry on straight on to Riou, where you’ll find a car park.

(S/E) Set off again by taking the road back towards the village until you reach the junction where the track leading down to Le Sandier begins.

(1) At the crossroads, turn left and follow the track downwards until you reach the climb up to the Col du Trou.

(2) From this pass, continue downhill… the real descent… Be careful: this first section is very steep and covered in scree… Make sure you keep your distance and control your speed.

(3) At the end of this first section of the descent, as you emerge from the woodland, you’ll reach a pass with a fork in the track. Take the left-hand path… Ignore the right-hand path signposted ‘Vers Quié’, which is a footpath impassable by mountain bike for non-professional riders.
So, for average, non-daredevil mountain bikers, you should head left for the second section of the descent, which remains quite challenging for a short stretch.

(4) Go through the gate and continue the descent along the track and then onto the road; ride through Quié via these little alleyways… it’s lovely.

(5) At the school/town hall, turn right to head back up to the Chemin de Sakanie, which branches off to the left.

(6) Take this track. Go through the barrier and follow the track to the end. Continue along the footpath leading to Alliat, and off you go for a ride along the mountainside.

(7) Ride past the old Pechiney factory and enjoy a lovely view of the Church of Notre-Dame de Sabart, then continue through the woodland.

(8) At the embankment built after the factory, go round it at the top by heading left and join the path to the Grotte de la Vache.

(9) Carry on along the Chemin de la Grotte de la Vache (well worth a visit alongside the Grotte de Niaux if you haven’t been there yet…) and head for the next fork in the path.

(10) Turn right onto the Chemin de Génat... ‘’, and off you go on a short, more or less shaded climb.'' After crossing the road for the first time, you’ll come to it again 500 m further on.

(11) At the end of the footpath, continue up the road to reach Génat.

(12) Turn left just after the town hall. At the next junction, turn left and carry on straight on until you reach Riou (S/E).

Start from Le Riou to be sure you can park, but other starting points are possible on this circular route: Niaux, Alliat, Tarascon or Quié… the choice is yours.

The route can be done in whichever direction suits you on foot, but on a mountain bike, the circular route should be done in the order Génat→Quié→Tarascon→Alliat→Génat, as going the other way involves some climbs where you’ll need to push your bike.
The descent from the Col du Trou to Quié is challenging and demanding. The rest of the ride is enjoyable
You can top up your water supplies in the villages of Quié, Alliat and Génat.
On the descent, the path is very stony and very steep – stay alert.
1 hr 20 mins on an e-MTB