Le Bessat walks

The route takes you through forests of tall trees on the cross-country ski trails of the Bessat resort.

An easy walk in the forest, refreshing on summer days, in the heart of the Pilat Regional Nature Park, to discover the somewhat secret sites of the Grand Bois.

A hike starting from Le Bessat, in the Pilat Regional Nature Park, offering unobstructed views of the Mont Blanc massif and then the Mézenc. N.B. Hike not accessible in winter (area reserved for skiing).

A very beautiful hike in the Pilat Massif. Stunning views and varied vegetation. The section between (8) and (10) is a bit more monotonous... In the right season, you can pick raspberries or blackberries.

In the heart of the Pilat mountains, this hike will take you to the highest point of the massif, the Crêt de la Perdrix. The route will guide you to the Saut du Gier, a pretty waterfall not far from the shepherd's hut, where the river has its source. The path will take you through majestic forests where tall trees will shelter you from the sun's rays in summer.

Long snowshoe hike on the Pilat ridges. Can also be done on foot if there is no snow.

This hike will take you to the north face of the Pilat massif and the Mézenc plateau, with beautiful forest crossings. Enjoy the coolness of the two dams visited and climb a rock to admire the rugged landscape of the Gouffre d'Enfer.

A short, varied tour in the Pilat Massif around the Crêt de l'Aireiller, with a 360° view from the Crêt de la Perdrix as the grand finale.

This is an alternative route that allows you to enjoy the Saut du Gier, La Jasserie and Crêt de la Perdrix without covering too many kilometres. A pleasant woodland environment, scree slopes, the Saut du Gier, the Source du Gier at La Jasserie, and Crêt de la Perdrix with its orientation table. Beautiful panoramic views on clear days over the Rhône Valley and the Alps (Mont Blanc). A reasonably challenging route. Departure from La Scie du Bost.

Very pleasant in summer, this circular route, mostly through the forests on the northern slope of the Pilat, culminates at the Saut du Gier. From the Scie du Bost, the path leads to the beautiful Gier waterfall, then climbs a rocky escarpment to reach the shepherd's hut and the Crêt de la Perdrix, the highest point of the Pilat at an altitude of 1,432 m. Following the GR®7 and then the GR®42, which crosses the village of Le Bessat, you approach the village of La Tarentaise before descending into the Vallon du Ban and climbing up to Le Rot, then through the Vallon de La Fare to return to the starting point.

The Pilat massif on its southern slope with a passage at its highest point, the Crêt de la Perdrix.

A lovely circular route that takes you through a magnificent beech forest and then along a balcony path where you can admire the Monts d'Ardèche and the Alps.

A beautiful hike starting from the heights of La Valla-En-Gier to discover three dams used for drinking water production. Not recommended for those prone to vertigo.

Most of the hike is in the woods, which is very pleasant in summer. From La Valla-en-Gier, a pretty village that has retained its authentic character, take a small road and then a footpath to reach the Ruisseau du Ban stream, nestled at the bottom of a bucolic valley. The path runs alongside this stream for almost 3 km before climbing up to the Bessat plateau. TheGR®®42 trailtakes you to Le Bessat, a tourist village with low, squat houses reminiscent of the nearby Massif Central. The return journey is a descent through the woods.

An easy walk to enjoy as a family. Very popular in summer, it is worth the detour to admire the panoramic view over the Alps and the summits of Mont Blanc, the Lyonnais mountains and the Giers valley, the Vercors massif and those of northern Vivarais. With a wealth of flowers in spring, you can gather bilberries in August and raspberries in September. Unless you choose to go ski touring or cross-country skiing here in winter.

Enjoy the atmosphere of northern Ardèche with this exceptional hike in the heart of Pilat. Pass through the main ridges of Pilat to discover breathtaking views and small steep paths.

This easy, short walk through the woods in the heart of the Grand Bois in the Pilat Regional Nature Park is a chance to remember a tragic event from the Second World War, around a small monument that has been somewhat forgotten as it does not appear on any maps. Route updated on 18 July 2020.

An easy hike through the forests of Pilat. The route through the trees will take you to the Crêt de Chaussitre, where there is an orientation table offering a panoramic view of the nearby mountains and the Massif Central. The path takes you through the village of Saint-Régis-du-Coin, and further on, through the Gimel peat bogs. Near the end of the route, a second orientation table offers a superb view on a clear day, this time of the Alps.

a peaceful walk with no difficult sections but not recommended for young children or pushchairs, through forest, alongside ponds and numerous fields in the Pilat Park. Update 20/08/25: photos added and details provided for the fork at point (7) Update 15/07/2025: route modified between points (5) and (7) due to the gradual disappearance of the path on the western edge of the pond.

Hike on the plateau from the Col de la République between Saint-Genest-Malifaux and Saint-Régis-du-Coin.

A long, pleasant walk in summer through beautiful forests between the Col de la République and Saint-Régis-du-Coin. Can also be done in winter with snowshoes or even cross-country skis.

This is a fairly strenuous hike with beautiful views. If you wish, between (1) and (2), you can take a slightly easier route. The waterfall is worth the detour.

Long hike in the Pilat massif. Ideal for beautiful days in May. This hike has two main attractions. It allows you to discover the Cascade du Gier waterfall before entering a completely different world and discovering all the ridges of the Pilat. The advantage is that there are several points where it is possible to shorten this beautiful hike. Please note: the first part through the woods is not well marked and it is easy to take the wrong path.