Crêtes de l'Asclier

Parking in the small car park at the start of the track, on the north side of Col de l'Asclier.

(S/E) Head south to the Col de l'Asclier.

(1) Pass under the Pont Moutonnier and climb up onto it from the west, then follow^{the GR®®6}-^GR®®67(red-and-white markings), heading east-southeast, up a steep, stony slope, to reach the Col du Fageas.

(2) Continue straight up the southern slope to the summit of Montagne du Liron (antenna). Stunning views of Aigoual, the Mediterranean and the Alps, from where you can already make out, to the north-west, the Serre de Borgne, which you will climb later.

(3) From Montagne du Liron, return to Col de Fageas.

(2) Turn right onto the main track descending north-west to east, following the signpost for “Col de l’Asclier / Rocher de l’Aigle”.

(4) At a left-hand bend, turn right, heading due east, onto a small path barely visible through the vegetation (Rocher de l’Aigle viewpoint signpost). The path is marked at the start, but once you reach the rocky slabs, the route becomes less obvious; there are several options, some of which are quite exposed. To reach the summit of Rocher de l'Aigle, you must go round it, anti-clockwise, on the south side, gradually climbing the slope (several visible routes). Final ascent via the east side.
Superb views to the east and north from the summit (Mont Lozère, the Alps, the Mediterranean).

(5) Retrace your steps to the previous junction.

(4) Turn right (^GR®®61) onto the wide descending track (Route Forestière du Liron), passing the car park again, then under the Pont Moutonnier.

(1) After passing under the Pont Moutonnier for^{a second} time, this time head due west along the^GR®®6and^GR®®67(white-red markings) to the junction at elevation 965.

(6) Leave the^{GR®® trails} and follow the small path to the left (yellow markings), a fun section winding between rocks and trees, until you reach another fork.

(7) At the junction on the ridge, turn right, straight up the slope, towards the summit of Serre de Borgne at an elevation of 1060 metres. No cairn, markings or signpost.

(8) A 360° panorama, from which you can appreciate the effort made since the start (view of the entire first ascent), and see the Aigoual and its surroundings more closely.
Then head back down towards the previous fork.

(7) Continue westwards, down a short, steep descent with loose scree in places. Reach a junction at Jasse de Rieusset, at an elevation of 891 metres.

(9) Turn sharply right, heading north-east (yellow markings). After a few hundred metres of gentle descent in open terrain, including a lovely stretch through the forest, climb gently up towards the Col de l’Homme Mort, at an elevation of 910 metres.

(10) Abandoned buildings can be seen after the Valat de Valbonette; take care not to try to enter them, as the structures are on the verge of collapse.
Turn right, south-east, onto the^{GR®®6-GR®®67}(red-white markings), signposted towards Col de l'Asclier. Climb, steep at the start, for 200 m, below the summit of Serre de Borgne. Beautiful views over the Brorgne valley as far as Mont Lozère. You will reach a junction you passed on the way out.

(6) Continue straight on to Pont Moutonnier.

(1) Go under the bridge and return to the car park (S/E).

Starting point: car park at the start of the DFCI track on the north side of Pont Moutonnier at Col de l'Asclier (or Asclié – spelling varies depending on the map used...).

Road access from the south via Sumène, the D20 through Saint-Martial and the Col de La Tribale; be careful as the road is very winding with poor visibility (but beautiful views!). Possible encounters with oncoming traffic.

From the east (arriving via the D907 from Saint-Jean du Gard or the Corniche des Cévennes), avoid taking the D152 from the entrance to L’Estréchure: a very narrow, very winding road with no visibility, where it is often impossible to pass each other for several hundred metres. Expect to have to reverse for long distances if there are other vehicles...
Instead, continue on the D907 until the exit for Saumane, where you take the D20 on the left to Les Plantiers, where you turn left, still on the D20, to the Col de l’Asclier: the road remains very winding, but with better visibility and much easier passing.

Make sure you wear good walking shoes; part of the hike is on steep slopes with large, sometimes slippery stones.

Duration: 3 hours without breaks at a ‘hiking’ pace (steady walking without running or stopping to catch your breath). The 4 hours 55 minutes automatically calculated on the website corresponds to a hiking pace including breaks; this is realistic if you want to enjoy the scenery.

There are no water sources on the hike, so bring plenty (the very steep start between (D:A) and (2) is in the shade in the morning, but the rest of the route can get very hot in direct sunlight).

Follow the direction of the circular loops indicated on the GPS track and the map (south side of the two circular loops first): the two steep climbs between (D:A) and (2), then between Col de l’Homme Mort (10) and (6) are quickly overcome, but can be problematic on the descent due to the loose ground (as well as being harder on fragile knees on the descent).

Col de l'Asclier: A single Pont Moutonnier bridge above the pass, used for transhumance.

Col du Fageas (passage to (3)): option to make a short circular loop to the summit of Fageas, but of very little interest: track through tall grass in the forest, with no visibility or views.