Canyon du Diable

de fr

During the walk entitled ‘The Devil’s Canyon and Gibret’s Cross’, we discovered the extraordinary part of the canyon. The walk described today, which offers a striking contrast in scenery, covers only the canyon section. It is an exceptional geological site that we wanted to show our friends without having to repeat the long hike we’d done previously. It lies within a very distinctive geological formation known as ‘ruffe’ (a term used in the Hérault to describe the red soils formed from pelites). The hike is a round trip and presents no particular difficulties.

Details

n°73853453
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.69 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 476 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 476 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 719 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 397 ft
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Devil's Canyon
Devil's Canyon
Devil's Canyon
Devil's Canyon

Description of the walk

Car park on the D144 between Saint-Félix-de-Lodez to the south and Saint-Jean-de-la-Blaquière to the north

(S/E) From the car park, walk carefully along the road (D144) towards Saint-Félix-de-Lodez for about 500 metres.

(1) Turn left onto the road and follow it to the junction with the first track on the right. Continue for 500 metres to the junction with a path on the left.

(2) Follow this track until the next junction.

(3) Turn left onto the path. Keep going in the same direction until you reach a right-hand bend, which will take you to a waterfall.

(4) Descend to the foot of the waterfall, skirting it to the south-west. Continue along the Ruisseau d’Agaras, keeping more or less close to it, until you reach the stream bed.

(5) Follow the stream bed upstream to the end.

(6) Leave the stream bed. Take the path climbing up to the right to go over an impassable waterfall. Further up, rejoin the stream bed.

(7) Continue to follow it. The walk continues along the stream bed to another waterfall, which marks the end of the outward leg. See Practical Information.

(8) The return journey follows the same route in the opposite direction (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 591 ft - Parking on a lay-by by the roadside
  2. 1 : mi 0.25 - alt. 551 ft - Junction with a road
  3. 2 : mi 0.37 - alt. 515 ft - Junction with a path - Colorado Languedocien
  4. 3 : mi 0.52 - alt. 509 ft - Crossroads
  5. 4 : mi 0.78 - alt. 407 ft - Crossroads – Waterfall. Towards the - Lagarel (ruisseau) - Affluent de la Lergue
  6. 5 : mi 0.97 - alt. 397 ft - The bed of the Ruisseau d’ - Agaras (ruisseau) - Affluent du ruisseau de Lagarel
  7. 6 : mi 1.29 - alt. 463 ft - Leave the stream bed
  8. 7 : mi 1.39 - alt. 551 ft - Continue along the stream bed
  9. 8 : mi 1.85 - alt. 719 ft - Last waterfall – Agaras Stream
  10. S/E : mi 3.69 - alt. 591 ft - Car park

Notes

(S/E) From the A75: leave the motorway at junction 56, heading towards Saint-Jean-de-la-Blaquière. Drive through the village and take the RD144 eastwards, then southwards for about 2 km, before parking on the right-hand side on a side road.

(8) We reached this final waterfall during the long hike we’d undertaken previously. The descent into the canyon is a little tricky given the slope of the ground at this point.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.6 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
isjucaranoga
isjucaranoga

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 28 April 2026 in overcast weather, with four adults and two children aged 12 and 8. Very few people on the trail, magnificent scenery with a bit of water. We found it a bit tricky getting back down into the canyon – the sand crumbled underfoot and there wasn’t much vegetation to hold on to – but it was a wonderful experience. Thanks to Visorando.

Machine-translated

Seranne4321
Seranne4321

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Whatever you do, don’t follow the yellow markings – make sure you turn right very early on!
The glorious, windless weather showed off the slender waterfalls to their best advantage; the flora was magnificent, with the white of the asphodels standing out against the dark ochre of the cliffs and the soft green of the trees...
Unfortunately, some holidaymakers had chosen this very day to have a picnic in front of this beautiful view!
A hike best done in spring and outside the holiday season....

Machine-translated

eliam1408
eliam1408
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hiking setting, even grandiose if you add the Rocher des 2 Vierges, with still a lot of water on the trail for us, but that didn't stop us from reaching our final destination.
To avoid having to return the same way, we headed back up towards Roque Courbe to join a track that took us to the PR crossroads, which climbs up from Saint Saturnin de Lucian and then up to Rocher des 2 Vierges. We then descended via the track to return to our starting point at the Marcassins car park.
Please note that this hike is "technical" because climbing up the scree and descending the steep, rocky slope requires some experience. We do not recommend it in hot weather. A GPS device is also a good idea because it is difficult to find your way in this dreamlike setting in the canyon.

Machine-translated

alainlafon
alainlafon

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Some signs at the crossroads would be welcome!!!
Quite a few people seem to be a bit lost all around

Best regards

Machine-translated

User 28570449

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, this route (Porte du Diable to La Chapelle) is the shortest, but it is more difficult than average.
Therefore, I do not recommend it for very young children or the elderly.
I am 79 years old, in good physical shape and athletic, so please be careful, especially if you are doing the "long" route.
Kind regards, JP Benoiston.

Machine-translated

Ch Li
Ch Li

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We followed the route, which wasn't easy because there are lots of paths leading off in all directions, but we were lucky enough to see the little waterfall and follow the small stream because there was water in it, which apparently isn't often the case. It's magical. And the colour of the earth is incredible!
There is a very short but difficult section on the climb after following the river for a long time. It was quite slippery, but with good shoes we managed to climb it, and it was actually easier on the way down.
We stopped before the end, on a promontory facing the canyon. Some people we met told us that at the end of the walk, you can do a circular route (joining a PR or GR trail) and that the return would be easier.
We saw quite a few children along the entire route. The place is very fun.
You can avoid the slightly tedious start of the hike because there is a car park at the first waterfall, point 4. Most hikers start from there.

Machine-translated

Sylvie FP
Sylvie FP

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

Beautiful scenery, the Colorado of Languedoc 👍 and apart from two tricky sections where you have to "climb" the canyon, this hike is easy. And rest assured (in response to a previous comment), the grandmothers in our group (aged over 75) completed this hike successfully! On the downside, and it's a shame, there was only a trickle of water at the waterfall. But it's still a great hike in our region with landscapes that are different from the usual ones.

Machine-translated

gpsb
gpsb

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful scenery. Make sure you know where you are or use a satnav; play area for children.

Machine-translated

Christian Billiard
Christian Billiard

I am reassured by this review, which contradicts the previous one regarding the difficulty of the route. Even though this walk is classified as easy (short duration, length and elevation gain), it is still a hike that I would not take my grandmother or a baby on. When we did it, there was no overgrown vegetation to obstruct the path. It is essential to follow the Visorando trail, which is there precisely to avoid this kind of problem.

Machine-translated

User 3568141

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No


the Devil's Canyon Ruffe Route at a place called Les Marcassins, which can be found on the internet.
Magnificent landscapes to discover near St Jean de la Blaquière in the Hérault region.

Machine-translated

User 4302557

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very interesting hike in terms of scenery and geology.
However, it is very easy to get lost once you reach the canyon itself.
In addition, the walk is not at all easy from point 6 onwards, as numerous trees, bushes and brambles hinder progress, as do the gradient and the nature of the terrain (steep slopes, sometimes bordering on climbing due to the ground slipping underfoot).
In conclusion, this is a relatively easy walk for people in good physical condition but impossible to do with a baby carrier, for example.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Le Bois de Latude et la Bruyère de la Rouquette depuis Saint-Jean

Visorando Member
↔9.63 mi ↗+1,122 ft ↘-1,138 ft ◔5h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Jean-de-la-Blaquière (Hérault)
Randonnée sans difficulté, sur de larges pistes, avec quelques beaux points de vue. Entre (D/A) et (5) autre option de départ par le GR®.

Walking The Rock of the Two Virgins (Rock of the Virgins)

Visorando Member
Le Rocher des Deux Vierges (Rocher des Vierges)
↔6.90 mi ↗+1,286 ft ↘-1,299 ft ◔4h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Saturnin-de-Lucian (Hérault)
Overlooking the village of Saint-Saturnin-de-Lucian, the Rocher des Vierges, the highest point of the massif, offers breathtaking views. This interpretive route, perfect for exploring with family or friends, allows you to appreciate this unique site from a geological, historical and cultural perspective.

Walking Les Deux Vierges via the Saint-Guiraud Tunnel and the Canyon du Diable

Visorando Member
↔8.79 mi ↗+1,713 ft ↘-1,683 ft ◔5h 05 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Guiraud (Hérault)
The route is remarkable for its great diversity of sites and landscapes. Passage through the mountain via the Saint-Guiraud Tunnel. Ascent of the Lagarel Stream and the Devil’s Canyon.Ascent of the Deux Vierges.Panoramic views and return via the Yeuses track.Several challenges characterise the route:- lack of signposting along the vast majority of the route, but very well-defined, obvious and often bordered paths. -steep gradients concentrated between La Cascade du Diable and La Roque Courbe- slippery steep sections on the descent from the lime kiln slag heap and in the Ruffes corridor (more difficult on the descent; the circular loop should be completed in the suggested order).

Walking Around the Ruisseau de Lagarel from Saint-Guiraud

Visorando Member
Autour du Ruisseau de Lagarel depuis Saint-Guiraud
↔5.37 mi ↗+725 ft ↘-715 ft ◔3h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Guiraud (Hérault)
This hike will take you to viewpoints overlooking the Lergue and Hérault valleys, passing through the rapids of the Lagarel stream and past the site of an old lime kiln. Bring a torch for the tunnel and a map as the route is not signposted. The GPX track will also be very useful.

Walking Prieuré Saint-Michel-de-Grandmont from Usclas du Bosc

Visorando Member
↔5.82 mi ↗+738 ft ↘-755 ft ◔3h 20 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Usclas-du-Bosc (Hérault)
Country walk to the Priory of Saint-Michel de Grandmont, which is well worth a visit for both its buildings and its grounds.

Walking Grandmont - Soumont, circular from Usclas-du-Bosc

Visorando Member
Grandmont - Soumont, en boucle depuis Usclas-du-Bosc
↔9.21 mi ↗+1,545 ft ↘-1,578 ft ◔5h 35 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Usclas-du-Bosc (Hérault)
A beautiful route forming a circular loop, combiningPR® with part ofthe GR® 653, Chemin-de-Compostelle, the Prieuré Saint-Michel de Grandmont, the balconies of Soumont (and their bouldering spot), and the beautiful villages of Soumont and Usclas-du-Bosc.

Walking The Col du Vent

Visorando Member
Le Col du Vent
↔9.30 mi ↗+1,768 ft ↘-1,752 ft ◔5h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Arboras (Hérault)
This hike from Arboras will take you through wild countryside with beautiful views of Mont Saint-Baudille. Much of the route is shaded, either in the undergrowth or in the beautiful Parlatges forest, making it possible to enjoy this hike in the sunshine. The trails are easy (gentle slopes and very few stones), but the lack of markings on the ground means you need to be able to find your way around.

Walking Joncas – Castelas – Arboras

Visorando Member
↔7.41 mi ↗+1,220 ft ↘-1,220 ft ◔4h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Montpeyroux (Hérault) (Hérault)
A circular route starting from the archaeological stele on the D122 (Route des Lavagnes). Passing through Castelas de Montpeyroux and Arboras. Following thePR® Montpeyroux-Arboras and theGR®653(the Arles Way pilgrimage route). Two short circular loops around Arboras can be avoided, thereby shortening the circular loop by approximately 3 km.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.