The Sault national forest

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

We did this route with a group of eight experienced hikers.
Between points 4 and 5: no trail, just a scree slope covered in brambles and shrubs. We navigated by sight and GPS. What's more, this section is quite dangerous, with a descent down a scree slope (one of us fell), and really NOT WORTH IT.
In fact, you have to leave the route before point 4, at a hairpin bend between points 3 and 4, to descend directly via the Combe de la Clare and reach point 5.
It's a shame about the rest, as the autumn colours are magnificent and the arrival at the chapel is superb.
PS: I don't even understand the point of offering a route in such conditions!!!!

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Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Point 4 of the description stated: "Leave the track and take a path on the left that descends into the forest. There are no markings on this section, but after descending for about a kilometre, you will come to a fork." There was no path on the left and no cairn to indicate the way. We had to use GPS to guide us, and the descent into the valley was very difficult: scree, brambles, etc. It took us an hour to reach point 5 without incident. In fact, there is no point in doing this section. Before point 4, it is better to take a path on the left marked by a cairn that descends directly through the Clare valley to point 5!

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Date of your route : Jan 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, the route was very difficult between points 4 and 6, with no paths, trails or anything else...
without GPS, you'll get lost!

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Date of your route : Jun 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
I couldn't find the path between points 7 and 8, so I turned back and took the Combe de Clare in the bend at point 6.
but it was a very pleasant hike in warm weather.
thank you

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Date of your route : Apr 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Indeed, when the trail disappears, it's a bit tricky going through the forest, but still, we enjoyed this hike and the magnificent view of Mont Ventoux. The landscape was still in normal "winter" mode at this altitude.
We'll have to do it again when the lavender is in bloom.

:

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Date of your route : Oct 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

However, it is impossible to find the route between 4 and 8 because there are no longer any markings or access paths. It is impossible to find your way without GPS between 4 and 5.

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Date of your route : Oct 13, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We followed the route on the GPS. It's true that between points 4 and 5, you have to cut through the woods and make your own way to reach the bottom of the valley and find the path. You have to accept the scratches and the back-and-forth exploration, but ultimately, by following the clear areas of scree, you get there, keeping in mind that you have to descend into the valley. In the valley, the cairns that mark the way out are clearly marked. A beautiful hike with autumn colours.

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Date of your route : Jun 09, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Between points 1 and 2, you pass under a power line

Between points 3 and 4, after the sharp left turn, we searched for the prohibition sign and cairns, about 600 metres away, but couldn't find them. We retraced our steps and found a large cairn on the left and a mountain bike post on the right (going up the track) 60 m after the bend. Is there an error in the distance? We took this path to the chapel.

At point 9, the crossroads is not Les Granges Rouges but the Ortie crossroads; Les Granges Rouges is 600m before that

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Date of your route : Apr 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The route is impossible to follow without a GPS watch, and even then... I agree with Bernard on this point.
We couldn't find the famous chapel or the water source. We had difficulty finding our way between points 4 and 6, and only managed it thanks to the GPS.
Otherwise, it was a very nice walk, with fields of lavender (not yet in bloom) and a view of the summit of Mont Ventoux.
While we were lost, we were lucky enough to come across a group of deer and fawns, which was lovely to see! And a flock of sheep and their shepherd!

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Hello Bernard, thank you for your comment.

Indeed, the section between 4 and 6 is a bit complicated because it is no longer marked.

To answer your question: why leave the marked trail? Because hiking isn't necessarily linked to marked trails, and you can often discover nice spots off the beaten track. In any case, that's my approach to hiking, which explains this type of route.

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Date of your route : Oct 14, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello
Definitely a hike to do in AUTUMN with its magnificent colours. One problem: between points 4 and 6, it took us almost two hours (and a few scratches!!), which spoiled the fun a little. Without GPS, it was mission impossible! TO BE REVISITED! Why leave the markings?
But thank you anyway.

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Date of your route : Aug 28, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

No problem with the route description, except that it is not the Sault national forest but the Ventouret forest...
It's not particularly interesting as there are few spots with a view due to the density of the trees. However, the forest paths are pleasant, especially when it's hot. On the downside, there are swarms of flies, including horseflies, and I came back with quite a few bites...

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Date of your route : Apr 02, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Noteworthy passages are mentioned (font d'Angiu) West rat beacon...impossible to find the famous cairns...

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Date of your route : Oct 30, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The forest and its autumn colours are amazing!!! There were indeed major issues with the signpost and cairns, which were nowhere to be found at 600m. We turned back at the sharp bend and descended into Combe Clare. No regrets – it was perhaps the prettiest part of the walk. We stopped at the chapel clearing and made our way back to the car park without any problems.

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Hello partner84,

I think there must be some confusion about the turn.
When you look at the map and position yourself at point 4, the turn I'm referring to is on the right, and if you look at the scale, you can locate this turn at about 600 metres.

Perhaps the sign and cairns that served as landmarks are no longer in place.

If you made it to hill 1083, you were on the right track. But this part is definitely the trickiest part of the route.

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