From the Col du Tonet via the Bois de la Joux

Forest walk through the woods of La Joux, La Joux Dessous and La Joux Dessus, along well-marked paths and a road alternating between gravel and tarmac.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.07 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 210 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 217 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,020 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 860 m

Description of the walk

To reach the start, follow the D131 between Gilley and Le Luisans and park at the Col du Tonet.

(S/E) Take the forest road behind the gas pipe marker, which then becomes a clearly marked path, and continue along this path hugging the cliffs. View of the Orchamps-Vennes valley.

(1) Turn right at the boundary of the municipality, clearly marked by posts numbered from 10 to 1. When you reach post no. 1, turn right.

(2) Cross a dirt track, continue straight on along line 46 and follow a well-defined path again.

(3) Before the field, turn right onto a grassy track and continue until you reach the gravel road.

(4) Turn left onto the gravel road to reach a hunting car park.

(5) Turn right onto the forest track (barrier blocking vehicle access).

(6) Turn right towards “Les Seignes” then quickly turn right again. Pass between the two picnic tables to go round the Étang du Cougnet.

(7) Back on the forest road, follow it to the right, then cross Les Seignes.

(8) On leaving the village of Les Seignes, turn right onto the road “Les Vies de Vennes”.

(9) When you reach the hamlet, take the second road on the right, which is “closed to vehicles over 3.5 tonnes”. Continue on and cross the railway line.

(10) At the Stop sign, on the other side, cross the D131 and take the forest track opposite, which then becomes a well-defined path.

(11) Turn right onto the path that climbs.

(12) Turn right at the sign onto the path that climbs up to join a tarmac road.

(13) Follow it to the left and continue to a crossroads.

(14) Turn right onto the tarmac road, which turns into a gravel track. At the junction with a track coming from the left, continue straight on. You will reach a road; turn left to reach the Col du Tonet (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 965 m - Car park at - Col du Tonet (965m)
  2. 1 : km 2.03 - alt. 959 m - Municipal boundary marked by a tree and a red boundary stone
  3. 2 : km 2.45 - alt. 915 m - Straight on, line 46
  4. 3 : km 3.04 - alt. 883 m - Turn right at the clearing
  5. 4 : km 3.18 - alt. 882 m - On the left, a stony path
  6. 5 : km 3.39 - alt. 881 m - Forest track with a barrier
  7. 6 : km 4.79 - alt. 866 m - Walk around Étang du Cougnet
  8. 7 : km 5.72 - alt. 865 m - Road towards Les Seignes
  9. 8 : km 6.45 - alt. 860 m - End of the village
  10. 9 : km 7.03 - alt. 879 m - Road closed to vehicles over 3.5 tonnes
  11. 10 : km 8.11 - alt. 917 m - Stop. Forest track opposite
  12. 11 : km 8.71 - alt. 936 m - Turn right and follow the path uphill
  13. 12 : km 9.16 - alt. 969 m - Turn right at the sign
  14. 13 : km 9.52 - alt. 971 m - Tarmac road on the left
  15. 14 : km 10.58 - alt. 1,015 m - Turn right to the car park
  16. S/E : km 13.07 - alt. 965 m - Col du Tonet car park

Worth a visit

Walk around Étang du Cougnet with picnic tables and shelter.
View of the Orchamps-Vennes and Gilley valleys.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Delasu
Delasu

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route is mainly through woodland.
A bit muddy in places and a few sections of road.
Nice. We had a really good time.

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cnu25
cnu25

Hello @SimonB, thank you for your feedback on this hike.... Have a nice day and see you soon on other trails.

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simonb
simonb

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, shaded walk with a beautiful picnic spot by the pond

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simonb
simonb

07/08/25
A lovely hike, shaded, well signposted, with a beautiful picnic spot by the pond

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cnu25
cnu25

THANK YOU

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richardd
richardd

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk with some beautiful views, but we did it in the opposite direction, which meant we could have a picnic by the pretty little pond in the sunshine.

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Boumbake
Boumbake
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A great hike on 3 August 2022, half through the forest, half along a tarmac road.
The times given are accurate for leisurely walkers.
The walk around the Étang du Cougnet is lovely. A well-balanced walk, with no difficulty.
Thank you

  • At point 10, you really must cross the road straight ahead; the path isn’t clearly visible from the stop sign
  • At point 12, make sure you turn right onto a path leading up to the signposted hiking sign on the trail, attached to a tree.

Otherwise, it’s described really well.

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bouhelier
bouhelier

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We had trouble reaching point 13; some signposting would be useful. We took two different paths after point 12 and both times we came across fences around pastures. I think the owners of these pastures don’t want hikers on their land, and I can understand why, as there was livestock there. This needs to be looked into. Thank you.

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Mangemanche
Mangemanche

Hello,
Just a quick comment on the name of the walk: ‘From the Col du Tonet via the Bois de la Joux’ – it doesn’t quite sit right!
From one place to another, (passing through) another place – that’s how the title should read if you want to use the phrase “(passing through)”.
Well done on your website.
I won’t linger; I need to give my opinion on four hikes I’ve just done in Lozère.

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