The Prérouge Cave, the Granges du Crêt and the Chapel of Montagny

When the peaks are shrouded in cloud or snow, this is an unpretentious hike through the Arith countryside. At the start of the hike, the Prérouge Cave and the resurgence near the mill are beautiful points of interest. You will also see beautiful houses and old barns.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.93 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 371 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 372 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 946 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 569 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the small car park at the Grotte de Prérouge (small EDF substation), located below the D911, on the left when coming from Lescheraines, overlooking the Chéran.

Red and yellow markings

(S/E) Head west, cross the bridge over the Chéran and you will immediately arrive at the entrance to the cave, located on the right.

(1) Continue straight on towards Arith and walk past the old mill. Just after this, note a rather spectacular resurgence on the left. The path becomes stony and enters the forest.

(2) At the fork that appears shortly afterwards, turn right (there is no signpost but there is a marker a little further on). Climb steadily through the forest. Further on, ignore a path coming from the left and walk along the right-hand side of a meadow with a small barn. Then walk along another meadow and a small barn on the left-hand side.

(3) You will come to a stony path. Follow it to the right on fairly level ground.

(4) You will come to the Route des Côtes (D62B). Follow it to the right and enter Arith. Climb gently, pass a dead end on the left and arrive at a crossroads.

No signposts

(5) Take the D62 on the left towards Saint-François-de-Salles. Ignore a small lane on the left, at the fork that appears immediately, turn right and arrive at the foot of the church.

(6) Continue along the road, keeping to the right-hand side, which is protected by a wooden railing. Climb up and pass the town hall.

Red and white markings

(7) At the next fork (cross), continue straight ahead and pass a drinking trough. Continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroads (cross).

(8) Then turn left onto Chemin des Grégoire. Shortly afterwards, the tarmac gives way to a stony path. At the fork (small cross), turn right onto a grassy path and climb gently between fenced meadows. Return to the tarmac and you will soon reach a crossroads (opposite, beautiful house at no. 148).

No markings

(9) Take the second right, a small road, then cross Chemin de la Bruyère on the right-hand side. Stay on the small road and climb gently between meadows. After a hairpin bend to the right, you will reach the Grésons car park.

(10) At the end of the car park, there are two paths: take the one on the right, a wide forest track towards Granges du Crêt. Climb steadily, noting an old barn on the left above, and you will reach the signpost for "Granges du Crêt".

Red and white markings

(11) Then turn right onto a path that descends quite steeply towards Montagny. Ignore a path on the left and turn right with the path, then ignore a path on the right and turn left, still following the path. Continue downhill on a stony path, then on a grassy path between fenced meadows. You will rejoin the tarmac road at the first houses and pass numbers 122 and 125.

No markings

(12) At the "Montagny" signpost, turn left and leave the GR® trail on your right. Take the first street on the right and walk past the foot of the Notre-Dame Chapel. At the intersection that immediately follows, turn left and continue straight downhill to a crossroads you passed earlier (cross).

Red and yellow markings

(8) Turn left onto Route de Bourchigny. Cross Chemin des Barbassons on the right-hand side and continue straight ahead downhill. At the entrance to a left-hand bend, turn right onto a path. At the bottom, rejoin the road and follow it to the right. Ignore the D62 on the left-hand side, turn right and rejoin a crossroads you have already passed.

(5) Continue straight ahead towards Leschraines, descend gently and leave Arith.

(4) Shortly afterwards, turn left onto a stony path towards Prérouge.

(3) At the fork, turn left onto a grassy path. Follow the path in the opposite direction to the outward journey: descend into the forest and ignore all the paths on the right.

(2) Turn left and exit the forest. Pass the resurgence and then the mill.

(1) Pass the cave, cross the Chéran again and return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 575 m - Prérouge Cave car park - Chéran (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.12 - alt. 569 m - Grotte de Prérouge
  3. 2 : km 0.3 - alt. 577 m - Fourche
  4. 3 : km 1.03 - alt. 694 m - Intersection
  5. 4 : km 1.2 - alt. 695 m - Path x Road D62B
  6. 5 : km 1.49 - alt. 709 m - Crossing of the lower circular
  7. 6 : km 1.95 - alt. 719 m - Place St. Laurent
  8. 7 : km 2.4 - alt. 741 m - Fourche
  9. 8 : km 2.63 - alt. 757 m - Crossing of the upper circular
  10. 9 : km 3.31 - alt. 807 m - Crossroads - Montagny
  11. 10 : km 4.34 - alt. 881 m - Gréson car park
  12. 11 : km 5.12 - alt. 946 m - Signpost - Chapelle Notre-Dame (Montagny)
  13. 12 : km 6.09 - alt. 806 m - "Montagny" signpost
  14. S/E : km 8.92 - alt. 575 m - Prérouge Cave car park - Chéran (rivière)

Notes

In dry weather, good walking shoes are sufficient for this hike, which follows well-maintained paths and roads with little traffic. In wet weather, some paths can turn into streams, particularly between (11) and (12).

No drinking water sources were found along the route.

A detailed map is useful (at least the one accompanying this description).

Hike completed by the author on 28 October 2025.

Worth a visit

- Prérouge Cave (1). Access is free and it is possible to explore the beginning of the cave. A headlamp is recommended and you will need to bend down quite quickly. Avoid visiting the day after heavy rainfall (risk of rising water levels). Going far and deep into the cave requires caving experience and specific equipment.
- Old Prérouge mill and resurgence, shortly after (1).
- Some beautiful old houses in Arith, between (5) and (9).
- Old barns at Le Crêt (11).

 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.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 1 review

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
queyrubay
queyrubay
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Indeed, stream path between 11 and 12.
It's a shame to have to take the road between 9 and 10. Is there no other way?
Otherwise, it's a pleasant walk with the added bonus of explanations about the Prérouge cave.

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