The Happy Valley of Orgon

A very pleasant short hike with views of the Durance valley, Mont Ventoux, the Luberon, etc. No particular difficulty.

Technical sheet

n°242176

Creation:
14 Apr 2016

Last update:
3 Jul 2022

Last review:
5 May 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 10.78 km
Average duration: 3h 35
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 184 m
Vertical drop: - 183 m
Highest point: 273 m
Lowest point: 94 m

Country: France
Area: Alpilles
District: Orgon (13660)
Start/End: N 43.784139° / E 5.043031°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3042OT, 3142OT, 3143OT
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Description of the walk

At the foot of the Notre-Dame de Beauregard cliff, head towards the campsite on the right, "Impasse de Lavau". Leave your car in the car park before the campsite.

(S/E) Go to the campsite and take the winding road marked in yellow and continue to a crossroads in a bend 200 metres higher up.

(1) Continue along the path on the left (the path on the right is the return route). Stay on this yellow-marked path until you reach a parking sign.

(2) Continue along the path that climbs to the left (yellow markings). When you reach the plateau, go to the Tour de Guet viewpoint for a panoramic view of the Durance valley, Mont Ventoux and the Luberon.

(3) Return to the track at the signpost and take the left-hand track (no signpost) which runs along the cliff and leads you to the large antenna. Stay on this track. At the next intersection, at the signpost, go straight ahead (south-west; no signpost).

(4) Turn right and then further right, passing between two signs saying "Chasse... Orgon" on one side and "Chasse... Senas" on the other. After 150 metres, you will come to a larger track. Turn right and pass under the high-voltage line. After about 100 metres, you will come to a large track. Turn right and head towards the large pylon.

(5) Turn left, the sign indicates Orgon, and you are back on the yellow trail. Stay on this trail. A little further on your right, a cistern confirms that you are on the right track. Continue on the yellow trail on the main path, ignoring the other paths.

(6) You will arrive at a large crossroads with a cistern in front of you. Leave the yellow markings, which continue straight ahead, and take the small path immediately after the cistern (due east). The path begins on a small rock. 100 metres further on, the path turns at a right angle to the left.

(7) The trail continues down a very steep slope. Be careful, it is a little slippery. In the gully, stay on the track that runs between two rock walls.

(8) You will arrive at the back of the campsite at a crossroads. Follow the path on the right that runs alongside the fence and rejoins the track you started on.

(1) Continue to the car park by taking the same path (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 94 m - La Vallée Heureuse car park
1 : km 0.46 - alt. 119 m - Turn left onto the track.
2 : km 2.05 - alt. 205 m - On the left
3 : km 3.08 - alt. 262 m - The Watchtower
4 : km 5.22 - alt. 271 m - On the right
5 : km 6.26 - alt. 271 m - At the pylon on the left
6 : km 8.08 - alt. 229 m - Large crossroads
7 : km 8.31 - alt. 232 m - Steep descent.
8 : km 9.84 - alt. 119 m - Back of the campsite
S/E : km 10.78 - alt. 94 m - La Vallée Heureuse car park

Practical information

Be careful in hot weather; don't forget to take a hat, as there is no shade.
Be careful on the descent at (7), good shoes are strongly recommended.

In the nearby area

Panoramic view of the Durance valley with the Luberon and Ventoux mountains in the background.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5

Based on 81 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5

Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5

Route interest
4.5 / 5

J.Mounier

May 05, 2025 at 08:08 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

On the plateau, the walk is a little monotonous; on the other hand, the beginning and end are very beautiful and pleasant.

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Del al

Apr 15, 2025 at 02:48 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Short 8 km hike.

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gg13500

Nov 18, 2024 at 08:05 EST • Last modified: Nov 18, 2024 at 08:06 EST

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Thanks for sharing.
A very pleasant walk, to be avoided in the summer when it's very hot.
The descent is rather steep, otherwise no difficulty parking in November. I recommend it because it's parish specific to Brittany.

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JL30

Nov 10, 2024 at 12:34 EST

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Beautiful walk on a fine Sunday in November
The scenery, with its rocky peaks where you can spot a few climbers, is superb.
No difficulty with the gradient, you hardly feel it at all
On the way back, at point 6, we continued along the yellow-marked path to see the Notre Dame de Beauregard chapel. The path is magnificent and you come across the road that leads to it 500m further on, so it's well worth the diversions.
What's more, this path takes you over the happy valley on the other side, rather than down into it, with some great views to boot.
And finally, the descent from Notre dame de Beauregard to the car park is very easy.
Thank you Jb for this wonderful discovery

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MAMAROT J-L

Sep 16, 2024 at 05:06 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

nice walk but like the previous hiker I can confirm that after point 7 the vegetation takes over again with quite a lot of ragweed.

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SAUNIERMARTINE

Jul 03, 2024 at 00:28 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

between points 3 and 4, it's not very clear. It says at point 3: go straight on. and at the beginning of point 4: turn right. hence my confusion.
As far as the hunting signs are concerned, there is a sign, but it's all been erased.
note part 7: the vegetation is starting to reclaim its rights. too bad, the walk could get lost.

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Afrançoise

Jun 17, 2024 at 03:49 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

I was pleasantly surprised by this walk. The section from point 6 to the end is magnificent. We've renamed it the butterfly valley. The climb at the start is gentle and set in a beautiful landscape. On the plateau, the beautiful views more than make up for the somewhat monotonous scenery, and the beautiful path allows you to walk with your nose in the wind without looking at your feet. Before or after the hike, a diversion to the chapel is a must: the view is magnificent and the place is pleasant and shady. If you're tired, you can go by car 😉

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njnrando

May 06, 2024 at 12:39 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A nice easy walk. At point 6, we took the path that goes straight ahead to Notre Dame de Beauregard. This makes the loop a little longer, but gives you a great view of the Durance, the Ventoux and the Alpilles.

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schnogeloch

Mar 12, 2024 at 06:15 EDT

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful walk, especially at the beginning and end of the route; a little more monotonous on the plateau.
We used the gpx track... fortunately, because the description is rather approximate, and I think that if we had had to make do with it we would have had a few problems.

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Jérôme.C

Jan 09, 2024 at 16:30 EST

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Nice hike, starting from a small lake, then pretty 360° panoramas of the Alpilles and the Durance valley. Done on a mistral day.... it's a real head turner once you reach the plateau. In summer, if access to the massif is authorised, it's best to do it early in the morning or at the end of the day, as there are very few trees on the path and it can get hot.

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E. Roux

Nov 06, 2023 at 05:34 EST

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Great start and return to the valley with the cliffs.
The loop on the plateau is a little less interesting but it's a nice walk and not difficult.

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Vlotho

Nov 06, 2023 at 03:58 EST

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant route, but be careful from stage 7 onwards, as the slope can be slippery and dangerous. But otherwise magnificent views of the plateau and surrounding area. Nice walk in the forest.

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Cécile Pimpampoum

Feb 27, 2023 at 07:52 EST

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

Hello,
Easy parking. We followed the route using the GPS track on the app and had no problems.
We did the walk in 2 hours 20 minutes, as opposed to the 3 hours 50 minutes we were told we would need, even though we don't walk particularly fast.
It's true that once on the plateau, the interest is limited. Nevertheless, the viewpoints advertised were interesting.
The descent to the Vallée Heureuse at the end of the route is admittedly a little tricky. The valley itself is pleasant because of the rock faces.

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Gépa

Nov 28, 2022 at 05:29 EST

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Notre-Dame de Beauregard is also well worth the diversions. Although the plateau is less picturesque, it also provides an opportunity to take in the flora, the tracks left by game and the contrasting colours of autumn in the Durance valley.

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JJBOUR

Nov 02, 2022 at 11:18 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Lovely walk around Orgon, with a stop at Notre Dame de Beauregard as a prelude.
A superb spot just a stone's throw from where we live (35 mins by car).
Some of the rocks have such strange profiles that you'd have to give them strange names... In any case, it's a nice walk, not too difficult, with some nice surprises at the beginning and end, and in the middle ... it's a plateau ... let's say out of 5 I'd give it 3 ... to do ...

Thanks to the author...perfect.

With the IGN map in the Visorando background, it's simply the best, you can't go wrong!

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