Issanlas walks

When it gets too hot in southern Ardèche, hiking in fine weather on the Ardèche plateau can be a good idea. This circular loop starting from a local centre mostly follows farm tracks or small roads, with beautiful views of the volcanic knolls in places.

This route, starting from Le Taillet, passes through peat bogs and forests, with views of the Gerbier des Joncs.

A loop route returning to the starting point, mostly along the hillside with beautiful panoramic views and close to the historic site of Mazan Abbey.

Tour of Lake Issarlès, with its clear waters, in the ancient crater of a volcano.

A round-trip hike, but with four circular loops that offer a variety of scenery. The entire section along the ridge offers a stunning panorama of the successive mountain ranges of the Ardèche.

This is a lovely walk with many views of Lake Issarlès from the Col de Gage and the Suc de Cherchemuse in particular, as well as the confluence of the Gage and the Loire and the surrounding mountains. The diverse landscapes will allow you to discover the richness of the Ardèche plateau: lava flows, wild raspberry bushes, volcanic rocks, Scots pines, beech trees, larch trees and more.

A magnificent discovery of the wild Loire and its tributary, the Orcival, hidden at the foot of Issarlès, with pretty pools, beautiful waterfalls and basalt cliffs. A short and easy hike, but one that still requires good footwear and a minimum of agility to navigate the sometimes slippery slabs along the banks of the Loire.

At the confluence of three streams, the Gage, the Sagne-Morte and the Tauron, EDF built a dam known as the Gage dam (Moulin de Peyron on IGN maps) in the 1950s to supply the Montpezat-sous-Bauzon power station. I suggest you take a tour of the dam starting from Cros-de-Géorand, following a hiking route suggested by La Montagne Ardéchoise. You will discover magnificent landscapes as well as paths through beech woods that are over a hundred years old.

This is the 4th stage of a complete journey on the Chemin de Stevenson between Le Puy-en-Velay and Alès. This stage marks the transition from the Pays des Puys du Velay, with its open, hilly landscapes, to the Gévaudan, with its more enclosed landscapes and deep woodlands. The route follows the GR®70 (Red and White waymarkers).

This is a magnificent route starting from the hamlet of Soubrey in Salettes, Haute-Loire, following a re-opened ancient path. The trail runs along the banks of France’s longest river (marked with very discreet blue dots) before returning via the GR®3.

A walk that does not descend into deep valleys and offers lovely views in all directions, both of the Mezenc and, in the distance, of the Ventoux.

Around the knoll of Bauzon, a young Strombolian volcano, there are numerous hiking trails. This route combines the volcanic part of the area with the discovery of a section of the Atlantic-Mediterranean watershed.

A circular route for exploring the pretty Orcival valley, one of the first tributaries of the Loire. Part of the route is on a very quiet little road through the forest. Very pretty views of the Mézenc plateau.

A beautiful circular hike, full of panoramic views, to discover the western part of the Mézenc plateau, with the Orcival, a tributary of the Loire, as your guide. Sometimes high up with the knolls as your horizon, sometimes flowing with the torrent as your guide, this is a hike in the heart of authentic Mézenc. Please note that this route includes a section of approximately 400 m across pastures, off the beaten track, as well as several fords across the torrent. Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.

Warning: do not attempt this hike until further notice (reopening scheduled for 2027)!The Cévenol storm in October 2024 caused a landslide above the point (4), which completely destroyed the communal path. A municipal notice prohibiting passage has been posted. There is no alternative route on this part of the circuit. A mid-season hike in spring or autumn starting from L'Air (or L'Herm), with varied landscapes and sections on quiet paved roads. Beautiful views of the Vauclare and Fontaulière valleys.

Although it is very flat, the summit of Les Valadous offers a 360° panorama of the Alps and the Massif Central. The round trip from the Col du Pendu is a very easy family walk along wide, clearly marked tracks. This route also features a balcony-like section along the edge of the plateau with an impressive bird’s-eye view of the upper Ardèche valley. This part of the route, on a poorly defined path, is more challenging and is reserved for more experienced hikers. It may also be temporarily inaccessible when this moorland is used for grazing (see practical information).

This walk offers a beautiful view of the hilltop village of Arlempdes (pronounced "Arlende"). Listed as one of "The Most Beautiful Villages in France", it occupies a stunning site on a rocky spur overlooking the wild gorges of the Loire.

This excursion takes you from Arlempdes, listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France since 1999, to Saint-Arcons-de-Barges... for a particularly pleasant stroll.

Discover, in a single hike and in turn, the upper Allier valley and then the torrential Langouyrou valley, following in the footsteps of the writer and traveller Robert Louis Stevenson. Open to all, this walk is also accessible with a pushchair or wheelchair.

A long walk alternating between panoramic views and beautiful woodland, discovering the Rocher Tourte, the water tower for the neighbouring villages, but also a playground for climbers in summer and sled dogs in winter.

The walk is shaded for three-quarters of the route and is therefore pleasant during periods of intense heat. There is a panoramic view from the ridge, though only over a very short distance. Please take note of the comment in the practical information section.

A beautiful circular along a very pretty trail offering splendid views of the valley, the village of Mayres and the mountain range on the opposite side for most of the climb. A superb panorama awaits us at the summit, where we can see the Mézenc and Gerbier de Jonc, among others. Further in the distance, the Alps stand out in the background.

This very demanding route climbs steeply through the undergrowth on the high plateaus. From up there, the landscape over the Tanargue, directly above Mayres, takes on a whole new dimension. The descent back to the starting point is just as steep.

You are at the heart of the Ardèche. View of the Cevennes and the Gerbier de Jonc.

A lovely hike with little elevation gain. In the distance, the peaks of Mézenc. Alternating meadows, pretty hamlets and forests. Château de Vachères at the start.

A magnificent hike to do in autumn; the colours are stunning. Make sure you wear suitable footwear as there are some stony paths.

In Ardèche, this circular hike takes you to the Gloria Friedmann Lighthouse, located on the watershed at the summit of Moure de l'Abéouradou.

This hike offers beautiful views of the Naussac Reservoir and the Rac de Langogne, and you can discover the small Donozau waterfall along beautiful paths.

Goudet is a crossing point on the Stevenson Trail (GR®70), which intersects with theGR®40, which we took for our departure. Two notable points of interest: the Moulin du Rocher mill and its organ pipes, and the Camp d'Antoune with its bird's eye view of the Loire.

A scenic walk starting from Présailles to explore the many pastures and the lovely Bois de Breysse, Vachères Castle, and to walk in the footsteps of the Romans...

Panoramic walk around Freycenet-la Cuche with views of Mont Mézenc.

The point of interest on this route is linked to the history of the Transcévenole, an old railway line, and the Récoumène Viaduct. It also offers beautiful views of the region.

A pleasant route in good weather with beautiful, unobstructed views of the Ardèche plateau. The return through the forest after Les Chambons allows you to escape the heat of the ridges and, depending on the season, pick mushrooms.

Hike above the Col de la Croix-de-Bauzon, with the first part of the route in the forest and the second part on the ridge offering beautiful views. If you are lucky enough to do this short trip on a clear day, you will be able to see the Alps and Mont Ventoux on the horizon.

A very pleasant walk, part of which follows a ridge leading to the Tour des Poignets and offering a superb panoramic view of the Lozère Mountains, the Tanargue, Mont Gerbier de Jonc, the Mézenc, etc…All along the ridge, you can admire the Rocher d’Abraham ahead of you.After the climb over the rocks, reaching the summit reveals a metal sculpture by Pierre Louis Chipon, created in tribute to Jean Gilly, a great sportsman from the Ardèche.

A hike on the highest part of the Tanargue ridge. With little elevation gain, you will enjoy magnificent views of the lower Ardèche, the Alps and the Ardèche plateau. In the height of summer, you will benefit from the coolness of the altitude and large shaded areas.

For all hikers, the Rocher d'Abraham can only be reached from Mayres. The circuit described below is for people who want to reach the summit with less effort. It can be done in an afternoon, is not particularly difficult, apart from the final ascent, and offers vast and magnificent landscapes throughout the route.

In the Tanargue massif, starting from the family ski resort of Croix de Bauzon, this hike takes you along trails in the heart of the Chambons National Forest, passing through the village of the same name.

A hike on the highest part of the Tanargue ridge with magnificent panoramic views of the lower Ardèche, the Alps and the Ardèche plateau. The route has little elevation gain and is mostly on easy forest roads.

After a glimpse of the upper Ardèche valley, this hike enters one of the many small valleys of the complex terrain of the Ardèche Cévennes. Take care on the RN102 (be careful when walking alongside it and crossing it).

This is a gentle hike that leads to the summit of Rocher Tourte before circling around it. The summit, which is easy to climb and offers a beautiful panorama, is nevertheless very quiet with a wild moorland atmosphere; it is also a biological reserve. Throughout the circuit, except for the sections in the forest, the view is splendid.

Beautiful scenery around Rechausseyre and Rocher Tourte with lovely views of Mont Mézenc and Mont d'Alambre and very pleasant forest trails from the village of Les Estables.

Starting from the charming village of Les Estables, this hike takes you on a tour and ascent of Mont d'Alambre (a ski resort in winter), with a 360° view of the surrounding peaks and a magnificent view of Mont Mézenc, the highest point in the region.

Starting from Les Estables, Mont Mézenc, La Croix des Boutières and back via Mont d’Alambre. The descent from Mont d’Alambre is partly via a ski run, so avoid this route when the ski area is open. A very pleasant and varied hike. The ascent of Mont Mézenc is very well signposted and not very steep; the two summits of the mountain offer fabulous views over the Ardèche, the Haute-Loire and much more; this part of the route is quite busy. From Mont d’Alambre, things get slightly tougher. The climb is steeper but not excessively so, and not very long. The descent from the summit back to the path is steeper as we took a ski run; it is far from dangerous, as you are walking on grass. The rest of the return journey is flat with a slight downhill gradient.

This second stage leads from the Hauts Plateaux du Mézenc to the Loire Valley. It takes you through the Mézenc National Forest and the Breysse woods, a mixture of beech and coniferous trees.The route more or less follows theGR®®40trail, avoiding wide tracks and small roads where possible.

A very easy climb to reach the highest point of the Ardèche and Haute-Loire, offering sublime panoramic views.

Circular starting from the Croix de Boutières, passing by the peaks of Mont Mézenc and the strange machine called the Ventographe des Boutières.

A long hike across the plateaus, south of Les Estables, amongst the knolls and near Mont Gerbier de Jonc.

The hike starts at the forest house car park and climbs through the powder snow of Mont Mézenc. From the summit, your efforts are rewarded with a magnificent view of the village of Les Estables below and Mont Alambre. And even the Alps, if the weather is clear.