Souloise waterfall circular loop from Pont du Villard

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Hike at the bottom of the valley, at the foot of Pic de Bure.
Le Dévoluy is known for being dry; most of the water is underground and disappears into the limestone massif! However, it does offer a few surprises, with waterfalls here and there providing a little refreshment.
This route, which is accessible to all and requires no special equipment, first crosses the Bois Rond before heading into the meadows and then descending through the woods along a clear path.

Details

n°2573145
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.82 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 315 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 308 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,659 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,353 m
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Photos

La Souloise
A small pine tree
Le Rif Froid
Le Rif Froid

Description of the walk

Departure from Pont de Villard on the road between L'Enclus and Le Forest. Head towards Pré Grand and park after the building.

(S/E) Head south on the Route Forestière du Bois Rond to the Fontaine d'Hurtillier.
In June 2025, the water flowing from the fountain is announced as non-potable.

(1) Take the wide path that climbs up to the left through the woods (trail/mountain bike markings) and continue through the forest. Join the forest road.

(2) Turn left (GR® de Pays Tour du Dévoluy trail markers) towards Jas de Barges and Col de Rabou. Exit the woods and continue along the path. Find the start of the trail at three trees and a cairn on the left, without reaching Jas de Barge (sheepfold).

(3) Leave the GRP®. Take the well-marked path on the left. It is often used by mountain bikers. Cairns and bike markings replace the coloured markings. You will easily reach the Cascade de la Souloise waterfall.

(4) Continue along the obvious path that descends through the forest.

(5) Cross the stream for the first time, continue along the marked path and cross the river again to reach the first road you took, a few dozen metres from your car (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,353 m - Pont du Villard de l'Enclus
  2. 1 : km 1.56 - alt. 1,485 m - Hurtillier fountain
  3. 2 : km 2.46 - alt. 1,597 m - Bois Rond Forest Road
  4. 3 : km 3.98 - alt. 1,659 m - 3 trees (on the right), a cairn (on the left!)
  5. 4 : km 4.48 - alt. 1,610 m - Waterfall - Souloise (rivière)
  6. 5 : km 5.62 - alt. 1,457 m - Crossing the Rif (ford)
  7. S/E : km 6.82 - alt. 1,353 m - Pont du Villard de l'Enclus

Notes

(1) Water not drinkable (June 2025).

Worth a visit

Near the hike, the Pic de Bure cable car; not open to the public.
The village of Saint-Étienne with its shops.
The Dévoluy resort with its many activities and shops, depending on the season.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 23254136

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Very nice route with beautiful views of the entire mountain range.
Easy to follow
We encountered a sheepdog who ignored us 🤗
Be careful on the way back, though, as it follows the mountain bike trail and things can happen quickly behind you 😉
Perfect for families.

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François Libre
François Libre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

hike completed on 24/08/25 under beautiful sunshine, which allowed us to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and colchicum flowers.
There was a lot of diversity between forests and paths, so sometimes we were in the shade and sometimes in full sun
a hike accessible to all
thanks to the route planner

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Shaodir
Shaodir

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 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 hike, varied, alternating between beautiful views and sheltered passages through pretty forests.
The weather was beautiful and we had a wonderful time.

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isabelledevauxp
isabelledevauxp

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, varied hike in magnificent surroundings, despite a difficult return (I never found the "obvious path" after the waterfall).
Herds and dogs are well contained, so there are no guard dogs on the paths, which are rarely used; in short, everything you need for a peaceful outing.

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Roland1fois
Roland1fois

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely little walk.

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Gilles Martin
Gilles Martin
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike combining stunning views of the two mountain ranges that frame Le Dévoluy and a route that includes a section through the forest, which is not always the case in this beautiful region.

I agree with the "moderate" difficulty rating.

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