Crêt de l'Œillon (1364 m) walks

A long route along the panoramic ridges of Mont Pilat.

A lovely hike in the Pilat hills offering 360° views of Pilat, the Alps, the Monts du Lyonnais and the Monts du Forez.

Enjoy the atmosphere of northern Ardèche with this exceptional hike in the heart of Pilat. Pass through the main ridges of Pilat to discover breathtaking views and small steep paths.

The Mont Pilat massif is very popular and criss-crossed by numerous trails. This circular loop combines several of them to pass by the site of the Chapelle St Sabin, then climb up to cross the Trois Dents on a fun route, before reaching the ridge and following it through the various crests stretching from the Œillon to the Perdrix. The return journey is via a descent that favours paths through the woods.

Long snowshoe hike on the Pilat ridges with little elevation gain. Can be done on foot in the right season. If there are no tracks, GPS or an app can help in addition to the map.

This hike takes you through several different landscapes in Pilat. It starts at the foot of the hills, rich in orchards, and reaches the highest point of the massif, where the view is spectacular.

A short hike in the Pilat Massif with plenty of shade. The route is not too difficult and offers beautiful views of the Rhône Valley, the Vercors and the Alps, weather permitting, as well as the Monts du Lyonnais in some places and the Gier Valley.

Long hike in the Pilat massif. Ideal for beautiful days in May. This hike has two main attractions. It allows you to discover the Cascade du Gier waterfall before entering a completely different world and discovering all the ridges of the Pilat. The advantage is that there are several points where it is possible to shorten this beautiful hike. Please note: the first part through the woods is not well marked and it is easy to take the wrong path.

This route, consisting of three circular loops, is one of the most beautiful hikes in Pilat. You will discover the Chapelle Saint-Sabin, a viewpoint over the Rhône valley, the Pic des Trois Dents and the Crêt de l'Œillon, dominated by its television transmitter.

This long circular path starts in Chavanay, a village on the banks of the Rhône, and heads towards the highest point of the Pilat. The path begins by climbing through the vineyard-covered slopes of the Rhône valley, then crosses a plateau used for livestock farming and crops between the hamlets of La Ribaudy and Beautin, before crossing the foothills of the Pilat to the hamlet of Pataud. From there, the route climbs the wooded slope of the Crêts du Pilat and reaches the Col du Gratteau, then the Col de l’Œillon, from where it follows the Crêts ridge to reach the Col de la Perdrix. On the return journey, it descends through the woods on the southern slope and, via Chaumienne, reaches Saint-Sabin, then Véranne. It crosses the fields and orchards of the plateau, passing through Goëly and Bessey, before descending into the Rhône valley at the Grande Gorge and, via the Petite Gorge, returns to Chavanay. Numerous signposts mark the route.IBP 140: estimated duration 13 hours for a hiker of average fitness.

From the village of Pelussin, take the Col de l’Oeillon road to the Restaurant de la Magdalene and continue along the road until the next large bend, where there is an open car park on the left, surrounded by fir trees. On foot, the path is directly opposite, heading towards the Col du Gratteau. It begins with a gentle downhill slope which then climbs again to skirt around the three ridges. Further up, the path leads to the radio mast, which ends at a large pile of rocks and offers a 360-degree view. The descent from the summit on the north side leads to the edge of a forest, then follows a path that opens out onto a clearing. You then reach the undergrowth, and the path widens after a gentle climb overlooking the car park. Follow the path carefully to the right at the junction to end up beneath the fir trees and reach the car park via a fairly direct track.

This round-trip walk starts in Chavanay, a village on the banks of the Rhône, and ends at the Crêt de L’Œillon. The path climbs through the vineyard-covered slopes of the Rhône Valley, then crosses a plateau used for livestock farming and crops between the hamlets of La Ribaudy and Beautin, before crossing the foothills of the Pilat to reach the hamlet of Pataud. From there, the route climbs the wooded slope of the Crêts du Pilat, runs alongside the Trois Dents peak and, after a rocky outcrop, reaches the Col de l’Œillon and then the Crêt de l’Œillon.

Set in the heart of the Pilat Regional Nature Park, this is a 20-kilometre hike with over 1,000 metres of elevation gain. The walk offers magnificent views of the Alps, notably Mont Blanc, stretching as far as the Vaucluse region and Mont Ventoux. To the west, on a very clear day, you can also catch a glimpse of the Auvergne Mountains.