Country:
City:
The walk starts from the hamlet of Saint-Genis in the commune of Garde Colombe.
From the D1075, between Laragne and Serres, take the D94 and park near the town hall annexe, just before the village of Saint-Genis.
(S/E) With your back to the car park, turn left towards the Gorges du Riou. Continue along the road and cross the hamlet: note the sundial opposite Saint-Jaume Church.
(1) Continue along the D94 and stay on it, ignoring the small road on the left. At the next Fork in the road, turn left. At the top of Saint-Genis, you will find a path marked in yellow and red. Follow the signs for the Gorges du Riou and, after about 30 minutes’ walk on virtually level ground, you will come to a stone bridge on the right.
(2) Ignore the return path ahead, cross the Torrent du Riou and walk along the left bank. The path soon climbs in wide switchbacks (a few yellow markings). After about half an hour’s climb, you’ll come to a wider forest track. Take it to the left for about a hundred metres to reach the Route Forestière du Château.
(3) Turn left onto it. Continue through the forest, passing the Source du Château. The forest road winds through several bends to the left and right before reaching a junction just after a final right-hand bend.
(5) Turn left towards the Gorges du Riou (signposted). Enjoy some stunning views before descending to the bottom of the gorges.
(6) At the bottom of the descent, go through a tunnel and then cross the Riou on a wooden bridge. Then turn left along the gorges to return to the stone bridge you crossed on the way there.
(2) Follow the path you took on the way there in the opposite direction to Saint-Genis, then on to the town hall car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Association / Club / Walk leader
