The Happy Valley of Orgon

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

Details

n°242176

Creation:
14 Apr 2016

Last update:
03 Jul 2022

Last review:
13 Apr 2026

Activity: Walking
Distance: 10.78 km
Average duration: 3h 35
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 184 m
Descent: - 183 m
Highest point: 273 m
Lowest point: 94 m

Country: France
Area: Alpilles
City: Orgon (13660)
Start/End: N 43.784139° / E 5.043031°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3042OT, 3142OT, 3143OT
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Photos

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

Notes

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.

Worth a visit

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

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5

Based on 85 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5

Route interest
4.5 / 5

mimie63

13 Apr 2026 at 20:27 7200 • Edited: 13 Apr 2026 at 20:28 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The paths aren’t very easy to follow because they’re all marked in yellow. The junctions aren’t always clearly marked.

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phildaix

07 Jan 2026 at 18:26 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It should have been called the Valley of Wonders, but that name was already taken. A magnificent hike among breathtaking rocks. Although the crossing of the plateau is less impressive, it is still a pleasant walk. No particular difficulties, but be careful on the steep descent between points 7 and 8.

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frenchick2512

06 Oct 2025 at 18:17 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, but around the ninth kilometre there is a fairly steep and rocky descent. So take your time to avoid injuring yourself before you reach the end.
This hike is very pleasant and takes you through different landscapes. Avoid doing it in direct sunlight, as some sections have no shade.

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andre demey

16 Sep 2025 at 11:29 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

As we didn't have time for the full hike, we continued straight on after point 2 to reach a cistern (highest point 244m), turned right, ignored a path on the left, turned right at a fork and rejoined the circuit at point 6. The descent at 7 should only be attempted in dry weather. In wet weather, it is better to follow the yellow markings, which are longer but also lead back to the car park. Very beautiful surroundings. Pleasant hike, wide trail.

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J.Mounier

05 May 2025 at 14:08 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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

15 Apr 2025 at 08:48 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Short 8 km hike.

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gg13500

18 Nov 2024 at 14:05 3600 • Edited: 18 Nov 2024 at 14:06 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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

10 Nov 2024 at 18:34 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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

16 Sep 2024 at 11:06 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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

03 Jul 2024 at 06:28 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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

17 Jun 2024 at 09:49 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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

06 May 2024 at 18:39 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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

12 Mar 2024 at 11:15 3600

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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

09 Jan 2024 at 22:30 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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

06 Nov 2023 at 11:34 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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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