La Chastelle loop in Saint-Urcize

Come and discover the magnificent Aubrac plateau from Saint-Urcize, classified as a "petite cité de caractère" (small town of character), with its granite houses and beautiful Romanesque church. You're sure to enjoy this varied hike: you'll walk high up in the summer pastures, then descend to the paths of the Saint-Urcize forest and finish by following the Hère river, which will reveal its waterfalls.
Avoid this hike in very hot weather!

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.41 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 220 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 220 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,309 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,131 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Enter the village. Take the road to the left of the town hall and pass in front of the church. Park on the Place de l'Aubrac on the right below. If there are no spaces available, you can park at (1).

(S/E) Leave the car park and turn left onto Rue de l'Abbé Delbès. Turn right at the first street, Rue de la Croix Grégoire, at the fountain.

(1) Pass the Croix de Grégoire car park and turn right again. The road becomes a shaded lane climbing towards Montfermier and running alongside the cemetery.

(2) At the D13, turn right and follow the road for 40 m. Take the path on the left that climbs towards Soucheraldes. You will rejoin the road and enter the hamlet after about 100 m.

(3) At the cross on your right, take the path on the right. Follow it for 70 m, then leave the main path and follow the trail on the left between low walls. You will be walking alongside pastures. This path turns left, then right.

(4) At the crossroads of drovers' roads, turn left and follow this path which climbs and turns left again. At the D65, continue straight ahead until you reach the D665.

(5) Turn left and follow the road downhill for 500 m.

(6) Turn right towards Lescure, Recoulet. Continue for 300 m, passing two roads on your left. Take the path on the left towards Panouval. Cross the stream and continue for 300 m until you reach the crossroads.

(7) Take the steep road on the left, towards the mountain pastures.

(8) Continue straight ahead and pass behind the Reboulet farm, continuing until you reach the D13. Turn right and follow the road for 200 metres.

(9) Cross the road and head towards the ski resort. At the resort map sign, take the forest track on the left and enter the forest.

(10) At the first crossroads, continue along the forest track (or, if the vegetation allows, take the path on the left which joins the track much further on.

(11) Continue climbing until you reach the trail junction.

(12) Take the path on the left. You will leave the forest and descend towards the mountain pastures.

(13) Cross the small Hère river via the small bridge on your left. Continue for just under 500 m until you reach the crossroads where you will see the first waterfall.

(14) Turn right towards La Petite Laiterie de l'Aubrac. Pass this and continue to the Hère river.

(15) On the left side of the river, there is a path that leads to the Jiou-Jiou waterfall, but it was impassable on the day of my hike. Just after the river, leave the road and take the path on the right that leads to Saint-Urcize.

(16) Cross the road and continue straight towards the upper town.

(17) For the brave, climb the steps leading to the church, and for those who are tired like me, continue straight ahead to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,155 m - Place de l'Aubrac
  2. 1 : km 0.12 - alt. 1,149 m - Croix de Grégoire car park
  3. 2 : km 0.86 - alt. 1,147 m - D 13
  4. 3 : km 1.59 - alt. 1,179 m - Soucheraldes
  5. 4 : km 2.2 - alt. 1,173 m - Crossroads
  6. 5 : km 4.45 - alt. 1,246 m - D 665
  7. 6 : km 4.95 - alt. 1,230 m - Lescure
  8. 7 : km 5.95 - alt. 1,228 m - Crossroads
  9. 8 : km 7.21 - alt. 1,278 m - Crossroads
  10. 9 : km 8.04 - alt. 1,281 m - Ski resort
  11. 10 : km 8.72 - alt. 1,295 m - Faubesse
  12. 11 : km 9.79 - alt. 1,287 m - Forest track
  13. 12 : km 10.08 - alt. 1,308 m - Crossroads of trails
  14. 13 : km 11.4 - alt. 1,212 m - L'Hère
  15. 14 : km 11.84 - alt. 1,195 m - Gouteille
  16. 15 : km 12.64 - alt. 1,143 m - L'Hère
  17. 16 : km 13.05 - alt. 1,132 m - Route
  18. 17 : km 13.22 - alt. 1,144 m - Stairs
  19. S/E : km 13.41 - alt. 1,156 m - Place de l'Aubrac

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Bram
Bram

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful circular route, the route is perfectly described. It is curious to go from a Mongolian steppe landscape (no shade, don't forget your hat and water) to that of the Vosges forest when you arrive at the St Urcize ski resort.

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brageole
brageole

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful hike starting from the remarkable village of St Urcize.
When you arrive at the ski resort, there are benches for picnics, and I also recommend climbing up to the Croix des Goutals (1,365 m) at the top of the resort. This adds 120 m of elevation gain, but the view is truly magnificent.
thanks to the designer

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Le Dex
Le Dex

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike on the Aubrac plateaus.
Starting from a beautiful village.
It is indeed best to avoid the hottest days

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bquinio
bquinio

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We cut across from Saint Urcize by taking a short section of the GR des Tours des Monts d'Aubrac trail, which reduced the hike by about 1.5 hours. The round trip to the ST-Urcize station is very pleasant and easy. Be careful of the sun in summer on the outward leg. Beautiful views of the Aubrac.

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Jacques.cugnon
Jacques.cugnon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, well described. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

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petitlapin70
petitlapin70

Didn't have time to do this hike. Too bad!

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User 9678907
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Once you arrive at the St Urcize ski resort, it would be sacrilegious not to climb up to the cross overlooking the slopes, as the view is truly breathtaking!

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chy
chy

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike.

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Bamboulight
Bamboulight

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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CLA30
CLA30

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Diverse circuit, plateau, forest, with easy walking paths

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