The Vaux mountain from Venterol

A hike starting from a beautiful medieval village in the Drôme Provençale. The climb up to the ridges of the Montagne des Vaux is quite steep. The exceptional views of La Lance, La Miélandre, Le Cougoir, L'Angèle and Le Ventoux reward your efforts. Discover the surprising trail with marl (ancient sea bed) on the way back around Courbiou. The vegetation is varied: oak trees, pine trees, lavender. You will cross a few streams and even the river if there is not too much water.

Details

n°30096995

Creation:
22 Jan 2023

Last update:
01 Feb 2023

Last review:
11 Mar 2024

Activity: Walking
Distance: 14.39 km
Average duration: 6h 00
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 664 m
Descent: - 666 m
Highest point: 859 m
Lowest point: 399 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Baronnies, Dauphiné
District: Venterol (Drôme) (26110)
Start/End: N 44.38756° / E 5.101361°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3139OT
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Description of the walk

Park in the large car park at Venterol cemetery.

(S/E) Turn right and follow the yellow marked trail towards Trou des Belles (Trau du Boli in Provençal). You will reach a tributary of the Ruisseau de Grieux.

(1) Cross it via a small, easy passage on the 3 m rock. Continue along the path to Torrent du Grieux. Follow it before crossing it and continue on the same path, which begins to climb. The yellow markings are no longer visible, but continue on the old red and white markings of the^GR® 9 variant. You will reach a crossroads marked by a small cairn.

(2) Take the path on the right and, after a steady climb through the woods, you will reach the Col des Vaux (magnificent panorama of the mountains of the Drôme Provençale).

(3) Join the^GR®9and follow it to the right (red and white markings). The last fairly steep climb to the summit of Montagne des Vaux (panoramic view of the Tricastin valley with Valréas and La Lance).

(4) Begin a short descent on the other side to quickly reach a fork.

(5) Leave the^GR® here and take the ridge path on the left. Continue along the ridge path until you reach the crossroads.

(6) Turn right and descend onto the^GR® 9.

(7) Follow the same route as on the way up to reach the Col des Vaux. Stay on the^GR® and continue to the Col Flachet.

(8) Ignore the path that branches off to the right and continue on the^GR®9to the left, on the surprising marl path (ancient seabed). Cross the Ruisseau de Flachet stream and arrive at a crossroads in a hairpin bend.

(9) Leave the^GR®, take the path downhill on the left, cross the Ravins de Sigalet and Dauphinelle ravines, then follow the Sauve to reach a bridge.

(10) Cross it to the right, then take the tarmac road to the Le Cabanon sign (Ferme Viarsac on the IGN map).

(11) Take a barely visible path to the left of Le Cabanon which descends, cross the river (if the water is low) and continue to the right on a beautiful shady path to reach Les Auches at the entrance to the village.
Important note: if there is too much water, see the alternative route in the practical information section.

(12) Continue along the road to reach Venterol and the cemetery car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 439 m - Venterol cemetery car park
1 : km 0.78 - alt. 465 m - Stream
2 : km 1.64 - alt. 528 m - Cairn
3 : km 2.36 - alt. 694 m - Col des Vaus (685m)
4 : km 3 - alt. 848 m - Montagne des Vaux
5 : km 3.39 - alt. 856 m - Fork - Ridge trail
6 : km 5.25 - alt. 722 m - Crossroads
7 : km 5.45 - alt. 673 m - Vaux Forest
8 : km 9.64 - alt. 647 m - Col Flachet (646m)
9 : km 10.63 - alt. 513 m - Trail junction - Sauve (rivière) - Affluent de l'Eygues
10 : km 12.52 - alt. 418 m - The bridge
11 : km 12.94 - alt. 406 m - Le Cabanon (Ferme Viarsac on the IGN map)
12 : km 13.25 - alt. 410 m - Les Auches
S/E : km 14.39 - alt. 440 m - Venterol cemetery car park

Notes

The hike is quite difficult, effort 4, IBP 87. Technical difficulty 4, Risk 3. The slopes are steep, walking sticks are recommended. Do not take this route during or after rain, as it will be difficult to cross the streams and the river.

Alternatives:
(1) If there is too much water in the stream, descend 20 m lower and cross the bridge, then rejoin the main trail via a small track for 100 m.
(11) If there is too much water in the river, continue along the road to the village.
Between (9) and (11), you can take the road.

Worth a visit

(S/E) Fortified medieval village, Romanesque church, bell tower (16th-17th centuries). Sainte-Perpetue Chapel. Ruins of Ratier Castle.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5

Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5

Route interest
4.8 / 5

vuagnoux

11 Mar 2024 at 21:25 3600

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Followed mainly using the IGN map. Got lost at No. 2... Went too far to the right, had to go back down into one of the Devès riverbeds before climbing back up the opposite side to find the GR trail. Some parts were burnt... At No. 7, followed the tarmac road, couldn't find the exit on the right. The climb back up to the north was uninteresting and long (especially with a cold mistral wind...).
We'll do it again in better conditions...

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Rodger0è

28 Sep 2023 at 18:48 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed by a group of 13 hikers.
Very reliable GPS track. Nice steady climb through the woods on a pleasant single track. The descent is even more beautiful, in a (dry) stream carved out in places by water, it is absolutely stunning.
Thanks to the author for this magnificent hike.
Roger

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GMGALD

26 Sep 2023 at 21:56 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice hike, the passage along the ridge is splendid with views of Nions.
Be careful on the rocks in wet weather as they can be slippery.
I didn't see anyone, not even a hunter.

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Dubois Thérèse

15 Jun 2023 at 12:04 7200

Overall rating : 3 / 5

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

A very beautiful route, but once we arrived at Trou des Belles, we couldn't find the path leading up. After three unsuccessful attempts, on the fourth day we climbed through everything (500 metres of elevation gain through brambles, junipers and boxwoods... our legs took a beating!). The view from the top was worth it. The descent over the rocks is tough, but the last trail is lovely.
NB: Venterol is well worth a visit!

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vero4030

09 May 2023 at 21:16 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike manages to be both shaded and offer breathtaking views, both along the ridges and on the return trip via the GR trail, as the landscape is clearly visible through the vegetation. It took me two-thirds of the time to climb to the pass, then along the ridges and back to the Col de Vaux, but the return trip was faster and more interesting: you walk along a stream where it's nice to paddle, then a small diversion canal along a contour line, you cross the forest, in short, your attention never wavers until you arrive in the pretty village of Venterol.

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AWAWA

15 Mar 2023 at 20:09 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The description sometimes lacks detail at certain junctions. Fortunately, you can make up for this with the map. Be careful, the cairns are random. They disappear easily. Pay attention to the river level; the trail crosses it several times. It is therefore best to avoid days with heavy rain.
Otherwise, it's a beautiful hike, very informative about the geology of the area. AWA

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NALLA

04 Mar 2023 at 17:50 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2023
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 some very technical sections. A very beautiful landscape.

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kakie

27 Feb 2023 at 12:32 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful and varied hike.

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Isa84100

20 Feb 2023 at 23:38 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant circular completed yesterday under beautiful winter sunshine. Some sections are quite steep
The variety of the route makes this a very enjoyable hike: streams, forest, ridges, ascents, descents and the very pretty village of Venterol.
However, in terms of distance, it's over 17 km according to my GPS.
Be careful not to do this after rain because, in my opinion, you wouldn't be able to get through some places!
Thank you for this route.

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Maryma

09 Feb 2023 at 22:22 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I didn't meet a soul along the way. I did it on a weekday in cold weather... On the steep climb to the top of Montagne de Vaux, I encountered snow and ice. The cold weather contrasted sharply with the fairly warm weather at the end of the ridge trail when we saw Nyons!
A wonderful route in terms of its geological and landscape variety. Starting with the tributary of the Grieux torrent, the black marl (descending from the Col de Flachet) with its "elephant back" relief (erosion due to water), and its numerous streams.
The outward journey along the ridge trail offers magnificent panoramic views, but the return journey is less impressive as the vegetation is too high.
The grand finale is the charming village of Venterol. Be sure to stop by!
Thank you for sharing; it was a real treat!

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