The Belvédère des Bourlaches viewpoint in the Vaucluse forest

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The view from the viewpoint is always impressive. On this route, you will overlook the beautiful landscapes of Lake Vouglans, observe its changing colours and contemplate its wooded shores, remarkably preserved from any unsightly urban development.

Details

n°1574327
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.51 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 214 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 212 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 613 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 436 m
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Photos

At the lake
Vaucluse Forest
Bourlaches viewpoint
Bourlaches viewpoint

Description of the walk

To get to the car park at the start of the walk, head towards Onoz, which is on the D 360 leading to the Vouglans Dam. Before leaving the village in the direction of Cernon, take the local road on the left towards the hamlet of Chavia. After 1.1 km, turn left onto a gravel road at the sign for "Belvédère les Bourlaches". The car park is 100 m along on the left-hand side of the road.

(S/E) Leave the car park and take the white path heading east. You are now on theGRP® Tour du Lac de Vouglans and should follow the red and yellow markings. After about 120 m, take the path on the left heading north. Continue in this direction until you reach a clearing in the forest.

(1) Turn right towards the north-east to reach the Belvédère des Bourlaches viewpoint.

(2) After admiring the landscape and the superb views of the lake, leave the viewpoint to continue on theGR® and begin the descent towards the lake, following the red and yellow markings. After 3 km of winding descent through the forest, you will come to a T-junction with a path slightly overlooking the lake.

(3) At this point, continue to follow theGRP® trail and take the path on the left that runs along the steep bank and gives the impression of a lunar landscape. Continue walking with the lake on your right for about 1.6 km. Feel free to take one of the few small paths that lead to the lake, as this is an opportunity to take a short break on a small wild beach.

(4) At the enclave of the commune of Orgelet, leave theGRP® and turn left onto the path leading up through the woods. Stay on the main path until you reach the edge of the woods and the Maison Forestière des Louvetières heading south.

(5) 150 m after Les Louvetières, turn left towards the south-east. Continue for 1.2 km along the edge of the woods and meadows until you reach the Bourlaches car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 575 m - Les Bourlaches car park
  2. 1 : km 0.59 - alt. 609 m - Fork in the road
  3. 2 : km 0.93 - alt. 578 m - Belvédères des Bourlaches
  4. 3 : km 4.13 - alt. 436 m - Lac de Vouglans
  5. 4 : km 5.71 - alt. 449 m - Enclave of the commune of Orgelet
  6. 5 : km 7.23 - alt. 580 m - La Louvetière
  7. S/E : km 8.51 - alt. 575 m - Les Bourlaches car park

Notes

No water source.
Walking shoes required.

Worth a visit

Must-see: the banks of Lake Vouglans. After the summer season, the lake empties and you can walk along the shore, which is usually submerged.

Nearby attractions include the viewpoints along the lake and the Vouglans dam.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 15 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 9075235
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

Apart from the magnificent viewpoint at the start... you will actually be quite far from the lake, and the paths leading down to it are all private! A lovely walk in the forest!

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User 2039416

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An interesting route with the opportunity to reach the lake shore for a dip.
To do so, you will have to brave the access prohibition sign located at the remains of a tree-top adventure course.
Sportingly yours

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User 26155112
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

Unfortunately, most access to the small wild beaches on the lake is now private and blocked off. In addition, the marshes near the car park attract countless mosquitoes, making a walk very uncomfortable. It's a shame...

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joel21
joel21

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk under blue skies, autumn sunshine and vibrant vegetation... despite heavy rainfall in 2024, the lake level remains low...

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Jip Lulu
Jip Lulu

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk. However, the map suggests that part of the route runs alongside Lake Vouglans, whereas in reality it is quite far away and shaded by trees. For those who, like us, have dogs, the place is a tick factory, with dozens of them!

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coren57
coren57

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy hike. Possibility to refill water bottles with spring water (in spring). Half of the route is in the forest and the other half along the lake.

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MM01
MM01

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Head back towards La Louvetiere, past PT 4, following the curve of the track to the left.
Go around the pond via the meadows on the right when arriving at the car park from La Louvetiere, or take the path on the left to arrive above the car park and thus avoid the small lake that has flooded the wide path

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Soonlolo
Soonlolo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Mostly shaded at the start, we were able to swim twice between points 3 and 4 because it was very hot in the sun on the way back. Nice, not too difficult, we enjoyed it

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User 298116

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike starting from Bellecin (forest road) to reach crossing point no. 4 and the climb to La Louvatière (no. 5), then Belvédère des Bourlaches (no. 2), descent to the lake (no. 3) and return to the starting point.
Hike sheltered from strong north winds.

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Estelle de Gemeaux
Estelle de Gemeaux

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

In winter, getting there is tricky: just before the car park, the path is flooded... we got our feet very wet!
Another problem in winter: you're often in the shade of the hillside, so we got cold. It's better to go for walks on the other side of Lake Vouglan in winter.

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Maminouxe
Maminouxe

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Beautiful view from the lookout point, but otherwise rather closed off with little visibility of the lake, impossible to access as the few paths leading there are private... Shady hike, we pushed on to the beach to cool off, an extra 3.4 km. No problems with the app.

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Jeff2604
Jeff2604

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello. This is the second time I've done this route, without seeing the lunar landscape, arriving near the lake at a Y-junction rather than a T-junction! What's more, the route used to turn right at the windbreak (which is what I did the second time, without finding the cross!), and without precise directions, I ended up back on the way home! I see that now it turns left! I'll try again!

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yothy38
yothy38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk
Lovely view from the Belvédère viewpoint

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René01
René01
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk with no particular difficulties.
We didn't meet anyone along the way, but it's possible that the area is busier in the summer.
At this time of year, the sun is not obscured by foliage, which is very pleasant.
At the end of the hike, just before point 5, the small lake overflowed onto the path, making it impassable, and we had to go around it via the meadow next to the path.
Walking at a moderate pace, it took us just under 3 hours, excluding breaks, to complete the route (2 hours 45 minutes).

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Socié Claude
Socié Claude

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

On that day (holiday period), I only met one couple on the route; they told me they do the route two or three times a year; it's very busy in summer; watch out for ticks in summer!

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