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La Tuillère (between St-Jean de Muzol and Vion): at the roundabout, there are two small car parks. Choose the one on the Vercors side (railway line) to avoid having to cross the main road.
Note 1: it is also possible to start this hike in the village of Vion for easier parking and/or to take advantage of its bakery.
Note 2: during the summer, a local fruit and vegetable merchant sells his produce directly there. Yum yum... Enjoy!
(S/E) Go under the railway line, turn immediately right and head south. About 500 m further on, a ditch forces you to turn right towards the hills. Go back under the railway line. Cross the main road and go to the other side of the stream (on the right bank).
Follow the stream (tarmac road). Continue along this tarmac road (do not cross the ford, turn left between the houses) until you come to a very stony path that goes straight up (white and yellow markings), after passing a first path on the left that goes up into the vineyards.
(1) 100 m further on, at the crossroads, turn right. Follow the Grand Bois path to the next crossroads, about 1.6 km further on.
(2) Grands Bois. You will arrive at a map and a sign. Turn right towards Vion and descend a winding path to the small stream of La Tuillère. Cross it (easy, no danger) and climb up the opposite side, via several hairpin bends, to Fleurie.
Continue right, heading north on the tarmac road until you reach the crossroads (large round underground bin). Turn left for 30 m.
(3) Descend to the right along a good path, following the fence. Still follow the white and yellow markings. Enter the forest. Cross the Perrets stream (easy). Then a short climb takes you to Terre Noire. Follow the forest track to the right heading east for 250 m.
(4) Terre Noire crossroads: Please note, do not follow the white and yellow markings (the main trail that leads to Vion). Continue along the path, then take a very small path that starts to the right, 10 metres behind the cute little wooden house. This path runs horizontally eastwards, through old terraces or "chalets" (old stone walls now in the forest, which were once cultivated). Follow this very pleasant little path. At thefirst junction, at the start of the descent, turn right until you reach the white metal cross. A few pink marks on the ground indicate old markings. There are a few slightly rough sections on this descent.
As you pass, admire the isolation of a small stone cottage in this wild valley.
(5) White cross, altitude 246 m. Continue along the small path northwards, which now runs alongside the Rhône valley. Join a small road and follow it to the left to reach the church of Vion. Visit the church and its Carolingian crypt, if it is open (unfortunately this is rare).
(6) Reach the village of Vion via a staircase. Turn right and cross the village via Rue des Carrières, keeping the hill on your right and heading towards the D 86.
(7) Cross the road and follow it to the right for 100 metres. Caution: dangerous crossing.
Go under the railway line, where it is quiet. Turn right (farm track running alongside the railway line) into the orchards (cherries, apricots) and go under a power line.
Note: it is also possible to go straight ahead, due east, towards the Via Rhona. This will take you along the banks of the Rhône, in the shade of the trees. Be careful to take the road that leads back to La Tuillère, otherwise you will end up at the Saint-Jean-de-Muzols leisure centre on the banks of the Doux!
(8) It is impossible to follow the railway line as there is no longer a track. Turn left towards the east and find the only tarmac road on this plain. Follow it to the right for 300 m, passing a first road on the right.
(9) At the second road, turn right, return to the railway line and pass underneath it. You will find yourself back at the roundabout where you started and its small car parks (S/E).
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