La Montagne d'Oule

Hike starting from La Motte-Chalancon, a pretty hilltop village in Drôme Provençale nestled around its church. The Montagne d’Oule takes its name from the river that flows around its northern and eastern flanks. Or perhaps it is the river that takes its name from the mountain... This easy walk through the woodland, suitable for all, will take you to the lake at Cornillon-sur-Oule.

Details

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Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.43 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,437 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,457 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,150 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,696 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park on Rue des Leups.

(S/E) Head towards Rue des Leups and turn left. Leave Place des Écoles and the town hall behind you by turning left into the pedestrian alley leading to Grand Rue. Continue straight ahead then take thefirst left at the corner of the old hotel. Follow the road (Rue de la Piscine) to leave the village.

(1) Turn left and cross the bridge over the Oule. At the end of the bridge, follow the path on the right.

(2) At the three-way junction, turn left.

(3) Leave the forest road and take the path on the right.

(4) When you reach the clearing, turn right onto the forest road towards Clot du Clapier. Follow the forest road as it winds down through numerous hairpin bends.

(5) Before reaching the Serre de l'Homme, just before the hairpin bend to the left, take the path on the right. Go round the Fond la Côté farm and pass the hairpin bend on the right.

(6) At a left-hand bend, leave the track and take the path on the right, which later bends to the right and heads north.

(7) Turn left onto the forest road and reach a Fork in the road.

(8) Turn right and negotiate the hairpin bend to the right. At the junction, turn left, then ignore a path on the right and join the Chemin de la Donne, following it to the right to come out onto the D61.

(9) Turn right onto the departmental road and follow it towards the Cornillon bridge. Walk along the lakeside: a snack bar, restaurant and beach are available.

(10) Before the bridge, turn onto the path on the right and follow the Oule river on your left. Stay as close to the river as possible.

(11) Carry on straight ahead, ignoring the bridge on the left.

(2) Continue along the Oule to the bridge.

(1) Continue right onto Chemin de la Piscine, turn right onto Grand Rue and then, at the junction, continue to the right. Then take the first street on the left to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,801 ft - Car park, Rue des Leups
  2. 1 : mi 0.36 - alt. 1,768 ft - Bridge over the Oule
  3. 2 : mi 0.52 - alt. 1,768 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  4. 3 : mi 0.82 - alt. 1,952 ft - Path on the right
  5. 4 : mi 1.11 - alt. 2,201 ft - Clearing
  6. 5 : mi 2.4 - alt. 3,150 ft - Serre de l'Homme
  7. 6 : mi 3.13 - alt. 2,530 ft - Fond la Coté Farm
  8. 7 : mi 3.48 - alt. 2,195 ft - At the edge of the woods, turn left
  9. 8 : mi 3.74 - alt. 2,037 ft - Fork in the road, turn right
  10. 9 : mi 4.17 - alt. 1,811 ft - D61
  11. 10 : mi 4.55 - alt. 1,716 ft - Cornillon Bridge
  12. 11 : mi 5.61 - alt. 1,736 ft - Le Vayeu, straight ahead
  13. S/E : mi 6.43 - alt. 1,801 ft - Car park, Rue des Leups

Notes

(S/E) Bakery, restaurant.

(10) Snack bar, beach.

Worth a visit

La Motte Chalancon is a lovely village for a summer holiday, offering all the amenities you need right on the spot. Accessible on foot or by bike (several campsites, shops – bakery, mini-market, market, etc.).
Via ferrata for enthusiasts nearby (Chalancon) to add a bit of adrenaline to the hike.

Reviews and comments

3.8 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
3.5 / 5
sylviane henner
sylviane henner

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with stunning views of the Motte Chalencon and the Cornillon lakes.
It is possible to extend the walk slightly and avoid the road on arrival in Cornillon. Turn left towards the cemetery. Before the cemetery, turn right and continue along a path with a view of the lakes. You will come to the end of the road. Resume the walk on the planned route along the Oule.

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BéaAllan
BéaAllan

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

It was a lovely walk, but at the farm there was an encounter that went well in the end, even though there was a dog running loose – and as I have one myself, I was a bit scared.

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VINCENT Simone
VINCENT Simone

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route offering excellent opportunities to observe the flora, particularly orchids. With summer-like weather on Thursday 29 May, it was a real treat to cool off by the lake and take a break on the bar’s terrace.

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AdrienTaï
AdrienTaï

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello everyone,
A hike done in July, mostly in the shade, with a handy spot by the lake for a swim. Beautiful views, lavender and other herbs in abundance.
Be careful, though, as point 5 is hard to spot. It’s easy to get lost in all the twists and turns; the path is hidden behind a mound, in the overgrown vegetation. We had to turn back to find it. This path branching off to the right looks like an old, rutted 4x4 track. There used to be a wooden sign at this junction.
That said, if you miss the path on the right at point 5, you’ll still have access to a superb, unobstructed view of the surrounding area.
Thanks for sharing.

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Maraisse
Maraisse

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

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

Not much to see, apart from the walk back along the Aygues

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laurentm8
laurentm8

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A hike undertaken yesterday by a group of 11 people,
I recorded (Garmin GPS) a distance of 13.0 km and 485 m of elevation gain
Best regards
Laurent M.

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