It appears that the end of the route has been changed on the ground. See the reviews and possibly try the route in the opposite direction
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Access via the Ardèche Gorges road at the Saint-Marcel Cave.
When the cave site is open during the summer season, park in the cave car park.
If the cave car park is closed, park in the small car park on the road opposite the cave site.
(S/E) From the cave car park entrance, take the path uphill and follow the signs to the Saint-Marcel Cave.
Take the path on the right and follow the signs along the entire loop, in the form of plaques engraved with 'Chemin de la Grosse Pierre' and fixed to large blocks of stone on the ground. Reach the La Grosse Pierre signpost.
(1) Turn right and continue along this path, ignoring the paths leading off to the right or left at the crossroads. Continue to the menhir called La Grosse Pierre. Then continue to the dolmen.
(2) Turn right onto the path where you will see a dolmen, a panoramic view of the gorges and the Pre-Alps, and finally a reconstructed charcoal kiln.
Find the Grotte de Saint-Marcel sign near the starting point.
(S/E) Head towards Combe du Pouzat. Just after the bend, there are two options:
- either take the path on the left, which is rutted and very steep (at least at the beginning) but which we did not take.
- or continue to a small road and then take a path on the left that runs parallel to the gorge road.
(3) After reaching the tourist road, cross it and follow the path that descends into the valley to the Combe du Pouzat signpost.
(4) Turn onto the path on the left towards the Camping des Grottes. A few dozen metres further on, a path branches off to the left; it is not very visible, but about 10 metres along this path, a white and yellow cross is marked on a slab. Take the path on the left, even though there are no markings there in 2019, as further along this path, the white and yellow markings reappear clearly.
This path descends into the valley, sometimes passing through the stream bed. At Saut du Loup, the path goes around it via a steep and rugged descent. Reach the crossroads of the Grosse Pierre track in a hairpin bend.
(5) Turn right onto this track to reach the Saut du Loup.
Then take the path in the stream bed and follow a small ledge to the Camping des Grottes signpost.
(6) At the signpost, descend the track on the left to the campsite and follow the Ardèche on the left, passing over magnificent slabs. Reach the beginning of a meander and continue to the Détroit.
(7) Retrace your steps to the hairpin bend at the Grosse Pierre track.
(5) Turn right and continue along this track until you reach the cave car park (S/E).
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