From Col de Pavezin to Col de Grenouze via Mont Ministre

Hike through the forest from one pass to another via Mont Ministre, alternating between panoramic views of the Pilat massif and the Rhône valley. Along the way, there are a few remarkable sites: Grotte des Fées (Fairy Cave) and the Old Chapel.
There are places to eat at both passes, or you can stop for a picnic at Col de Grenouze.
Take care on the descent from the forest track to the Vieille Chapelle: it is a narrow, fairly steep path that can be slippery in wet weather.

Details

3206683
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.63 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 270 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 268 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 765 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 527 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from Col de Pavezin. Large car park on site. Tourist information signs.

(S/E) The hike starts by leaving the buildings on your left and climbing northwards along a forest track. At the intersection shortly afterwards, keep to the left.

(1) At the intersection of the forest tracks, turn right, following the signs for Mont Ministre, along the ridge line to reach the Grotte des Fées.

(2) Descend to the right into the forest to access various rock sites, then climb back up the track and continue towards Mont Ministre.

(3) After enjoying the site, descend the way you came and turn left. Join a wide forest track heading south-west and follow it downhill.

(4) Take a sharp left onto a narrow downhill path (cairn). Take care on the descent. Continue straight on towards Bonne Bouche and join the road.

(5) Turn left and pass La Vieille Chapelle.

(6) Leave the road and climb left up the path towards Col de Grenouze.

(7) At the pass, take the path to the west.

(8) Continue along the Jean-Jacques Rousseau path towards Col de Pavezin.

(1) Continue along the forest road you took on the way there until you reach the Col de Pavezin car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 652 m - Col de Pavezin
  2. 1 : km 0.64 - alt. 702 m - Crossroads of forest tracks
  3. 2 : km 1.21 - alt. 752 m - Grotte des Fées
  4. 3 : km 2.12 - alt. 764 m - Mont Ministre (766 m)
  5. 4 : km 3.12 - alt. 702 m - Cairn for the descent via a narrow path
  6. 5 : km 4.19 - alt. 547 m - Arrival on the Bonne Bouche road
  7. 6 : km 4.97 - alt. 527 m - Path after the Old Chapel
  8. 7 : km 6.07 - alt. 624 m - Col de Grenouze
  9. 8 : km 6.38 - alt. 656 m - Crossroads at an altitude of 662 metres
  10. S/E : km 8.63 - alt. 652 m - Col de Pavezin

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 17 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
gdeville
gdeville

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk accessible to all. A beautiful, bright and sunny 1st of May.

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maurice.ogier
maurice.ogier
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Difficulty following the route downhill

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Jacou15
Jacou15

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful walk, easy

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marcorando38
marcorando38

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Walk taken on 24 August 2024 with a southerly wind; not too hot as it was almost entirely in the forest.

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Babs Sirène
Babs Sirène

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk. We didn't enjoy the parts through the forestry operations (which are not forests) as much, as they were lifeless.
We particularly enjoyed the stop at the chapel (where we stopped for a picnic).

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nana75
nana75
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike 😍

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Genny
Genny

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I would just like to point out an error at the start (as other hikers have already mentioned). Thank you to them for saving us from getting off to a false start.
At the first crossroads, turn left and not right towards Mont Ministre.
It is at the second crossroads that you should turn right towards Mont Ministre.
Otherwise, we didn't get lost, even if we sometimes had to backtrack a little to find the right path.
This was my first hike with Visorando and I'm very happy with it.
Thank you

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Mida
Mida

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike in grey weather, without meeting anyone!
We set off from the village of Pavezin instead of the pass. We took a wrong turn at the start (turning right instead of left at the first sign for "Mont Ministre") and followed the route in the wrong order... but we found our way back. Mont Ministre is nothing spectacular... but there is a very beautiful viewpoint just before the paragliding launch area. A very nice hike with no difficulty whatsoever!

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liliane.clarens
liliane.clarens

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A peaceful and refreshing route for exercise that takes you through numerous forests and rocky passages with magnificent rock formations and beautiful panoramic views of the Rhône Valley, the Pilat Massif and the Balcons du Gier, not to mention the passage in front of La Vieille Chapelle, which is ideal for taking a break.
Thanks to the author for this varied and well-maintained route.

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Marieno38
Marieno38

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We made a mistake at the start of the hike: we followed the first sign on the right pointing to Mont Ministre, when we should have turned left first and then right a little further on.

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Llibertel03
Llibertel03

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did it on the last Friday of October 21. Windy, overcast and sunny weather. Very pleasant hike. Started off to the left at the very beginning, then turned right at the next sign, which allowed us to pass by the fairy cave...a nice walk

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chris07marcheur
chris07marcheur

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There are some lovely views between the Col de Pavezin and the Col de Grenouze. The rest of the hike is mostly through woodland. The vegetation obstructs any views from the summit of Mont Ministre, so the short detour is not particularly worthwhile.
We added the climb up Mont Monnet to the route, and from there, the view over the Rhône valley is breathtaking

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Jptom
Jptom

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Pleasant trail with moderate difficulty

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Fandol
Fandol
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Excellent hike! We really enjoyed it.
Thank you!

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LaurineGt
LaurineGt

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A perfect Sunday hike! Completed in 2 hours and 45 minutes with a lunch break and at a fairly leisurely pace. Mostly shaded in the forest, with little elevation gain and very few people except at the two passes. Beautiful views of the Pilat massif, Pélussin, the Pic des 3 Dents and the Rhône valley.
Be careful on the descent to the Vieille Chapelle: do not follow "Chuyer 2" even if the route used to correspond. In addition, the path is narrow, quite steep and a little slippery in wet weather.

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