Gorge de la Méouge - Crête Saint-Cyr

Access: from Barret-sur-Méouge, take the D124a (winding, narrow, uphill road; please note that two vehicles cannot pass each other) and head towards Saint-Pierre-Avez.
Park in the small car park on the right before the entrance to the village, which is indicated by a sign saying "Parking départ randonnée et VTT" (car park for hikers and mountain bikers). The car park is opposite a fenced-off playground (basketball court).

(S/E) From the car park, start the hike by heading towards the village up the tarmac road.

(1) Take the street on the left, following the wooden sign for "Antonaves, Gorges de la Méouge". After a few hundred metres, join the^GRP®® (Tour du Buëch), marked in yellow and red, on a track suitable for vehicles. Follow the^GRP®® to Antonaves, walking alongside the Gorges de la Méouge. Ignore three consecutive turnings on the right and continue on the track.

(2) At Serre Beylon, continue straight ahead towards "Gorges de la Méouge" following the^GRP®®, marked in yellow and red. The track becomes a path. This winds along the river, mainly above (cliff) the river and occasionally at water level. The^GRP®® path is very regularly marked (yellow-red). On the first quarter of the route to Antonaves, you will cross numerous small waterfalls on a slight incline.

(3) After almost 2 km, you will reach a promontory where you can admire the view over the gorges. Continue along the path above the gorges to reach the first bridge, which crosses the Méouge and provides easy access to the riverbank.

(4) Stay on the right bank (downstream) and continue on the^GRP®® for about 800 m to reach the waterfall.

(5) Stop to look at the waterfall. Be careful at the edge of the cliff! The^GRP®® arrives near a Romanesque bridge.

(6) Make a round trip down to the Roman bridge, then continue along the^GRP®® on the left on the path to Antonaves. You will arrive in Antonaves on a small tarmac road.

(7) In Antonaves, follow the signs for "Pic Saint-Cyr". Take the tarmac road on the right, which climbs and turns into a track suitable for vehicles. After two successive bends, you will reach a fork.

(8) Follow the signs to the right for "Site d'Escalade" and "Saint-Pierre-Avez". The markings turn yellow. Leave the^GRP®® (Tour du Buëch).

(9) At the fork marking the entrance to "La Plaine", continue left towards "Pic Saint Cyr". Yellow markings. Stay on the main track, following the yellow markings and ignoring the two turnings on the right.

(10) At the exit of "La Plaine", take the track on the right "Saint-Pierre-Avez". Yellow markings. The track turns into a path that climbs steadily. Ignore the turn-off on the left at elevation 889 (a poorly marked path descending to "La Plaine").

(11) Take the path on the left at the wooden sign indicating "Pic Saint-Cyr". There are no markings for a few hundred metres, but the path is clearly marked.

(12) At "l'Ourse", continue to the right, following the direction of "Pic Saint-Cyr". The path climbs more steeply through the forest. Yellow markings. Continue on the ascending path until you reach the ridge and follow it to the right.

(13) When you reach Crête Saint-Cyr, continue straight ahead following Col Saint-Pierre. The path climbs gradually and winds along the ridges through high-altitude pastureland with no visible fences. Yellow markings.

(14) Make a round trip to the summit of Pic de Saint-Cyr and take the path that descends to the left, marked with yellow markings. The descent is on a narrow path to Col de Saint-Pierre.

(15) Continue straight ahead towards "Salerans". The markings change to yellow-red and yellow. The path climbs for the first few hundred metres to the Col de Blauri. You will find yourself in the woods.

(16) At the Col de Blauri, take the path on the right towards Col de Garasse. The markings become yellow only. The path through the woods becomes much wider (forest track boundary). Continue on the main track and ignore the narrower path on the left 250 m from the Col du Vieux Bus.

(17) At the Col du Vieux Bus, follow the yellow markings to the right towards Saint-Pierre-Avez. Before setting off again, take a look at the old bus wreck. The descent is on a track suitable for vehicles. Ignore any paths branching off to the left and right and stay on the main track.

(18) At "Cattiou", continue straight ahead following the signs for "Saint-Pierre-Avez". The track continues to descend gradually. Ignore all the turn-offs and continue on the main forest track which descends to Saint-Pierre-Avez. The track is wide and suitable for vehicles.

(19) When you reach Saint-Pierre-Avez, pass the wash house and continue straight ahead, following signs for "Pont de Saint-Pierre-Avez". Inside the village, the route follows a tarmac road to the car park (S/E).

There are fountains in the centre of the villages of Saint-Pierre-Avez and Antonaves.

The^PR®® trail along the gorges on the outskirts of Saint-Pierre-Avez crosses several waterfalls. In winter, these may be frozen. Crossing them can be tricky on a narrow, slightly sloping path (with some scree).

Dogs are not allowed: crossing of a pasture where animals roam semi-freely on the Crête de Saint-Cyr.

The route can be completed at a good pace in 5 hours, including a lunch break. Crossing the gorges takes 2 hours (not including stopping to dip your feet in the water or go for a swim).

Viewpoint above the gorges (3)

Waterfall on the Méouge (be careful at the edge of the cliff) (5)

Romanesque bridge spanning the Méouge (6)

Wreck of an old bus (17)