The Trois Châteaux viewpoint and the Col de Toutes Aures

A pleasant hike in the hills above Pont-en-Royans, leading to the Belvédère des Trois Châteaux and the Col de Toutes Aures.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.29 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,903 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,893 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,837 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 696 ft

Description of the walk

Park in the car park on Place de la Corbeille.

(S/E) From the car park, head west along the road for a few metres before turning right onto Rue du Temple. Follow the steps on the right. Once on Chemin du Bourg, turn left then right at the next junction. The steps lead to a place called Porte d’Agnès; continue straight on and you’ll reach a junction of paths.

(1) Take the path on the right towards Col Toutes Aures. The path climbs gently and reaches a second junction.

(2) Take the path to the right and back to reach the Belvédère des Trois Châteaux and its orientation table.

(3) Enjoy the wonderful view before returning to the previous junction.

(2) Continue to the right towards the Col de Toutes Aures. This section climbs steadily before reaching a flat area with a signpost.

(4) Descend slightly opposite and follow the path along the ledge before reaching another junction (green path). Continue to the left, passing a house before joining a road.

(5) Turn left onto it and reach the Col de Toutes Aures, with a magnificent view.

(6) Take the road heading down to the north and follow it to the hamlet of Le Mûrier.

(7) At the crossroads, head left and then, a few metres further on, turn left again. After the hairpin bend to the right, pass a house. The track turns into a path ahead. Cross a stream and continue up a fairly steep slope for a few metres, before reaching more houses and a road.

(8) Continue along the road, ignoring all side paths. Further on, you will reach the junction where the walk began.

(1) Follow the same path as on the way out but in the opposite direction to reach Place de la Corbeille (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 699 ft - Car park: Place de la Corbeille - Bourne (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.17 - alt. 876 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 0.33 - alt. 1,106 ft - Viewpoint junction
  4. 3 : mi 0.53 - alt. 1,243 ft - Les Trois Châteaux viewpoint
  5. 4 : mi 1.32 - alt. 1,759 ft - Signpost - Col de Toutes-Aures (560m)
  6. 5 : mi 1.94 - alt. 1,759 ft - Road junction
  7. 6 : mi 2.14 - alt. 1,827 ft - Col de Toutes-Aures (560m)
  8. 7 : mi 3.58 - alt. 1,398 ft - Le Mûrier
  9. 8 : mi 4.34 - alt. 1,178 ft - Road (Courtevoux)
  10. S/E : mi 5.29 - alt. 696 ft - Car park at Place de la Corbeille. Confluence Bourne - Vernaison (rivière)

Notes

Watch the hike on video via the following link: https://youtu.be/UiqDdR82aBc

Please take care between (2) and (3) on the way to the viewpoint; this section may be difficult for those prone to vertigo.

Worth a visit

Water Museum
The GTV (Grande Traversée du Vercors) heading towards Choranche.
The Cascade Blanche and Verte further south in Sainte-Eulalie-en-Royans.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Jmi26
Jmi26

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route is clearly marked, but access to the Belvédère is closed due to safety works, likely until the end of June. An alternative route is suggested to bypass this section. Unfortunately, as it is barely marked with a few pieces of barrier tape and rarely used, it can be a bit tricky to follow (map and GPS required).
Herds are grazing, and you’ll come across sheepdogs...

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Michel69150
Michel69150

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I found the description to be rather vague in several places. Thankfully, we had GPS!
There was indeed a bit too much tarmac on the way back, but the scenery was beautiful. And we had a lovely surprise when we encountered some chamois

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Odile_92
Odile_92

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

I went on this walk in July 2023 during a heatwave, which probably explains why there were so few people around.
Unfortunately, the viewpoint was closed for renovation, and it is the main attraction of the walk.
There is a lot of walking along the road – about 40% of the route – which, although safe due to the lack of traffic, isn’t particularly interesting.

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choron74
choron74

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, pleasant and fairly easy walk. The main drawback: there’s a lot of tarmac road all the way down.

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tronchenko
tronchenko

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It was a lovely ride despite the overcast weather, which limited visibility in the distance, particularly at the Col de Toutes Aures, where, as a cyclist explained to us, you’d normally have a magnificent view of the Vercors High Plateaus.
The climb is a bit of a slog, especially if you take the detour past the old castles, but what a reward it is to hear the soft patter of a chamois’s hooves on the rocks, then to watch it watching us from a rocky outcrop a little higher up!
The descent along the road (Faucon) is very peaceful and relaxing, even if there is a bit too much tarmac...
A very beautiful and varied ride.

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