From Ruoms to Labeaume

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From Ruoms to Labeaume, the hike alternates between ancient villages and nature.
This itinerary passes the Ardèche river, the heights of the Baume river gorge, the pretty village of Labeaume and the old town of Ruoms.
Alternating between shady and sunny stretches. Several possibilities for swimming along the way.

Details

n°1750389
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.35 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 158 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 160 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 190 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 110 m
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Photos

Labeaume

Description of the walk

Start : Park in the large car park in Ruoms, close to the main road close to the Gendarmerie.

(S/E) Follow the D579 road North-West along the cycle path. The cycle path leaves D579 to reach D557.

(1) Turn left onto Avenue Olivier de Serres (D557) and continue South-West along Rue René Cassin. At the cemetery, take the street that climbs to the right (Rue du Petit Bois).

(2) At a small roundabout, turn left onto a busy street, Rue Des Brasserie (D4). Then turn right and cross the Ruoms bridge.

(3) After the bridge, turn left (South) along the road for 120m. Go slightly uphill before leaving the Ardèche River by turning right.

(4) At the first intersection at La Buissière, leave the road and follow a wide track to the left. From here to Labeaume (village), follow the yellow and white signs.

(5) Follow the marked path through the forest to the right, taking care not to encroach on private property, for 1.7 Km until it joins the D345.

(6) Turn left onto this road as far as Labeaume. After 420m, descend left into Labeaume on a footpath. Take the time to explore this town built of stone. When you reach the church, walk towards the river.

(7) Cross the submersible bridge and enter the forest. Ignore the signposted direction for Ruoms and take a path to the right.

(8) Along this path, you will see a sign indicating a viewpoint. The round trip takes 5 minutes and is well worth the detour. Then take the winding path South up to the road.

(9) Follow this road to the left (at every intersection, if in doubt, take the road to the left) ofr 1 Km.

(10) After the campsite and towards the Chavetourte riding school, leave the road and continue ahead on the path. After a short stretch of road, take a stony path which descends to a road (D208).

(11) Turn left, cross the bridge over the river Baume and continue on the D208 back to the Ruoms bridge.

(3) Cross the bridge again and continue to Ruoms town centre along Rue des Brasseries.

(12) From a small square, turn right into the old town of Ruoms. After visiting the old town, continue along the Rue Nationale then Avenue de la Gare to reach the Gendarmerie and car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 123 m - Parking in Ruoms near the D579
  2. 1 : km 1.47 - alt. 127 m - Roundabout
  3. 2 : km 2.05 - alt. 121 m - Ruoms bridge - Ardèche
  4. 3 : km 2.68 - alt. 135 m - Start of the path above La Baume
  5. 4 : km 4.38 - alt. 179 m - D345 to the left
  6. 5 : km 5.16 - alt. 114 m - Labeaume submersible bridge - Beaume (rivière)
  7. 6 : km 5.54 - alt. 144 m - View of Labeaume
  8. 7 : km 5.98 - alt. 183 m - Left at the road
  9. 8 : km 7.07 - alt. 175 m - Intersection near the equestrian centre
  10. 9 : km 7.75 - alt. 119 m - Left-hand road
  11. 10 : km 9.56 - alt. 120 m - Old town - Ruoms
  12. S/E : km 10.35 - alt. 123 m - Parking in Ruoms near the D579

Notes

Start : Park in the large car park in Ruoms, close to the main road close to the Gendarmerie.

Refreshments: Bring water for hot weather. Refreshments available in Labeaume and Ruoms.

Note : Several swimming spots.

Terrain: Descents can be slippery when wet. After very heavy storms, it may be impossible to cross the submersible bridge at Labeaume (very rare, but it does happen).

Worth a visit

Enjoy the village of Labeaume with its swimming facilities.
You can also swim in the Ardèche in Ruoms.
The old town of Ruoms is also well worth a visit.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
leblemard
leblemard

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Markings off the beaten track, very few and sometimes non-existent.

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Permaf30
Permaf30

Very beautiful hike but too much road and sometimes dangerous. Otherwise, a wonderful discovery. Very beautiful village to visit.

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Serge627
Serge627

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 11/06/2025. Departure from the Ruoms car park was a little complicated, but fortunately there is a tourist office. Between points 1, 2 on the way there and 9 on the way back, the road is dangerous. The arrival in Labeaume is magnificent. The rest of the route is pleasant.

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Permaf30
Permaf30

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk, magnificent scenery but too many roads as mentioned above.

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fabibi
fabibi

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

If you like walking on tarmac, this tour is for you.
It's a real shame because the village of Labeaume is really very beautiful.
In my opinion, you should opt for hikes that leave from Labeaume, as the departure and return from Ruoms are in the town and along a very busy road, and yet it was April.

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Mimi07
Mimi07

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, fairly easy walk. A variety of landscapes: stone walls, limestone, forests, etc. Discover the picturesque quarry village of Labeaume.
The walk started at "La Bigournette" (outward journey and return) to avoid the traffic on the road to Ruoms, a distance of around 8 km.
The only negative point is that part of the return journey follows the busy secondary road. To avoid this: after the Peyroche campsite (on the right), take a road on the left that leads to the hamlet of the same name, and then follow the path from the outward journey as far as the Ruoms bridge.
Not a very popular walk at this time of year.

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gj49@sfr.fr
gj49@sfr.fr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very fine walk, but one to be avoided in wet weather; in fine weather, the route is well protected by the vegetation. Good equipment for some tricky sections. We did this walk as a family with our grandchildren, the youngest being 10 years old.

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Jojo marcheur
Jojo marcheur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did the tour out of season and didn't meet a soul!
Very pleasant and the village of Labeaume is very picturesque!

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Camille B
Camille B

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk in the sunshine and out of the tourist season, perfect. However, there was a lot of road traffic and the return journey was on a busy main road. A shame.

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patrick 74
patrick 74

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Walk carried out on 31 January in the afternoon, so no other bipeds on the path. Nice discovery

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mancusoagnes
mancusoagnes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

super balade , tres jolis point de vue , village à découvrir
the last kilometre is not very pleasant on the roadside

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billoux78
billoux78

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Too bad, very disappointed by the distance covered on tarmac (7 km), in full sun, with too much traffic...
- from the start to point 3 (2.68 km)
- from point 7 to the finish (4.3 km)

The only interesting parts :
- in 2: the views * from the bridge over the Ardèche
- between points 3 and 4: walk ** on shady paths (about 1.5 km), away from any traffic, but with few viewpoints. We passed by the La Beaume gorges but didn't see them, either on the way out or on the way back.
- the pretty village of Labeaume
- in 6: the viewpoint *** over Labeaume, which is well worth the diversions

Overall VERY AVERAGE interest, I would have put DECEIVANT if it hadn't been for the viewpoint over the village.
Only 1.5 km of the 10 km route is enjoyable...

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abeauville
abeauville

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

We were disappointed by this hike: too many uninteresting roads and no swimming spots mentioned. There are enough great walks in this area that I wouldn't recommend this one.

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REVOLGIL
REVOLGIL
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

nice walk, with no difficulty, except for the stony sections.
I would, however, add a loop which is a little longer but allows you to see an interesting place:
the hanging gardens of Labeaume and a return to Labeaume along the river of the same name.
At point 4, instead of descending to the left towards Labeaume, continue straight on for 500m.
After 400m, at the crossroads, turn right as far as the Labeaume village hall. Continuing on the same road, after 20m take the path down to the river and follow it all the way down to Labeaume (the owner of the hotel pointed out this loop to us and she was right to do so).

Gilbert Revol

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REVOLGIL
REVOLGIL
• Edited:

Superb walk, but I'd add a loop before arriving in Labeaume in the direction of the hanging gardens and back along the Labeaume river, arriving at the bottom of Labeaume village.
return along the river Labeaume with arrival by the bottom of the village of Labeaume.
The panorama is magnificent, it takes a bit longer but it's worth the diversions.
Gilbert Revol

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