From the Druise Waterfall to Léoncel via the Gueulards Canyon

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First stage of the circular route around Omblèze in the Southern Vercors. This route begins with a visit to the Chute de la Druise, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Vercors, which plunges 70 metres from the bottom of a narrow gorge. After passing through the Gervanne Gorge, you come to the charming little Pissoire Waterfall, followed by a crossing of the Gueulards Canyon, a unique geological feature that inspires both unease and delight, before reaching the small, isolated village of Léoncel and its 12th-century abbey, with its old-world charm, which offers hospitality in a discreet manner.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Circular route around Omblèze in the southern Vercors

Details

n°91709643
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.99 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,300 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,220 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,159 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,526 ft
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Photos

Léoncel Abbey
Canyon des Gueulards
Canyon des Gueulards
La Pissoire Waterfall

Description of the walk

By car: in the Drôme department, via the D578 which serves Omblèze, take the Route d’Ansage (D578a) towards the Chute de la Druise, then, at the fork, take the Chemin de la Druise on the right. Park in the shaded car park reserved for vehicles under 1.8 m in height.

(S) Turn right as you leave the car park. Immediately, in front of a signpost, leave the track and head down the path on the right into the woods. After a few bends and a 100-metre descent, you’ll reach a junction (elevation 472m). Follow the course of the Gervanne to the right to reach, at the bottom of a gorge, its beautiful 70-metre-high waterfall.

(1) Turn back and return to the car park.

(S) Take the Chemin de la Druise again, then the D578a. At the fork, continue along the D578a to the left to reach the junction in front of the Hôtel du Moulin de la Pipe.

(2) Walk right along the D578 towards Omblèze until you reach a signpost at the entrance to the first small car park.

(3) Climb the path up the embankment on the left. Pass in front of the Cascadelle de la Pissoire waterfall on the Ruisseau de Corbière and walk through the woods to reach a fork.

(4) Ignore the path on the left and head right towards Le Pêcher du Bas. Cross the Ruisseau de Corbière, and at the junction in the hamlet, continue straight ahead. After 150 m, at the fork, turn left. Descend via a few hairpin bends to follow the right bank of the previous stream and enter the unusual and shady Canyon des Gueulards.

(5) Nestled between two vertical rock faces, this canyon remains dry in summer. The uphill traverse, dotted with cairns amidst moss and ferns, features two entertaining, secured crossings. At the end, ignore the marked path to the right and take the one on the left. Cross the footbridge then climb up the hillside of the valley to reach a junction.

(6) Turn right onto the GR®9. Immediately after the Moreaux farm, at the hairpin bend, leave the track and follow the path opposite. About 300 m further on, at the T-junction (elevation 834 m), keep left. Pass La Morelle farm, cutting across the hairpin bend in the road via a shortcut. Return to the road before leaving it for a path running alongside it to the right. Climb the opposite slope and join a road, the Chemin de Tête Noire.

(7) Take this road to the right, passing the farm of the same name. At the end of the road, ignore the side paths and follow the GR®9 trail straight ahead alongside a shed. Ignore two side paths and further on you’ll reach a junction (elevation 934).

(8) Turn right and, at the fork 150 m further on, turn right, then left at the next fork. Ignore the side paths and further on you’ll reach a junction.

(9) Follow the path down to the left to reach the D199. Take this road to the left and continue onto the D70 at the entrance to Léoncel (elevation 917m). Turn left and then left again towards the stopover lodge at the remarkable 12th-century Cistercian abbey. (E)

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 1,919 ft - Chute de la Druise car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.5 - alt. 1,663 ft - Chute de la Druise
  3. 2 : mi 1.76 - alt. 1,814 ft - Moulin de la Pipe junction - Gervanne (rivière)
  4. 3 : mi 2.13 - alt. 1,965 ft - Junction. Gueulards Canyon Trail
  5. 4 : mi 2.54 - alt. 2,162 ft - Fork. Grand Crot Ravine
  6. 5 : mi 3.31 - alt. 2,201 ft - Start of the Canyon des Gueulards
  7. 6 : mi 4.62 - alt. 2,674 ft - GR9 junction
  8. 7 : mi 6.02 - alt. 3,051 ft - Junction. Chemin de Tête Noire
  9. 8 : mi 7.31 - alt. 3,064 ft - Crossroads. Les Marais
  10. 9 : mi 8.5 - alt. 3,159 ft - Crossroads - Léoncel (cours d'eau) - Affluent de la Lyonne
  11. E : mi 8.99 - alt. 2,989 ft - Abbaye de Léoncel

Notes

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.

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