Route around Lake Galens

Starting from the church square in Soulages-Bonneval in Rouergue, this is a short hike on the Aubrac plateau.

15/05/2024: Walk modified to 7 to follow the lake shore.

Details

4483321
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.42 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 144 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 147 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 885 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 812 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the church, turn left onto Rue Principale, which crosses the Selves River, and continue to the calvary.

(1) Leave the D70 and take a path that climbs towards the hamlet of Puech Redon, where you will find a road.

(2) At the fork, continue straight on towards Campgris, leaving the road on your right, which will be the return route.

(3) At Campgris, turn right and descend a small path to join the D 70, which you follow to the left.

(4) After the stadium, turn right onto the path and head towards the Magagnou stream.

(5) Turn right. The path winds its way to Lac de Galens along the Magagnou stream, then leaves the stream and arrives at a footbridge over the Selves.

(6) Head left to reach the lake shore.

(7) Turn left and continue along the lake until you reach the D213, where you turn left again for about 100 metres.

(8) At the junction by the house, turn left onto the path at the edge of the forest, pass under a power line and arrive at the D213. Go down to the left on the road for about 300 metres.

(9) Take the path on the left that descends towards the lake, turn right and go around the lake, passing under the dam.

(10) Continue to the hamlet of Les Galens.

(11) At the exit of the hamlet, follow the path on the left which continues above the lake and leads to La Fumade.

(11) Pass under a power line and cross the Bois Grand in a north-easterly direction.

(5) At the edge of the woods, rejoin the outward route to the stadium. Continue straight ahead.

(4) Turn left onto the D70 and continue along it for about 200 metres.

(12) Turn right at the waste collection centre towards Puech Redon.

(2) Turn left and follow the route in reverse to the church in Soulages-Bonneval (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 862 m - Church of Soulages-Bonneval
  2. 1 : km 0.34 - alt. 851 m - Calvaire
  3. 2 : km 0.85 - alt. 875 m - Puech Redon fork
  4. 3 : km 1.27 - alt. 867 m - Campgris
  5. 4 : km 2 - alt. 847 m - Stadium
  6. 5 : km 2.76 - alt. 825 m - Magagnou stream
  7. 6 : km 3.12 - alt. 824 m - Footbridge over the Selves
  8. 7 : km 4.05 - alt. 828 m - Fork in the road
  9. 8 : km 5.95 - alt. 815 m - Gallens Dam - Selves (rivière)
  10. 9 : km 6.82 - alt. 837 m - Exit the hamlet
  11. 10 : km 7.78 - alt. 829 m - Bois Grand
  12. 11 : km 10.1 - alt. 850 m - Recycling centre
  13. S/E : km 11.42 - alt. 861 m - Church of Soulages Bonneval

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
ergi31
ergi31

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely circular route around Lake Galens. On the way back, avoid the uninteresting route past the waste disposal centre.

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Discus55
Discus55

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

This walk is best done in dry weather, as the path through the meadow at the start of the lake tour can sometimes be very wet..
The section before the dam is much more interesting than the end of the route.
This walk is ideal for beginners or overweight people who are not particularly fit.
I recommend it without hesitation.

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Tom Aka Styon
Tom Aka Styon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The starting point does not really allow for car parking, so it is better to use the car park below the village hall.
The walk is very easy and the signposts are easy to follow.
The lakeside section only covers the first half; once you pass the dam, you will no longer be walking alongside the lake.
A little too much road walking for our liking.

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Domi de Saint-Cirq
Domi de Saint-Cirq

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

No parking spaces at the church. It's easier to park at the bottom of the village near the stream opposite the inn.
Very easy walk and well signposted.

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HeleneJau
HeleneJau
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy hike.
The yellow markings are easy to follow.
I also chose to return the same way I came, rather than via the waste disposal centre, to avoid walking on tarmac.

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Aubrac 273
Aubrac 273

Hello,

Is it necessary to remove sections 7 and 8 as already indicated? The markings between points 6 and 9 run right along the edge of the lake, which is the most pleasant part of the route. The path in sections 7 and 8 is not maintained. There is a map (sign) showing the route starting from the town hall rather than the church. There are parking facilities nearby (car parks). I have had a lot of contact with Visorando users who complain about this lack of coordination. If changes are made, review the distance (slightly shorter).
Aubrac 273 (Former Mayor of Soulages-Bonneval)

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crestou
crestou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike surrounded by nature.
Between points 7 and 8, the path has been closed, so it is better to take the detour via the lake.

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laurence S75
laurence S75

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The path is nice at first, but it's better to go around the lake, which should be much easier and more beautiful than going through the brambles. Also, the field is closed, so I can confirm that you have to take the road at point 8. By pure chance, we did this walk as a family on 07/08/23 and I lost a pair of sunglasses along the way. Please contact me if you find them: 0622170941. Thank you!

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JMC35
JMC35

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Tour of the lake from the beach only. The trail runs along the northern edge of the lake (very poorly marked parish-specific to Brittany section). Detours 7 and 8 are not necessary. However, after 6, depending on the water level, part of the trail may be flooded: go under the barbed wire through the meadow on the right. No problem after PK 828, no problem.

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yannherbert
yannherbert

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk
Please note that at point 5, you must turn right before the footbridge, as the path then begins in a meadow. If you miss this turn, you will be walking the route backwards (which is not a big deal).
Between points 6 and 9, there is a very pleasant path through the woods that runs alongside the lake. This shortens the walk a little, but the path is very pleasant and there are a few picnic tables.

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BERT35
BERT35

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Point 7 is a completely blocked path. And at point 8, the owner has closed off the passage through his field.
So you have to take a detour via the road to get down to the lake.

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su duchesse
su duchesse

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There were two sections of the route that were completely impassable:
between 7 and 8, there were lots of nettles and brambles. I wanted to turn back, but the GPS (belonging to a couple we met) indicated that we were on the right route!

- from 8 onwards, the path is completely overgrown. I started by following the fence on the meadow side, but halfway along, a fence blocked the way, especially as at that point the frightened cows were blocking the supposed path. I turned back!.....
I really regret that the markings no longer exist. I don't want to walk with a mobile phone in my hand. And I met several couples who shared my opinion. "Old-fashioned," you might say! Perhaps, but I wanted to let you know!

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Tistou-LPV
Tistou-LPV

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in August 2018, during a heatwave. Even at this altitude, it was hot! Fortunately, around Lake Galens, there is quite a bit of undergrowth. Varied landscape: countryside, forest, lakeside, and passage through the marshy area upstream of the lake, at the Selves stream.

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