The Causse de Gely circular

de fr

A circular loop on the left bank of the Peyne climbs along the dam's reservoir opposite Vailhan to follow the local hiking trail, which is dotted with picnic tables and offers beautiful views.

Details

n°26297118
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.46 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 231 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 230 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 292 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 133 m
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Photos

The lake
Padès
Vailhan and the Olivettes dam

Description of the walk

Start from the Vailhan car park on the left bank of the Peyne (cross the bridge by car).

(S/E) Start at the bottom of the car park and follow the wide track that runs along the left bank of the Peyne towards the dam.

(1) Before reaching the dam, keep to the left and continue along the track that climbs around the lake to the plateau (altitude 263).

(2) Continue straight ahead until you reach a tarmac road, which you will follow on the left to visit the hamlet of Paders after about a kilometre.

(3) Cross the hamlet and continue along the road towards Mas Rolland.

(4) At the next crossroads, leave the road and take a track on the left. Follow this track down to the pumping station, then up opposite and on the left to join the wide track on the plateau planted with vines.

(5) Take the track on the right and follow it for 1 km.

(6) Continue climbing to the left towards the Telecom antenna. Pass in front of it and admire the drystone shelter a little further on the right. Continue along the track, now following the blue markings.

Blue markings

(7) Turn left in the clearing, following the markings to reach a crossroads. A sign indicates the direction of an orienteering course. Turn right at the barrier to start a circular loop towards the south. Along the way, you will encounter numerous small boxes used to check in participants in the orienteering hike. Without using them, these boxes also indicate small east-west or vice versa paths that allow you to shorten the circular path around the hill at will.

The route follows the southern branch for two-thirds of its length.

(8) Turn left at the junction with a small path lined with two boxes. This west-east path quickly leads to another south-north path. Take this path on the left to reach a wooden barrier, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of Vailhan and the surrounding hills.

(9) Continue along the path to reach another picnic area and, immediately after, a well-marked crossroads.

(10) Take the path on the right, which begins to descend into the undergrowth and joins a wider path. Continue down the path on the right, which merges with the gully carved out by water erosion on the schistose rocks. Descend to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 135 m - Olivettes Dam car park - Vailhan
  2. 1 : km 0.6 - alt. 140 m - Fork to the left
  3. 2 : km 3.68 - alt. 261 m - Cote 263, crossroads
  4. 3 : km 4.51 - alt. 273 m - Paders
  5. 4 : km 5.11 - alt. 288 m - Road-track junction
  6. 5 : km 6 - alt. 252 m - Track intersection
  7. 6 : km 7.08 - alt. 243 m - Fork to the left
  8. 7 : km 7.67 - alt. 258 m - Blue PR on the left
  9. 8 : km 8.13 - alt. 255 m - Shortcut trail junction
  10. 9 : km 8.4 - alt. 258 m - Panorama
  11. 10 : km 8.66 - alt. 262 m - Trail junction
  12. S/E : km 9.46 - alt. 134 m - Olivettes dam car park

Notes

Most of the route is on easy trails. Only the descent between the Causse and the dam requires a little flexibility and perhaps walking sticks if it has rained recently.

Worth a visit

(S/E) The trail offers beautiful views of the dam and its reservoir in the first few hundred metres of the climb. Higher up, the vegetation hides the view.

The hamlet of Padès hides stone houses and a church that bear witness to a distant past and are worth a look. Only thirteen inhabitants and one water supply by tanker in the middle of summer 2022 because the wells have dried up.

(5) On the other side of the Telecom antenna by the side of the road, there is a pretty drystone shelter.

(5) to (7) Panoramic view of Vailhan, the dam and the surrounding hills. Information panels explain the geological history of this area and the flora found there. Opposite, picnic tables await you. A new picnic area is located at the northern junction of the circular.

On the Causse de Gely plateau, there is an orienteering course with 30 markers that participants must check off to find their way through this small maze. They can guide you during a simple hike by showing you the entrances and exits of the trails.

Reviews and comments

3.8 / 5
Based on 19 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
3.6 / 5
Pedibusien
Pedibusien

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Circuit travelled in the opposite direction. Very useful because this 700 m route is very ravined, narrow, obstructed by boulders and very steep. No major problems going up, but taking it downhill requires caution.
The rest of the route is on wide tracks in full sun.
As a result, it is a pleasant walk in mid-season or winter, avoiding wet periods.
It's a shame that the view of the lake is obscured by thick vegetation on one side. You have to reach the last kilometre to enjoy a beautiful view of both the lake and the dam.
The hamlet of Paters could do with better maintenance.

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Anketil
Anketil

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The route isn't really that interesting, although the start at the Olivette dam is nice, as is the view of Lake Vailhan further up. The little hamlet of Paders is really lovely too. Otherwise, it's more of a walk than a hike. I would recommend taking the route in reverse. This avoids the descent in the ruts that other people found difficult. The rest is almost entirely on track.

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User 4820666

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A hike without much general interest, but good for warming up after three months of rest due to the intense heat

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User 26958605

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Extremely technical end to the hike! Not suitable for people who don't feel comfortable jumping from rock to rock.
However, the scenery is very pleasant.
Significant elevation gain and loss, walking sticks are really useful.

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RPB
RPB

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

It's a shame that only part of this hike is marked. If you don't have a GPS, it will be very difficult.
I would like to point out the most difficult part (4) – even with information, we struggled.
Leave the road, and just to your left, there is a path that goes downhill (do not take it), then a tarmac track that goes uphill
towards the pumping station, but be careful not to go all the way to the station. If you do, it means you've missed a path that branches off to the left before you get there. With all the vegetation, it's easy to walk right past it without seeing it. That's what happened to us. The second part is marked with blue signs. Enjoy your walk!

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francoise caussat
francoise caussat

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice little walk, but unfortunately the view of the lake is obscured by vegetation on the uphill track.
You still need a good map or GPS because in some places we had to think carefully
especially after the hamlet of Paders

The descent is a bit technical.

I wouldn't classify it as an easy walk, but rather as moderate
The sun was shining, which made it a pleasure
My app says we covered 11 km, but we made a few short detours and turned around in the hamlet of Paders.
2 hours and 53 minutes of walking and 4 hours and 30 minutes outside with photo stops, to admire the landscape and have a picnic
Not to be done in very hot weather

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ireneT
ireneT

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

This walk takes you through some splendid countryside... except that you can hardly ever see it! The wide track (and sometimes even tarmac road) is always flanked by trees that are too tall to see anything. Fortunately, it's the season for ripe arbutus berries, which are a magnificent red! Otherwise, the (lack of) views are monotonous. The route is pleasant and easy, with a nice passage through the hamlet of Paders... but all in all, not very interesting.

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Dod'Agde
Dod'Agde
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike from the Olivettes dam in Vailhan, with sunshine as an added bonus. No weariness in the face of varied landscapes and paths. Beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the dam lake.
One small downside: the blue markings are missing in places.

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LAVALLÉ
LAVALLÉ

Not yet done

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Fernandez Benjamin
Fernandez Benjamin

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Traffic: part of the route is set up for orienteering.
Easy and pleasant hike.
Tables at the viewpoint.
Thank you, enjoy your hikes here or elsewhere.

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pascal.forbin
pascal.forbin

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful and pleasant hike, although the view is largely obscured by vegetation. At point 4, take the small road on the left and then immediately take the path that descends to the left.
As mentioned, the final descent is quite steep and tricky in places (walking sticks recommended).

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Gerard 8
Gerard 8

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in early November, few people encountered, the end in the causse is very pleasant, follow with your mobile phone, the blue signposts are not always visible.

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Legrandas
Legrandas

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk. Beautiful photos taken in this lovely weather. We needed to use the Visorando app. The signposting needs to be redone.

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jeanbernardcervera
jeanbernardcervera

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Hiking on the right bank.
It was quite difficult to find the path that branches off to the left downhill after Paders.
The hike is not very interesting except for the view of Vailhan towards the end of the route.
This hike is best done by mountain bike, provided you go straight ahead to the clearing before the barrier, using the road opposite, which turns into a tarmac road until you reach the final car park.

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ivanovitch
ivanovitch
• Edited:

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Impossible to follow from junction 4: three paths to the left. One descends towards Montesquieu and the other two (one leading back to the hamlet and the other climbing a paved slope towards a cistern) quickly disappear into the vineyards.
A long track from the car park with no view of the lake.

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