From Cours to La Rauze

Route starting from Saint-Michel-de-Cours, descending towards the Rauze stream to follow its course before climbing back up to the starting point through the forest.

Technical sheet

811116
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.96 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 184 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 184 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 342 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 177 m

Description of the walk

Start from the car park next to a tennis court on the D49.

(S/E) Go around the car park on the right to reach a path leading to the left. Descend into the valley. 500 m further on, leave a perpendicular path on the left and continue straight ahead on a slight incline for about 900 m until you reach an intersection (calvary from 1770 on the right).

(1) Continue straight ahead on a tarmac road towards a place called "Le Bout de la Côte" until you reach a sign indicating "Voie sans issue" (dead end).

(2) Turn left onto a sloping path. At the entrance to this path, immediately on the left, don't miss a well slightly hidden in the vegetation. Continue downhill towards the Rauze valley. Admire the Vers cliffs on the right. Continue to the junction with theGR®46.

(3) Turn left and follow theGR®46for 1.9 km.

(4) Cross the Rauze. About 30 metres further on, on the left, don't miss the ruins of a water mill. Continue on theGR®46for 1.2 km. Admire the motorway viaduct in the background.

(5) Leave theGR® and turn left towards Maquefave until you reach a tarmac road.

(6) Turn left to cross the Rauze and immediately take the path opposite, leaving the D7 and the house on your right. Note the spring at the entrance to this path. Continue for 1.5 km. The path follows the course of a stream, which is mostly dry. It climbs quite steeply in places to the plateau.

(7) Turn left and follow the path to a chain blocking the way (private property).

(8) Turn right. The path follows the bed of a stony stream for about 150 metres (a slightly tricky passage in wet weather) before joining a tarmac road leading to the hamlet of Les Naudils. Continue to the junction with the D49, turn left and return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 339 m - Car park located next to a tennis court
  2. 1 : km 1.4 - alt. 329 m - Crossroads with a wayside cross
  3. 2 : km 2.38 - alt. 281 m - On the left, there is a sloping path. View of the valley of the - Vers (rivière) - Affluent du Lot
  4. 3 : km 3.44 - alt. 182 m - Turn left onto the GR
  5. 4 : km 4.28 - alt. 182 m - Crossing the - Rauze (rivière)
  6. 5 : km 5.44 - alt. 193 m - Turn left towards Maquefave
  7. 6 : km 5.89 - alt. 195 m - Crossing the Rauze
  8. 7 : km 7.28 - alt. 287 m - Path on the left
  9. 8 : km 7.37 - alt. 298 m - Stony path on the right
  10. S/E : km 7.96 - alt. 339 m

In the nearby area

Note that between points (4) and (5), the Rauze has been dammed: the water level is higher than that of the path.

Further on, shortly after a right-hand bend, the path opens onto a small valley where you can admire the graceful line of the A20 viaduct above the valley.

After passing the point (6), 20 metres after the entrance to the path, you will notice a spring (enthusiasts claim that its water has virtues, without being able to specify which ones).

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Brumaire
Brumaire

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Walk taken in early March in dry weather. Very pleasant path with a magnificent crossing of La Rauze. Follow the green markings that correspond to the Visorando route, which takes 2 hours at a brisk pace with walking sticks (without breaks) and not 4 hours as indicated. 8km easy despite a slightly rocky climb towards the end of the route. The path is in good condition and very well maintained. Very well marked. Didn't meet a single soul. No signs of human activity (paper, plastic, etc.). A real pleasure. I recommend it.

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Nawah
Nawah
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful hike, done in autumn. Encounters with foxes, horses and deer.
You need to wear good footwear as the paths are stony in places... yes, we are in the Causses.
Well marked from the start. The green route corresponds to the one on Visorando, and takes a good two hours rather than the four hours indicated. Unless you stop, of course.

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Piot39
Piot39
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

A nice little hike along the paths of the Causse plateau. Follow the green signs (three different routes). The sign says four hours, but we did it in two and a half.
We set off at around 9:30 a.m. and were almost always in the shade. The car park is very convenient and quite large, with two picnic tables.
Nice scenery, but nothing exceptional. No difficulties, just a good climb at the end.
The path is well maintained except towards the end.
With the water sources and the stream, watch out for horseflies... they're voracious!

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Jean-Michel Joissains
Jean-Michel Joissains

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A lovely little hike on a quiet afternoon. Beautiful landscapes of the Causses and no difficulty. Great for children!

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CIM
CIM
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Very pleasant, peaceful hike
Water source at the start and small pool with two waterfalls about 1.5 km before reaching the starting point
We only encountered one mountain bike and two quad bikes

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toffos
toffos

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A pleasant, typical walk in the region, with a water source at the start and excellent signposting.

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Michèle Fontaine
Michèle Fontaine

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Easy, simple, pleasant hike, well signposted, longest route, completed in 2 hours instead of 4 for those who walk well.

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PVD visorando
PVD visorando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very well-marked and easy-to-follow hike, with the option to extend it by 2 km as it is a little short.
thank you
Pierre

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jlucquimper
jlucquimper
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A lovely walk with a few hills.
Excellent signposting and description!

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AnaïsAnj
AnaïsAnj

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A nice little hike. Water source at the start. Three route options, with three different markings. 1 hour orange, 2 hours brown or 4 hours orange.
The 2-hour orange route: when you reach the tarmac road, turn left and continue to the end to find the path. However, the stream bed is difficult to access: there is a small path, but not much room to sit by the water. Nevertheless, the path is shaded and very pretty, and we saw three deer!

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jacques.boldron
jacques.boldron

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Vision Rando is an excellent app that offers a multitude of hikes for beginners and experienced hikers alike. Highly recommended for those who enjoy walking in peace and safety.

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DrFenouil
DrFenouil

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 11, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk in the countryside. A little challenging towards the end, but you get to see a variety of landscapes. The chance to cool off in the Rauze stream is a well-deserved reward after all your efforts.
You can also see wildlife and a beautiful collection of local plants and flowers.
A lovely walk to enjoy with the family

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maledeta23
maledeta23

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A short, easy and pleasant hike. The route is well marked and maintained, and the tricky sections at the end of the hike (points 7 and 8 in the description) no longer exist, even in very wet weather.

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ALAINMTHE
ALAINMTHE

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 12, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

beautiful hike

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blanjean
blanjean

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 30, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Tuesday, 1 May 2018
A very beautiful hike
The paths through the valleys and hillsides are very pleasant.

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