La Croix de Beauzon - Abraham Rock

de fr

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.

Details

n°138108
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.86 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 541 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 538 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,494 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,306 m
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Photos

view of the rock
Abraham Rock
ridge trail
The rock

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the Croix-de-Beauzon station. There is no shade, but this saves you a quarter of an hour's walk on the way there and back.
Markings: wooden signs depicting a bird with a yellow line; white and yellow; three yellow dots for the actual ascent to the summit.

At the start of the route, follow the markings symbolised by the bird.

(S/E) Go to the "Parking Station" hiking signpost and follow the direction "Col de la Croix de Beauzon 1.1km". Cross the large car park at the foot of the hotel restaurant opposite the resort reception, take the downhill track at the end, pass a tennis court and a horse riding shed.

(1) At Col de la Croix-de-Beauzon, cross the crossroads, take the road opposite and head towards the two houses.

(2) Just before the first one (hiking signpost), turn right and head towards "Col d'Abraham 4.2km / Mayres 8.2km"; take the path that winds between the broom bushes.

(3) Join the start of a track that descends.

(4) At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead on a beautiful track.

(5) At the Fautouras hiking signpost, continue straight ahead and follow the signs for "Rocher d'Abraham 2.7km / Mayres 6.7km".
From now on, ignore the bird symbol and follow the yellow markings.

(6) At the end of this track, there is a small turning area. Continue straight ahead along a path that runs along the ridge. It leads to the foot of the Rocher d'Abraham massif.

(7) Turn left and follow the sign for "Statue J.Gilly 30mn Mayres 2h".
The shaded path descends and winds through the undergrowth, turning right after a few hairpin bends. Allow about 25 minutes to reach a wooden sign marked "Statue".

(8) From here on, the trail is marked with three yellow dots. Follow them closely and carefully.
Turn right to reach the summit. You may need to use your hands to climb the large rocks. Allow 10 to 15 minutes' walking time.

(9) At the top of this path, turn left to reach the summit where a metal statue has been erected.
Return via the same route to reach the car park at the Croix-de-Beauzon station (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,365 m - Croix-de-Beauzon station car park
  2. 1 : km 0.9 - alt. 1,306 m - Col de la Croix de Bauzon (1307m)
  3. 2 : km 1.03 - alt. 1,316 m - House on a small road near the - Borne (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 1.57 - alt. 1,412 m - Start of the trail
  5. 4 : km 2 - alt. 1,380 m - Crossroads 1
  6. 5 : km 2.57 - alt. 1,425 m - Fautouras crossroads
  7. 6 : km 3.14 - alt. 1,437 m - Small turning area
  8. 7 : km 3.78 - alt. 1,409 m - Foot of the Rock of Abraham
  9. 8 : km 4.59 - alt. 1,376 m - Access route to the top of the Rock of Abraham
  10. 9 : km 4.92 - alt. 1,492 m - The Rock of Abraham
  11. S/E : km 9.86 - alt. 1,365 m - Croix-de-Beauzon station car park

Notes

Parking is available at the station car park (shaded area, appreciated in summer).
No water sources.
There is little shade until you reach the foot of Rocher d'Abraham.
Superb ridge path.
(9) There is a more challenging alternative route on the way back to reach the (7).
Turn right to access Abraham Rock itself. Be very careful; it is all rock and sometimes more like climbing than hiking. This section is for experienced hikers who are not prone to vertigo. Continue to the sign for "Statue J Gilly Mayres 2h".

Worth a visit

Col de Meyrand: magnificent viewpoint over the Valgorge valley.
Loubaresse: mountain village.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 17 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 18488040

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike was pleasant with promising views. However, the last section before reaching the summit is difficult and even dangerous, with markings that are hard to follow. Access to the summit is literally impossible without climbing equipment, so it is best to go left at the statue of Jean Gilly. Apart from the last 300 metres before reaching the summit (climbing a steep slope with rocks), I really enjoyed this hike.

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Pieandré
Pieandré

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We enjoyed this hike even in bad weather. Access to the summit is very difficult, even dangerous, and I recommend turning left at the end to go to the statue of Jean Gilly. It is marked "summit" on the right and "statue" on the left.

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cg01
cg01

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Well-marked and pleasant route.
The start from the resort car park is not particularly interesting out of season as there is plenty of space at the pass.
The balcony path offers magnificent views of Ventoux, Les 3 Becs... on one side and Gerbier de Jonc, Mézenc... on the other.
The climb to the statue and then Abraham's Rock would be easier with long legs, but I had to make do with what I had .

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RP33
RP33

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2021
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 with stunning views. The trail is well marked. The last 300 metres are more challenging but still accessible.

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geuneu66
geuneu66

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

great walk, I loved it!

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almati07
almati07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike. The off-trail climb to the summit is NOT DIFFICULT FOR ADULTS IN DRY WEATHER AND WITH HIKING BOOTS.
There is no climbing involved, but the rocks are solid and using your hands is more useful for balance and/or reassurance than for progress.
The trail is also very pleasant

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gregochris
gregochris

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb circuit, technical with some fairly challenging sections;
especially the very steep and rocky climb up to the rock.
The descent is just as difficult.
Magnificent passages through the woods, breathtaking views.
A must-do circuit for those who are reasonably fit.
Thank you, Visiorando.

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Hari43
Hari43

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Less difficult than the Mayres route, this hike, after two months of lockdown, offers magnificent panoramic views. You can leave your vehicle at the pass (point 2). As indicated in the practical information, access to Rocher d'Abraham is more like climbing than hiking, and the same applies to the direct return route between 9 and 7.

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PA12
PA12
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike with a superb second half along the ridge. We did the 7-9-8-7 loop, taking the off-trail (marked) route for the ascent: short passages that are more impressive than difficult, where you need to use your hands without actually climbing. However, I recommend doing this part of the route on the way up rather than on the way down, as it's always easier... and less daunting.

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almati07
almati07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable

hike undertaken amid wind, snow and rain showers, fog banks and terminal rocks that could not be climbed due to weather conditions and intermittent visibility, so no relevant advice for this time, but we will return!

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randoalacool
randoalacool

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

between points 6 and 7, the ridge trail presents some slight difficulties. We did not go beyond point 7, where the view is already magnificent.

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tylan
tylan

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

For me, this route is absolutely brilliant because it's so varied. It has everything (paths, scree, chestnut leaves, pebbles and even hard snow in February). We loved this route, but be careful as the markings are not always easy to see.
the ledge surprised us because of the layer of ice that had formed (north side). A particularly pleasant hike in February.

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sim49
sim49

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Quite dangerous at the summit

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oliviers
oliviers

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Beautiful hike with views of Mont Gerbier des Jonc, Mont Mezenc and even Mont Ventoux. However, there is no shade until point 7. Thank you for introducing me to this area, which I didn't know and will visit again.

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you, belldonne38
Apart from the so-called "sporty" variant at wpt9, the author, who is a hiking association and therefore someone who knows the terrain well, does not report any particular dangers. Now, I don't know the terrain, so let's let the author answer. ...

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