Descent of the Canallettes to the source of the Durzon

Starting from Larzac, crossing the Domaine de la Maison des Forestiers, visiting a prehistoric shelter, you will descend to the source of the Durzon, then climb back up through the Pas de la Mule forest.

⚠️20/10/2025: The Canalettes fault site is closed annually from 1 October to 30 November by municipal decree.

Details

993420
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.94 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 202 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 206 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 713 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 523 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From the village of L'Hospitalet-du-Larzac, take the road to Egalières. After 3.2 km, park on the right in the improvised car park, which has space for many vehicles.

(S/E) Head south and take the wide track at a right angle, leaving the first path on your right and joining the path leading to Egalières.

Continue straight ahead and follow Chemin des Canallettes. After a large circular loop to the left, you will reach the Maison des Forestiers crossroads.

(2) Turn left to take the marked path north, enjoying all the species of trees planted here with their explanatory notes.

(3) At the 90° right-hand bend, make a return trip to the left to the prehistoric shelter.
Return to the path, stay on it, then head north to reach the Source du Durzon via a steep descent.

(4) Turn 90° to the right, walk along the fish farm and then the right bank of the Durzon to reach the bridge crossroads.

(5) Turn right, following the wooden sign for "Pas de la Mule". Begin the climb, which is easy at first but becomes more challenging later on. Follow the stream and, at a hairpin bend, you will reach a crossroads at the top of the climb.

(6) Stay on the path on the right, which becomes flat and pleasant.

(7) Turn right towards the Maison des Forestiers (forest rangers' house) and walk to it.

(2) Take the same track back to the left to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 713 m - Car park before Egalières
  2. 1 : km 0.74 - alt. 706 m - Egalières trail junction
  3. 2 : km 2.98 - alt. 685 m - Maison des Forestiers
  4. 3 : km 3.31 - alt. 687 m - Turn left towards the prehistoric shelter
  5. 4 : km 4.76 - alt. 543 m - Source of the Dourzon
  6. 5 : km 5.6 - alt. 523 m - Crossroads at the bridge, on the right
  7. 6 : km 7.14 - alt. 681 m - High point
  8. 7 : km 7.67 - alt. 677 m - Track junction
  9. S/E : km 10.94 - alt. 713 m - Car park before Egalières

Notes

(2) Picnic tables at the Maison des Forestiers.
Walking sticks are welcome to help with the descent and ascent.
You will need to use your hands to help you climb back up.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 29 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Kulifaj Alain
Kulifaj Alain

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant trail in summer when it is very hot

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Grab51
Grab51

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very hot day but a very shaded route. The climb is tough but in the shade. Check the yellow markings, which are sometimes faded. Once you reach the plateau, the hike is enjoyable, with rocks, unusual arches, prehistoric shelters, etc. The visit to the "canoles" is original and great. We got a little lost on the descent from the "pas de la mule" but it's accessible.
The Durzon and the spring are very nice and bucolic

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HenDou
HenDou

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb walk mainly through forest; unfortunately, rain cut short our visit to the canoles.
The descent to the spring is technical and should be avoided in wet weather or by casual walkers.
Thank you for this itinerary.

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alf
alf

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very picturesque landscape, pleasant route, not particularly difficult
Recommended for a beautiful day's walk

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Charval
Charval
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Just a mistake on our part, I think, to finish the loop, we did a bit of a U-turn on the way back and at the end of the 2 hour 45 minute circuit, we took the wrong path to get back to the car park. I think we should have gone down to the second canoles, a gentleman misdirected us. You should allow at least 4 hours to enjoy it, and more if you're having a picnic like we did

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toutain
toutain

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike. When you arrive at the bottom, there is a beautiful spring. Beautiful route through the forest except for the first 2 km there and back, which is a wide, uninteresting path. However, don't hesitate to stop and see the faults known as "canole", a short detour to the left after the second cattle grid on the way there.

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the crib
the crib

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An accessible hike, I did it with my two teenagers. Be careful on the descent, especially in wet weather

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figaubert
figaubert

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful route on the Larzac plateau, exploring the faults. The upper part of the Larzac is very popular, so follow the signposts carefully as there are many paths. The descent to the Sources du Durzon is a little technical, but the climb back up via the Pas de la Mule is very beautiful. This route can be done in all seasons, but should be avoided in wet weather, as the descent can be very slippery on the rocks as the descent can be very slippery on the rocks.

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Djeepee34
Djeepee34

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A Lord of the Rings atmosphere in the Canoles. Everything is covered in moss. A very pretty hike with no difficulty. Be sure to follow the signs for the Canoles and the caves. It makes the walk a little longer, but it's really beautiful. The spring is surprising..

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Arnaud De Fort
Arnaud De Fort

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike to do in winter. The trees, ground and rocks are covered in moss...
The route is a simple loop that follows the geography of the area well. Be careful on the flat section in the forest where there are many small paths.

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aveyrando
aveyrando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike. The descent to the source of the Dourzon is very steep in places, making it quite technical.

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Laveyronnais
Laveyronnais

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great hike, but not to be done on hunting days.

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pierrelabonde
pierrelabonde

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2029
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice hike

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burrich17
burrich17

hello,
please could you clarify about the cave, the signs are very recent and did not exist when I drew the map

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Alain5757
Alain5757

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike. We recommend a slight variation: 2,400 metres after leaving the car park, a small yellow sign indicates "la grotte éclairée" (the illuminated cave) on the left. Take this path, which will rejoin the original route 600 metres further on. This little cave is magnificent.

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