Crest walks

A pleasant walk in the hills above Crest offering beautiful views of the southern Vercors, the peaks of the Saoû Forest, the Ardèche mountains and the Drôme valley. As a bonus, you can explore Crest and its heritage at the start and end of the walk.

Family walk behind the highest keep in France: you will walk along ridges and enjoy an unforgettable panorama of the Vercors mountains, the Trois Becs and the Ardèche plateau.

A lovely autumn hike offering numerous views of the Vercors, the peaks of the Saoû forest and the Baronnies. The route crosses rural farmland, where vineyards and fields give way to forest. There is a bit of road at the start.

Explore the hilltop village of Mirabel, with views of Charsac Hill and the Col de l'Armurier.

This chapel is on the ridge of the Forest of Saoû, above the ruins of an old priory. At the top of the climb from La Clastre, hikers have breathtaking views of the hanging valley of Saoû.

The massif is a perched syncline. This small mountain offers exceptional views of the Diois and southern Vercors regions. On a clear day, there is a superb view of the Grand Veymont, the 3 Becs, Roche Colombe and the syncline of the Saou forest. Chapel and viewpoint at the Croix de Saint-Pancrace.

A long walk with beautiful views, with no difficulty other than the length, on trails and paths through fairly sparse pine forests.

A short hike to explore the Saou Forest on the north side of the syncline and in the undergrowth. Beautiful views during the climb and, at the end of the descent, of Piegros Castle, the Drôme Valley and the Vercors Piedmont. Very beautiful 360° panorama at the Saint-Médard Chapel.

From the top of this cliff, you have a beautiful view of the Vercors, the foothills of the Ardèche, the Rhône valley and the entire Saoû forest with the Trois Becs at the other end.

On this well-shaded hike, in addition to the various views of the Rhône valley, the Ardèche, the southern Vercors, the Trois Becs and the Saoû forest, we also encountered a young deer enjoying some foliage and a squirrel frightened by our presence. Unfortunately, we also saw the damage caused by the box tree moth.

Hike through the forest to the ridges and their highest point at 1015 m. Beautiful views over the Rhône Valley and the Vercors Massif. The descent then follows a wide forest path before arriving in a roadless grassy valley where wild horses and Highlander cows live side by side.

This trail crosses a property where Scottish Highland cows graze. The trail then climbs up to the Savel Plateau, where a panoramic view opens up before you.

The west summit of Saou forest, which marks the beginning (or end) of this forest.

At the foot of the Aiguilles, you will pass through a wide variety of environments. Wetlands and arid areas alternate between the Vèbre and the Mediterranean slopes of the Pas de l'Estang and the Palloir.

Climb up to the Grand and Petit Pomerolle from the Pas de Lestang, offering beautiful views of Saoû, its forest and its legendary three peaks.

Following paths and small tracks, mostly through woodland, this walk offers some beautiful views and the remains of an ancient hilltop fortified village. The top of the village, where three crosses stand, offers a magnificent viewpoint with an orientation table. There is a 270° panorama of the foothills of the Vercors and Diois, Roche Colombe, the Trois Becs, the Montagne de Couspeau, the northern Rhône valley and the Ardèche mountains.

This walk will take you back in time to the farming history of the Forêt de Saoû. The walk begins along the hay meadows at the bottom of the forest. You will then pass by the ruins of Raillon and Fuoc, the remains of the many farms in the lower part of the forest. This walk is accessible to all-terrain pushchairs. Dogs must be kept on a lead.

This walk takes you along various historic communication routes in the Saoû Forest. You can start this loop from the Ecoguards' Office by heading towards Le Chemin de la Grande Combe and then following the directions in the text. Dogs must be kept on a leash.

La Baume Cornillane is an exceptional site due to its geography and history. La Raye is a superb viewpoint: Baronnies, Vercors, Roc de Toulaud, Tête de la Dame and Plateau d'Ambel. The ridges are superb.

How about taking a trip back a few million years to find yourself at the centre of the original world (Pangaea)? La Baume-Cornillane claims this location and there are a few information panels at the top of the village explaining it in more detail. The rest of the route will take you up to the heights of Pas de la Croix, then back through the forest to the car park and back to the 21st century.

In the heart of the Diois region, the Saou Forest is home to some beautiful treasures. The Saint-Médard Chapel is one of them: a viewpoint offering a unique view of the Trois Becs. Although the access is a little steep, it makes for a lovely family hike.

From the centre of the world (Pangaea) before continental drift, to the Middle Ages, via local legends about the cave that gave the village its name (Baume = cave in Provençal), this is a varied family walk starting from the charming village of La Baume-Cornillane: old stones, hidden paths, stunning landscapes, a stream and a petrifying waterfall (sometimes so petrified that it is dry!) and a remarkable cave.

This is an 11 km loop, the first part of which is a pleasant walk in the shade of the beautiful Saoû Forest, while the second part, which is sunnier, offers splendid views of the perched syncline. Please note: at point (9), if the passage through the undergrowth is still closed (fallen trees and impassable), continue straight on along the "Circuit des Anciennes Fermes" to the "La Prade" signpost (altitude 415 m), then turn right to reach the Sables Blancs car park.

A beautiful hike where "diversity" is the watchword! This superb route zigzags between two cliffs, allowing you to climb gradually, via the Grande Combe, amid lush vegetation. The Pas de Siara offers a glimpse of the southern Alpine meadows of the Trois Becs, where sheep from the neighbouring valleys graze during the summer. The descent is gentle through the beech forest, typical of the mountainous region.

Discover the south-western ridge of the famous Saou Forest.

From the Auberge des Dauphins, there is a magnificent climb up the Grande Combe to reach the Rocher de la Laveuse and the Trois Becs, a legendary hike in the Saou Forest. Please note that the route passes through a quiet area for wild animals. Certain sections are closed between 15 May and 15 July. Specific signage and a diversion from the GR®9 trail have been put in place to assist users. See here for more information.