In the Uchaux Massif, through the old sand quarries and lakes

An easy route, mostly in the shade, through the forest of the Massif d'Uchaux. The path along DFCI tracks and trails will take you to a former site where raw materials for the manufacture of refractory products were extracted. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the presence of exceptional clay made Bollène a renowned industrial centre. The remains of a system of railways and inclined planes, as well as the buildings of a former factory, are still visible. The excavation of the hill for sand extraction has left galleries that are still open, and lakes now fill the former clay quarries.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.60 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 194 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 192 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 168 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 88 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Bollène (84500)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 44.268657° / E 4.78297°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3039ET, 3040OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

From the Saint Blaise district, take the Route d'Uchaux, the D12. Park on the D12 after the left-hand bend and the Pénègue leisure centre, in the first car park on the right.

(S/E) Follow the path through the woods, parallel to the road, towards Uchaux. You will arrive at a second car park.

(1) At the "La Roquette 94 m" signpost (at the side of the road), turn right into the woods (yellowPR® markings). Pass a picnic area with wooden tables, ignoring the paths leading off to the left. The forest, overgrown with sarsaparilla, takes on the air of an enchanted forest. You will come to a crossroads.

(2) At the "Noyères Est 134 m" signpost, continue straight ahead on theGRP® du Massif d'Uchaux (yellow and red markings).

(3) At the crossroads just after, leave theGRP® and turn right onto the DFCI track. At the next crossroads, stay on the track, keeping to the right twice. At the T-junction, rejoin theGRP® and turn right. Continue to a fork in the road.

(4) Leave theGRP® and continue left on the track. The path heads west, north of the Colline de St-Ariès, and joins a junction.

(5) Leave the return path on your right and continue left. After a right-hand bend then a left-hand bend, you will reach a crossroads.

(6) Go up to the right on the Jonqueirolles track until you reach the start of a path that is partially blocked by boulders.

(7) Stay on this track to the left, which climbs more steeply, then descends and passes a slope.

(8) Behind this embankment, keep to the left to stay on the Jonqueirolles track, which then runs along the hillside where several gallery entrances are visible. Be careful: despite the traces of passages inside these old quarries, there is a risk of rockfalls. Go past a DFCI barrier and continue opposite towards the houses until you reach the start of a DFCI track on the right.

(9) Turn right onto the Prat track after the barrier. You will reach a crossroads in a wide left-hand bend.

(10) Negotiate the bend and follow the track northwards to the remains of an old refractory products factory.

(11) Several buildings are visible, as well as a bridge with several arches. This rail bridge was used to transport wagons carrying clay. Please be careful and do not venture into the ruined buildings.
Back on the Prat trail, return to the bend.

(10) Turn left onto a path that runs along the hillside, which is also riddled with tunnels. Then keep left to climb the embankment and return to a fork you passed on the way to the Jonqueirolles trail.

(8) Continue straight ahead. This track climbs up to overlook a first lake on the left, which fills an old clay quarry. When the track descends, you will find the start of the path you took on the way up.

(7) Turn onto the path on the left that descends into the undergrowth. A little further along the main trail, a path on the right leads to the edge of a second lake, which you can walk around and back. Continue along the trail until you reach a mound of earth on the left. Climb this mound for a beautiful view of the first lake with its colourful edges. Return to the trail and turn left for a few dozen metres.

(12) Turn right at a right angle. Note the presence of rails, used by the wagons transporting clay during the quarry's period of operation.
Stay on this main track and turn right in front of a yellow sand embankment. Continue along the track, which leads to an open esplanade on the edge of the second lake, going around it on the left. Then climb up the wide path opposite, with your back to the lake. Shortly afterwards, you will come to the junction you passed on the way there.

(5) Go up the track on the left, in the opposite direction to the outward journey, to rejoin theGRP® at a fork, which you also passed on the outward journey.

(4) Turn left onto theGRP®, then cut right onto a path that passes behind the Bollène Communal Forest sign. At the T-junction, continue to the right. At the fork, take the left path to the "Noyères Est 124 m" sign you passed on the way out.

(2) Leave theGRP® and keep left, in the opposite direction to the outward journey, to find the yellowPR® markings and reach the road to Uchaux.

(1) Turn left onto the path that runs alongside it and return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 88 m - Starting point car park on the D12
  2. 1 : km 0.18 - alt. 90 m - Directional signpost "La Roquette 94m"
  3. 2 : km 0.63 - alt. 126 m - Directional signpost "Noyères Est 134m"
  4. 3 : km 1.21 - alt. 129 m - Fork in the road
  5. 4 : km 2.27 - alt. 141 m - Common fork A/R
  6. 5 : km 3.5 - alt. 124 m - Crossroads of the circular lake loop
  7. 6 : km 3.89 - alt. 121 m - Jonqueirolles track, on the right
  8. 7 : km 4.26 - alt. 132 m - Common fork A/R
  9. 8 : km 4.55 - alt. 157 m - Talus. Crossroads of the circular mines loop
  10. 9 : km 4.94 - alt. 146 m - DFCI barrier Prat trail
  11. 10 : km 5.16 - alt. 136 m - Fork in the road. Return trip to the old buildings
  12. 11 : km 5.39 - alt. 130 m - Old factory
  13. 12 : km 6.62 - alt. 133 m - Fork in the road, turn right. Rails on the ground
  14. S/E : km 9.6 - alt. 88 m - Starting point car park on the D12

Notes

Please note: access to the Massif d'Uchaux is restricted due to the risk of forest fires. You will find information signs on most of the DFCI barriers along the route.
To find out about access conditions (updated the day before at 6pm for the following day):
04 28 31 77 11 and https://www.risque-prevention-incendie.f...

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.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Ouh là là
Ouh là là

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk under tall pine trees on a hill with a rich history: remains of agricultural terraces, dry stone walls, ruined huts, caves (former quarries), railway tracks still on the ground, "artificial" lakes and, the highlight of the walk, a very well-preserved old brickworks!
Feasible even in summer as it is shaded from start to finish.
Watch out for cyclists having fun!

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FéeViviane
FéeViviane

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It was a wonderful discovery.

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marquounet
marquounet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Despite the early morning gunshots...the hike is nice. The old mines are a great find. I regretted not bringing my headlamp and the old factory: welcome to the world of Urbex.

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Grappa26
Grappa26

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

this route is very popular due to its proximity to the town of BOLLENE and a housing estate that allows people to walk around the area of the old quarries. Largely shaded, it can be enjoyed in the summer mornings. PLEASANT for walkers as it is relatively easy and offers a glimpse of the industrial past with the railway tracks and the two lakes of the MASSIF D'UCHAUX.

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Philippekfp
Philippekfp

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike in a shaded setting. The lake, which is more like a pond, was not particularly interesting when we visited. The site remains very pleasant. No particular difficulties to report. The designated parking area is perfect. Hike completed at 8:15 a.m.

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TéaGaya
TéaGaya

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy route, mostly in the shade. Best done in spring to enjoy the abundance of flowers. The caves are worth a look, as are the remains of the refractory products factory. Picnicking by the largest lake is very pleasant and the view is beautiful.

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BG30
BG30

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy and very pleasant hike. The visit to the remains of the refractory products factory and the caves is interesting. The old quarry near point 12 reveals the beautiful colours of the minerals. The second lake between points 12 and 5 is quite charming.

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