Adoux waterfall from Châtillon-en-Diois

Start the hike from the Champ de Foire in Châtillon-en-Diois (parking available).

(S/E) Head north along Rue du Ruisseau. At the bridge, continue straight ahead, then cross the stream a short distance away and take the uphill path. At the top, follow Montée du Tricot to the right for a few metres.

(1) Take the path on the left leading to the Plateau de la Montagne du Glandasse (GR®91).

(2) At the^first clearly marked bend, continue to the right on a path (no signposts or markings). Follow this path for a short while, enjoying some beautiful views (note the pretty passage over an old bridge).
As you approach the Forêt Giono area, you will come across numerous paths with Y-shaped intersections: at the first ones, take the left fork, then, after crossing a footbridge, take the right fork.
Please note that the path requires a little caution on a few short sections.

(3) Head to a pretty waterfall below and continue downhill, following the stream on your left (a refreshing spot when it's very hot). Shortly after the car park, continue along the track for about 200 metres.

(4) Follow a track on the right uphill. Just before you reach a private property, follow a path on the left to its end. Turn onto another path on the left.

(5) Quite quickly, take a path on the right: after crossing a small bridge, walk through a few gardens and join the Montée du Tricot. Continue left downhill, passing in front of the temple and the town hall. At a small square, pass under the porch of the belfry, then take Rue des Rostang to return to the starting point (S/E).

The starting point can be viewed on Google Maps: click here.
Please note: parking is prohibited at Champs de Foire on Friday mornings (weekly market).

Take your rubbish with you, nature hates it.

Hiking boots and walking sticks are recommended.

The route is best undertaken on dry ground.

Here is a description of the difficulties encountered along each section (the route is not uniform):
- green: fairly easy terrain with no significant elevation changes or difficulties
- blue: steeper slopes and/or gradients on a well-marked route
- orange: route presenting some technical difficulties and/or poor route viability (markings or visibility of the path).

From (S/E) to (1): Blue difficulty
Route in an urban environment, then on an uphill path.
Crossing the stream should not normally pose a problem: if this is not the case, follow Rue des Rostangs, then Montée du Tricot to reach the point (1).
This section is not marked.

From (1) to (2): Blue difficulty
Follow a fairly stony path with some steep slopes.
White-red markings - GR®91.

From (2) to (3): Blue difficulty
The route follows a fairly level path that is moderately wide at times, particularly when crossing a small bridge.
Unmarked section. In the Forêt Giono area, there are numerous information panels (Discovery Trail).

From (3) to (4): Blue difficulty
^Initially, follow a path along the edge of the stream over some steep slopes. After reaching the car park, the rest of the route is fairly straightforward. It is of course possible to follow other routes throughout the area.
The area is marked after the car park (GR®965).

From (4) to (5): Blue difficulty
Follow a driveway uphill for a few metres. Just before reaching a private property, take a balcony path on the left. After the^first intersection, follow a short downhill section
Unmarked section.

From (5) to (S/E): Green difficulty
A fairly easy trail continues before joining the Montée du Tricot. The return journey is urban in nature, taking you back to the starting point. I recommend taking a short detour to stroll through the village's many narrow streets (locally known as Viols).
This area is not signposted.

Châtillon-en-Diois: this is a pretty village of medieval origin. For more information, see the Wikipedia website

Forêt Giono: based on an idea by artist Frédéric Back, the Drôme Department and the O.N.F. supported the creation of a forest area from 1989 to 1993, where more than 3,700 children participated in planting trees.

Source de l'Adoux: naturally, its waters join those of the Bellante below. From the 15th century onwards, these waters were diverted into canals (^{the first} of which were rudimentary wooden structures used to supply a fountain in Châtillon-en-Diois on Rue des Rostangs). More recently, contemporary water collection facilities have been installed in a relatively discreet manner.

Adoux (or Adous): after research, the word seems to have two meanings:

• a resurgence whose water gives the Adoux a stable flow and temperature in all seasons,
• which gushes out of the end of a pipe (ad = towards/lead, durre = to lead, to guide) or, in short, = captured source.

Ultimately, both seem to be valid for this location.