The Canalettes loop

de fr

A beautiful and very varied hike. On the agenda are three caves, including the "illuminated" cave, a lavogne, a beautiful natural arch and the famous canalettes (or canoles).

⚠️20/10/2025: The Canalettes fault site is closed annually from 1 October to 30 November by municipal decree.

Details

n°7222847
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.41 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 269 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 282 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,402 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,218 ft
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Photos

Gullies
Canalette
Canols, but not only...
A change of scenery guaranteed!

Description of the walk

Take the A75, exit 47 if coming from the north or exit 48 if coming from the south. Drive to L'Hospitalet-du-Larzac, then take a small road east towards Égalières and park after 3 km in a large space next to a path that branches off to the right.

(S/E) Take this forest path and follow it straight ahead.

(1) Continue straight ahead, ignoring the return path on the left.

(2) Take the path on the left that leads to the illuminated cave about 250 m further on.

(3) Continue along the path, which rejoins the forest track a little further on, and walk to the Canalettes forest house.

(4) Take the track on the left after the forest house and immediately afterwards a path on the left that leads to a watering hole and a spring just behind it.

(5) Return to the path and resume the route on the left. Continue to a fork, leave the forest road on the right and take the path on the left that leads to a cave.

(6) Pass the cave and continue along the path, which heads west and climbs gradually for a good kilometre. After a short descent, you will reach a beautiful viewpoint on the rocks. Continue along the path, which leads to a beautiful natural arch.

(7) Pass under the arch and immediately afterwards, take the yellow-marked path that descends to the right. Continue along this path, which passes two other arches on the right a little further on and reaches a fork.

(8) Turn right and walk back to see another cave.

(9) Retrace your steps.

(8) Continue along the same path to the right until you reach the start of the channels (information board).

(10) Take the path on the right that descends into thefirst channel. This is a round trip, so don't hesitate to go as far as possible. It becomes narrower and narrower until it reaches a dead end.
Then retrace your steps.

(10) Turn right, then right again to explore thesecond channel in this unique environment.
Return to the entrance of thesecond channel and continue straight ahead on the path that winds a little and arrives at afirst forest lane, which you cross to reach asecond forest lane.

Turn right onto this forest lane, which will take you straight to the forest path you took on the way there.

(1) Follow this forest path to the right to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,343 ft - Parking area
  2. 1 : mi 1.08 - alt. 2,244 ft - Crossing the circular
  3. 2 : mi 1.49 - alt. 2,221 ft - Turn left towards the illuminated cave
  4. 3 : mi 1.62 - alt. 2,224 ft - Illuminated cave
  5. 4 : mi 1.84 - alt. 2,247 ft - Canalettes forest house
  6. 5 : mi 1.96 - alt. 2,257 ft - Lavogne and spring
  7. 6 : mi 2.14 - alt. 2,254 ft - Cave
  8. 7 : mi 2.67 - alt. 2,356 ft - Natural arch
  9. 8 : mi 2.92 - alt. 2,287 ft - Cave junction
  10. 9 : mi 2.98 - alt. 2,336 ft - Cave
  11. 10 : mi 3.35 - alt. 2,277 ft - Entrance to the first canalette
  12. S/E : mi 5.41 - alt. 2,343 ft - Parking area

Notes

There are no particular difficulties; it is a truly beautiful and varied hike that will delight young and old alike.
Obviously, avoid after heavy rain.

Worth a visit

I estimate the duration at 4 hours because it's easy to spend a bit of time in the canals.
This is just a guide.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 83 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 23708301

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

You can cross the second gully and exit, then turn left to find the entrance to the third gully. You’ll be going against the flow here, but as it’s more secluded, there are fewer people.
On that day, we extended the circular route by going straight on at the forest house to see the resurgence in the valley.
This adds a bit of elevation gain, but the little resurgence lake is very pretty and makes a lovely spot for a picnic.

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josiane.moucky
josiane.moucky

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It’s a lovely, interesting walk – easy and pleasant, with plenty of shade – and the picnic area at the forest lodge is excellent.

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Carole jeanot
Carole jeanot

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb walk. A magical spot with its small streams and caves. Well worth a visit. Well signposted, though the app comes in handy in places. There’s a picnic table at the forest ranger’s hut. A walk with no particular difficulties. I highly recommend it.

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Fredm24
Fredm24

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I’d definitely do this hike again! It’s absolutely stunning and full of surprises.
No particular difficulties.

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eniahpit
eniahpit

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

⚠️⚠️⚠️ A lovely walk, but teeming with processionary caterpillars ⚠️⚠️⚠️ My partner and I had the fright of our lives with our two dogs. The nearest vet is 35 minutes from the car park.

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Michoubidouille
Michoubidouille

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very easy and thoroughly enjoyable walk. There are some magnificent sights to see, from the breathtaking water channels to the arches that are a nod to the USA (provided people don’t decide to have a picnic right in the middle of them!!!!).
A short detour to the Durzon spring with its emerald-green waters: a steep descent not to be attempted after rain, and an easier climb back up.
An absolute must-do.

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User 7537083

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk

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User 16183593

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Another gem in the beautiful landscapes of the Larzac. A lovely family walk.

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randonnée savoie
randonnée savoie

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

On Visorando, the routes are described quite well and it’s a useful resource, except for one we did (the circular Monts Route in Chambéry)

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User 3078422

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very original and varied hike.

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sq34
sq34

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, partly shaded, so perfect when you're looking for bearable temperatures in the height of summer.
Be sure to download the map, because there are quite a few places where there is no signal and you have to turn off mobile data to follow only the downloaded map.

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User 17798669

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did the short circular: a superb walk with no difficulty whatsoever

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lily1208
lily1208

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike in a varied and surprising environment.

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ch baudouin
ch baudouin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

leave the route after the arch, go and see the youth camp, it's worth it, a quick trip there and back

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User 3184423

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant route of about ten kilometres, very easy and ending with a real curiosity
It would be good if the different numbers indicated on the hiking map were marked by signposts along the route

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Walking Descent of the Canallettes to the source of the Durzon

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