The Caroux around Rosis

Park in the car park in the centre of Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare, after crossing the Ruisseau du Casselouvre on the left.

(S/E) Follow the stream upstream for a few dozen metres through a pleasant chestnut forest. Join a tarmac road.

(1) Take the path opposite. Walk past numerous low walls and old shepherds’ huts. You will then rejoin the tarmac road that forms part of the^GRP®® du Haut Languedoc. Follow it to the left for about a hundred metres before reaching a path junction.

(2) Leave the^GRP®® trail, keeping to the left of the road, pass the hamlet of Muratel and continue the climb. After a hairpin bend, you’ll come to a crossroads of paths.

(3) Leave the road and take the path to the right. Begin a long, almost level circular loop to the left to reach the multi-way junction at Portail de Roquandouire.

(4) Pass through this gate and immediately turn left onto the^GRP®® Tour de la Montagne du Haut Languedoc, marked in yellow and red. Continue on to reach the hamlet of Caissenols le Bas, then that of Caissenols le Haut.

(5) Turn right to climb up alongside the Ruisseau de l’Ourtigas stream through a dense chestnut grove, reaching the Col de l’Ourtigas.

(6) Cross the road and continue left along the^GRP®® up a very steep climb. You will soon reach a rocky outcrop on the left offering magnificent views. Continue down a gentle slope to reach the Coulet d’Estrets.

(7) Keep left on the^GRP®®, cross the small Col du Tirondel, and complete the descent to reach the village of Douch.

(8) Cross the village and the car park at its entrance to join a new forest track, marked in yellow, and climb steadily up to the Caroux plateau. Join the^GRP®® at the Jasse de Joucla.

(9) Turn left onto it and reach the crossroads near the Jasse de Bonnel.

(10) Stay on the^GRP®® straight ahead, descending a narrow, steep path with numerous stones that can be slippery in wet weather. Reach the hamlet of La Fage.

(11) Continue along the road to the left and reach the Col des Avels.

(12) Follow the road to the right for about 100 metres, then leave it to follow the^GRP®® to the left along a path leading to the Col de Jaquet.

(13) Turn left onto the D180E2 – this is still the^GRP®® – and reach the Col de Madale.

(14) At the crossroads, take the path which continues along a new, hand-built stony track, leading to the Col de Vente-Vieille.

(15) Continue the descent along a forest track, winding through the woods to reach the hamlet of Cours le Bas.

(16) Continue to the right to reach Compeyre.

(17) Turn right at the junction of several tarmac roads to join the D922E, then the car park at Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare (S/E).

Between (4) and (6), water points between the Portail de Roquandouire and the Col de l'Ourtigas.

(4) Portail de Roquandouire, an impressive spot with a magnificent view over the valley. This impressive gateway is the surprising result of natural erosion. Bivouacking possible here.
Between (4) and (5), the stony path is the result of colossal works undertaken in the past to carve out these steep passages on the cliff face.
(5) Ruins of the hamlet of Caissenols le Haut – an interesting site to visit, bearing witness to past human activity in the middle of nowhere.
(8) Douch: Don’t miss the statue of the mouflon, which stands proudly near a majestic stone table to welcome walkers.
(9) Jasse de Joucla: from here, you can take a detour to reach the Refuge de Font Salesse and, beyond that, the Caroux orientation table with its exceptional views (add 1.5 km each way).