From Russan to the Saint-Nicolas bridge via the Gardon gorges

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

The proposed hike is interesting. Unfortunately, we did it in weather that was too hot (35°C).
This hike should be avoided in very hot weather. Otherwise, it offers some beautiful views.

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For your information, the route is rated as difficult. Come and walk along the banks of the Loire in Touraine, where it is flatter and there is Vouvray wine.

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Date of your route : Sep 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Awful, awful, awful, the dry Gardon riverbed. Three hours of walking on pebbles that slip underfoot, risking broken ankles. At 2 km/h, it was hell. Fortunately, the weather was cloudy. Route reconnaissance for the hiking club, but it will be cancelled for the sake of the members. The only interesting thing was the spectacular scree shaped by water, when there was any, but it wasn't worth the effort. The turning point was poorly marked.

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Date of your route : Aug 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The landscapes are spectacular, but be aware that this is a difficult hike. In our opinion, it should be avoided with children or people who are not fit for hikes with long, difficult sections. Walking in the riverbed is very challenging (90% large pebbles, 4% sand, 1% climbing, etc.). The riverbed was 90% dry, but that doesn't mean anything because the water is concentrated in a few places. We lost more than half an hour in one spot trying to find a dry crossing (the water was stagnant and we hadn't had all our vaccinations 😅): we walked along the bank until we reached a blockage, then turned back to return to a ford...
You need to bring plenty of water and a hat. We set off at 6 a.m. to avoid the heat, but even so, the end was challenging for some of us. Allow 20 to 40% extra time depending on the condition of the roach and the summer heat.
PS: we crossed a nesting site for European rollers at sunrise. It was magical 😍😍😍!

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There is currently too much water in the Gardon to follow this description. We left Russan and followed the cliffs to Pont St Nicolas, returning via Vic and Russan.
Thank you anyway for this description, which we will keep under our... feet!
Best regards.

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Date of your route : Sep 18, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Beautiful hike with spectacular views of the Gardon Gorges
Avoid excessive heat and bring water.

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Date of your route : Aug 21, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The gorges are very beautiful, but walking on these large pebbles is very challenging.
A scenic hike; avoid the hottest times of day and take plenty of water with you.
It must be even more beautiful when there is a little water in the Gardon, but at this time of year (19 August) everything was very dry.
Thank you for this route, which is easy to follow.

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Date of your route : Aug 16, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb hike, highly recommended!
However, we did the circular in the opposite direction, which made the directions difficult to follow.
Be aware that the path through the gorge is difficult to follow, but the direction is obvious. However, this means that there is no proper trail... and the long walk over pebbles is very tiring and makes the hike much longer.

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Thank you for taking an interest in this hike and for completing it. Every time I've done it, it's been around this time of year, so it's feasible given the water levels, but that can vary from year to year. I've planned another personal visit to this area, on the ridge trails, but this time for geocaching.

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Date of your route : Jul 27, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hike completed on 27/7/2017
The Gardon riverbed was dry for 80% of the route, especially at the start in Russan.
Two-thirds of the way along the riverbed, there is a little more water, but you can cross without getting your feet wet. Sturdy footwear is recommended, as you will be walking on stones, pebbles and vegetation for quite a long time.
On the way back, shortly after point 5, the small path becomes a trail with vegetation that is quite overgrown, so I preferred to join the GR 63. After point 7, you must of course visit the viewpoint, which cannot be missed, overlooking the gorges a little further east. I then continued on the GR 63 to Russan.
The ideal season for this hike is not obvious. Too early in the season, the water can be a hindrance, and in the middle of summer, the empty riverbed leaves a strange impression and the plateau is arid... take enough water and set off early.
But it's a very wild place, and the view of the riverbed from above is superb.
Be wary of the risk of sudden rises in water levels in the event of rain, as in any riverbed. Remember that on 8 September 2002, the historic flood of the Gardon exceeded the height of the Saint-Nicolas bridge, which is 27 metres above the low water level!
Thank you to Bernard for suggesting this beautiful hike.

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Thank you for completing this route. The end is indeed quite monotonous, with the St Nicolas bridge in the distance and lots of pebbles, which makes it feel like you're not making any progress!

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Date of your route : Jul 11, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I did it on 11 July 2017... The Gardon is dry, but there were still two places where I had to take off my shoes. You need to bring a towel.
I didn't like the end of the route as much... which passes in front of the mill.
Thank you for the trail.

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Hello, thank you for commenting on my hike. I have done it six times, always in summer (July/August). I enjoyed it every time, so I decided to post it on Visorando. It is true that at this time of year, it is more difficult, like the Concluses hike, and I understand the disappointment of not being able to complete it. That's why, after a similar comment and on the advice of the moderator, I specified "summer hike" and "check water levels". Other hikers have found a solution by doing it by canoe, which isn't a bad idea, but you need to be equipped, which isn't easy when you're just passing through the region; you can't just pull a canoe out of your pocket. Some have only done part of it. In fact, to sum up, everyone does what they want, based on a suggested outline. Personally, that's what I do when geocaching: I set out with a route in mind, and often, for various reasons, I don't complete the whole thing. Best regards, Bernard.

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Date of your route : May 02, 2017
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hi

I went there on 17 April, but there was still far too much water.
So I decided to go down it in a canoe. It was incredible, magnificent. The Gardon Gorges between Russan and the Saint Nicolas Bridge are magnificent and wild.

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