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Park in the car parks in the village of Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert.
(S/E) Take the Petit Paris road for 200 metres, then the small road on the right, and right again, following the yellow markings all the way, which are fairly well marked! Go up two hairpin bends towards Chaffoix.
(1) At the crossroads, turn left. Pass a ruin, then follow the stony path through the woods to reach the relay station.
(2) Once in the pine trees, do not go straight ahead (private property), follow the electric fence on the right up a steep climb, then once at the top, follow the ridge line overlooking the valley to the south with the large black pine trees, enter the Roanne-Chaffoix national forest until you reach the forest track!
(3) At the Chaffoix crossroads (1,004 m), take the path that descends immediately to the right at the start of the track, heading north through the black pines. Cross a small stream in the Ravin de la Varzelle, then leave the national forest. The path continues along the hillside through a light forest of Scots pines.
(4) At the edge of the woods, cross a small valley, climb up and go around the ruins of Moury (not very visible as they are overgrown) and join the fork in a forest track.
(5) Turn left at the Moury sign (leaving Boutarys on your right) and you will arrive at the Bergerie des Pradaux, surrounded by flowering rose bushes. Unfortunately, it is in ruins, with abundant vegetation, large shady trees and a small spring below with drinking water!
(6) Go straight past the ruins and down the slope opposite (leaving a recent building on your left), with magnificent views of the Roanne valley, the Servelle opposite and the Reychas on your left, as well as the entire Diois mountain range and, in the background on the left, the Grand Veymont and the Glandasse, all on a very flowery slope
Go down the slope to the ridge and join the mule track (former access to the sheepfold) which descends.
(7) At the small pass of Serre de la Croix, continue along the path overlooking the Ravin de Boutarys until you reach the Varzelle stream and a track via a series of hairpin bends.
(8) Follow it to the left, leave the path on the left and join the bend to the left a few metres further on. At the Pré Neuf sign, take the path on the right, cross the stream (concrete) and go up a little along the woods to join a track. Follow it to the right and return to the crossroads you passed at the start.
(1) Descend to the left along the same route towards Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert (S/E).
a beautiful hike offering stunning panoramic views to the north, east and south of Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert. Very pleasant in bright winter sunshine. Please note: at the Chaffoix crossroads, be sure to take the small path that immediately descends to the right, which is not very clearly signposted, and not the forest track. I have therefore rated the hike as "Good" for the interest of the route, which I rate as "Very good" with the following extension:
Visorando Member
Difficult 
Local authority
Easy 
