Le Creux du Renard

Parcours sans difficulté sur de petits sentiers tranquilles autour des villages de Larnage et Crozes-Hermitage. Passage près de l'ancienne carrière de kaolin encore exploitée il y a quelques années et abandonnée maintenant. Ce kaolin servait à la fabrication de porcelaine et les déchets étaient étalés sur les chemins de terre en guise de goudron.

Details

18175177
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.38 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 229 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 223 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 294 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 134 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the market square in Larnage, near the church.

(S/E) Head towards the church and town hall. At the corner of the town hall, turn left onto Rue des Terres Blanches, then right onto Chemin du Kaolin.

(1) Continue straight ahead, leaving the entrance to the old kaolin quarry on your right. Kaolin is a white rock used to make porcelain tableware. About 50 metres further on, follow the course of the Ruisseau de Crozes stream, which is mostly dry, then take a path that climbs into the woods, passing by Creux du Renard. Walk along the Ravin de Roche Pierre ravine and you will reach Route des Vignes.

(2) Turn right and follow this road straight ahead to the crossroads near a house and a farm building.

(3) Turn left onto Route des Méjeans and follow it straight ahead until you reach the third crossroads.

(4) Descend to the left towards the village of Crozes. Pass through the Bruclas neighbourhood, then follow Chemin des Pins, a dirt track that descends towards the village of Crozes with numerous bends. Continue along Chemin des Lavoirs and you will come to a small square that can be used for parking.

(5) Turn left onto a small path that descends above the village houses and joins the D163 (Rue des Appellations). The street is dangerous, so be sure to use the pedestrian bridge. Continue left and cross the bridge.

(6) Immediately afterwards, climb left onto the small path that joins the tarmac road called Chemin du Bergeron at the top. Turn left to follow this road, then left again onto Route des Plots and continue to the Champ Clevet crossroads at the housing estate.

(7) Take Rue Chautin opposite, pass the sports field, then descend left onto Montée de la Fabrique to return to the village centre and reach the market square (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 207 m - Market square - Église Saint-André (Larnage)
  2. 1 : km 0.81 - alt. 240 m - Fork in the road. Old quarries
  3. 2 : km 1.07 - alt. 265 m - Route des Vignes
  4. 3 : km 1.37 - alt. 272 m - Route des Méjeans
  5. 4 : km 2.92 - alt. 248 m - Towards the village of Crozes
  6. 5 : km 4.49 - alt. 134 m - Small square
  7. 6 : km 5.49 - alt. 150 m - Trail
  8. 7 : km 6.68 - alt. 209 m - Champ Clevet
  9. S/E : km 7.37 - alt. 206 m - Market square - Église Saint-André (Larnage)

Notes

In rainy weather, the path near the quarry is very muddy.

(5) You can also turn right to admire the view from the Belvédère des Méjeans a few hundred metres away and then retrace your steps.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
User 25901765

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We chose this hike because it was described as easy, which it is. It was a bit tricky at the start in the undergrowth along the vineyards because the path was not maintained and there were some brambles and high branches, but it was a great hike. The estimated time was 3 hours and we did it in 2 hours (with very few breaks). We had wonderful weather and didn't meet anyone else on the entire hike.

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krisV
krisV

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Very easy hike with some beautiful views and, admittedly, a bit too much tarmac.

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Christophe MONDON
Christophe MONDON

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, hike completed in beautiful sunshine and cold, dry weather. A very pleasant walk, with a steep climb at the start to reach the vineyards, and magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. The only downside was that there was a bit too much tarmac for the rest of the route... Don't miss the Méjans viewpoint just before marker 4, 300-400 metres off the route, for a superb view of the Rhône.

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Vinkor42
Vinkor42

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Hello. We did this hike on a Sunday when the weather was nice and the temperature was mild. There were quite a few people on part of the route because it was being used for a locally organised hike. My husband and I (aged 70 and 68) took two hours to complete the hike, without rushing. Conclusion: too much tarmac. The written description could be more precise: for example, Rue des Terres Blanches, which you walk down to the bridge, then 20 metres straight on after the bridge, turn right... (4) ... then follow Chemin des Pins, which is a continuation of the tarmac section. Overall conclusion: a lovely walk, perfect for a Sunday stroll after breakfast. However, it may be a little disappointing if you enjoy nature walks on trails. Nevertheless, thanks to the clear weather and mild temperatures, we had a pleasant time.

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christine.thomas4
christine.thomas4

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Following the closure of the kaolin quarry, the site with the grinding wheels is currently being restored. It is worth taking a short detour of 100 metres to see it.

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sommet
sommet

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Too much driving.......................

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Gilioman
Gilioman

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent walk in the heart of a prestigious vineyard.

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joel marnier
joel marnier

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A bit too much tarmac, but a superb view.

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eynard
eynard

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Pleasant hike with beautiful views, but signage leaves something to be desired in certain places.
A bit too much tarmac

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pallandre chantal
pallandre chantal

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Pleasant hike with beautiful views.

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isabelledebiolles@orange.fr
isabelledebiolles@orange.fr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Ideal route for an afternoon stroll. Lovely views.
THANK YOU

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