Between the forest and the Montagne Noire drainage ditch

A refreshing walk in the Montagne Noire from the small village of Lacombe (11310) to the Ramondens national forest (Tarn) with a picnic stop near the retaining dyke of the St-Denis basin.
Return via the right bank of the Alzeau and passage at the Prise d'Alzeau, source of the Canal du Midi, before climbing back up to Lacombe.
Walk checked on 18/06/23. A few details have been added by the author

Details

1554936
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.20 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 236 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 239 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 751 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 590 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Access: reach Lacombe via Fontiers-Cabardès or Laprade Basse. Park in the car park in front of the town hall.

(S/E) Take the road to St-Denis, turning in front of the church, then follow the sign for Prise d'Alzeau - Piétons uniquement (pedestrians only) on the right. Go down Rue de la Rivière, then Rue de la Rivière Prolongée, followed by a footpath to the place called La Forge. Go around the restaurant À la Prise d'Alzeau, cross the stream and arrive at a fork just after the footbridge.

(1) Turn right and follow a path on the right bank of the Alzeau before turning off to climb up to the Route de la Galaube. Turn left onto this road, cross the Coudière stream via a bridge and immediately join a crossroads and a path on the left.

(2) Leave the tarmac road and take the path between a mobile phone relay station and the road, then turn off this path and enter the Ramondès forest via the Trabès del Touart until you reach a crossroads.

(3) Leave the path leading to Ramondens Castle, which has been taken over by EDF to set up a CCAS centre (holiday camp), on your right and follow the next track towards the south-west. You will arrive at a deforested area. Look for a path on the right, blocked by fallen trees. Head west towards Les Planettes before turning south-west to join the Plo du Poteau forest road.

(4) Turn right onto this road, cross the Bergassonne stream, which also supplies water to the Canal du Midi, cross another bridge and continue for another 200 metres.

(5) In a slight right-hand bend, leave the road and take a path on the left, which starts with a small gravel slope, then turn left into the woods until you reach the Rigole. Cross it via a sluice gate (photo) to reach the service road, at the Bergnassonne stream, in front of the ruins of an old guard house. Take a few steps to the left.

(6) Cross the Rigole again via a small arched bridge and head back up into the woods. Cross a ford and follow a path, not marked on the IGN map, above the Rigole to emerge near a crossroads in the Bois d'Abadie.

(7) Take a gravel path on the left to join the D 408. Turn right and arrive at the Cabanelles crossroads (picnic tables at the side of the Saissac road). Cross the Rigole via the road bridge.

PR 1 yellow line "Entre Château et Rigole"

(8) Turn left onto the marked path running alongside the Rigole above the estate, then turn right in front of a gate, leaving the marked path. Follow the directions: see practical information. Follow the fence around the Cabanelles estate and at the crossroads (elevation 618), turn left to reach the St-Denis basin via the Bois d'Abadié.

(9) Picnic tables invite you to take a pleasant break near the basin's spillway. You can walk around the basin on a marked trail. On the right or left bank, head to the start of the lake. Depending on the case, a footbridge allows you to cross the stream. (The circuit offers a return trip along the left bank of the basin.)

(10) Follow the path on the right bank of the small stream, which winds its way along the river. Cross two small wooden footbridges before arriving at a clearing. In the clearing, ignore a path coming from the left and the bridge (on the right) over the Alzeau a few metres further on. Cross a deforested and damaged area, then rejoin the trail under the Rigole de la Montagne until you reach the Maison du Garde, near the Prise d'Alzeau.

(1) Take the same route back to the Lacombe car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 716 m - Lacombe church car park
  2. 1 : km 0.59 - alt. 653 m - Footbridge over the Alzeau. Crossroads of the loop - Prise D'Alzeau
  3. 2 : km 1.19 - alt. 697 m - Crossroads of the Saissac road and the Arfons road
  4. 3 : km 2.09 - alt. 748 m - Crossroads - Access to Ramondens Castle
  5. 4 : km 4.06 - alt. 681 m - RF du Plo du Poteau
  6. 5 : km 4.6 - alt. 673 m - Leaving the road for the path on the left
  7. 6 : km 4.75 - alt. 638 m - Bergassonne sluice gate
  8. 7 : km 5.32 - alt. 672 m - Bois d'Abadie - Turn left
  9. 8 : km 6.35 - alt. 645 m - The Rigole
  10. 9 : km 8.16 - alt. 599 m - St-Denis dam
  11. 10 : km 9.16 - alt. 603 m - Footbridge over the Alzeau or - Rougeanne (rivière)
  12. S/E : km 12.2 - alt. 715 m - Lacombe church car park

Notes

At (8), the markings on the ground no longer encourage crossing the Cabanelles property, although it is still highlighted in red on the outdated IGN map.

A photo was taken at the ditch during two successive crossings (6)

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 26 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Marie1960
Marie1960

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

In a word: delightful! A superb loop through a national forest of deciduous trees (oaks and beeches) and some conifers, where the paths criss-cross, making it necessary to follow the GPS track, which is very useful as the route is not marked. The coolness of the site is welcome in this heatwave, and the Alzeau water intake, the stream, the brooks and the lake along the route are historical features of the canal's construction. Take the time to read the information boards, which are very well done.
We ended up covering 14 km with a 250 m elevation gain very easily in this spot, which was far from the crowds on Tuesday. There are picnic tables by the lake, which are very handy and provide shade 🌳.

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jp11
jp11

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 : Yes

With temperatures reaching 33°C in Carcassonne, it's better to be in the Montagne Noire.
To leave your vehicle in the shade, park on the lower side of the road leading to the Alzeau junction, rather than at Lacombe. There is plenty of space on the lower side without causing any obstruction.
At (5), there is no longer a cairn and there is some uncertainty at (6), but with the route marked on your smartphone, there should be no problem.

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emico63
emico63

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route through woodland and along a stream, which is very refreshing in summer.
There is also historical interest in discovering this important part of the Canal du Midi.

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Lo Joanòt
Lo Joanòt

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Deciduous undergrowth (magnificent beech trees) and streams typical of the Montagne Noire, much appreciated in hot weather. 4 to 5 degrees cooler than in the valley (Mazamet). GPS coordinates should sometimes be added to the map and description.
No difficulties.

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Donpopa
Donpopa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, very accessible. The route is very well marked; we never had any doubts.
Thanks to whoever shared this route

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Bruno374
Bruno374

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a magnificent and varied route through the Montagne Noire starting from the village of Lacombe
No difficulty

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b;feyfant
b;feyfant

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route, magnificent landscapes, thank you to the creator of this hike. This is the third time our group has requested this hike to enjoy the undergrowth and the coolness of the water.
The Visorando app is essential.

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Aigle noir
Aigle noir

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The route is well marked and allows you to leave the rather monotonous edge of the ditch via paths through the woods, which are much more interesting. Just be careful after the arched bridge to find the path that goes back up into the woods. Avoid muddy sections after heavy rain.
Congratulations to the creator of the route.

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Macari
Macari

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike for those who love streams and rivers. It's the best! 😎

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DANDUR
DANDUR

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The application is necessary because there is no markup

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Lou valou
Lou valou

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful walk and very shaded. Popular route. It's a shame that it's not very well signposted.

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hcrando
hcrando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty route in the shade and often alongside a stream. Ideal for this time of year. We found our way without too much trouble thanks to the app, but I think it would be easy to get lost without it, given the number of paths in the forest and the twists and turns of this route. It was interesting to see the Alzeau water intake. Many thanks to those who created this route.

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petitbob
petitbob

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Good evening, fellow hikers.
Here is a superb hike with a gentle profile and comfortable, shaded, wide and peaceful paths. For even more enjoyment, at point 5 we left the circuit to go to Lake Lampy via Lampiot, about 2 km away. A swim, then lunch, a nap and we were off again, taking the same route back.A total of about 20 km in the shade. A wonderful day, thank you Visorando.petitbob. (Hike not marked, without the Visorando app, complicated walk).

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Pierre11
Pierre11

As the author of the route published quite some time ago, I have just redone the circuit and added some details in places that may cause problems. This hike is not signposted at all, so you will need to download the route onto your smartphone before setting off to find your way around without any problems. The areas that have been deforested may confuse some people, but I am not responsible for the damage done!
I enjoyed showing this route to a couple of friends just as much as I did the first time. Now it's up to everyone to make up their own minds by using the practical tools available (such as the Visorando app) to explore it.
Pierre11

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Véro Sap
Véro Sap

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We started the hike with both the directions from the PDF file and the map from the Visiorando app on our phone. Very quickly, the PDF proved impossible to follow because there were too many paths crossing each other. It's a very "civilised" walk. Easy and flat with some beautiful trees. From point 10 onwards, the felling of a large number of trees is aesthetically damaging.

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