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).

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 very beautiful hike in the Pilat Massif. Beautiful views and varied vegetation. The section between (7) and (9) is a little more monotonous... In the right season, you can pick raspberries or blackberries. Please note: there is no car park available at the start of this hike. It is possible to start it from the same place as this other hike in the area https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-le-c...

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.

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

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.

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.

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.