Cul de Drôme

A flat hike along the Drôme to its mouth at the Rhône. Discover unspoilt nature with its fields, hedges and pretty paths along the dykes. You will see the fish pass, the Viarhona cycle route, swans, great cormorants and more.
Avoid in winter when there are strong north winds.

Details

447412
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.30 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 23 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 23 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 117 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 89 m

Description of the walk

Departure from Livron-sur-Drôme town hall (car park).

(S/E) Head south and pass between the long town hall building (on your left) and Parc Grangeon (on your right). At the end, turn left (metal barrier). Cross the small park and climb up to the left onto the terrace of the wedding hall to exit onto the N7.

(1) Turn right along the road and continue for about 100 metres. After the last building (former Peugeot garage), at the "La petite gare" mast, take the street that goes down to the right. Cross the railway line and turn right between the old houses.

(2) Take the path that now runs along the right bank of the Drôme.

(3) Pass under the railway bridge and continue along the river.

(4) Pass under the motorway bridge and continue straight ahead along the river.

(5) At the fish pass, take the track on the right and go around a stream to reach a picnic area. Continue to the right and then take the first track on the left. Continue straight ahead until you reach the Viarhona and its footbridge.

(6) Continue straight ahead until you reach the Rhône.

(7) With your back to the Rhône, descend to the left and return to the footbridge via the small path parallel to the track (it is also possible to return via the track).

(6) Cross the Drôme via the footbridge. Then turn left and take the path that runs close to a gravel quarry. This wide path runs along the left bank of the Drôme to the Nationale 7 bridge. Climb up the stairs to the road.

(8) Cross the bridge, turning left. Stay on the pavement in single file (heavy traffic) to reach the town hall.

(1) Leave the stairs to the wedding hall on your left, which you took on the way there. Turn left 20 metres further on into a narrow alleyway that passes under the entrance to the town hall. Cross the large square on the right to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 112 m - Town hall car park
  2. 1 : km 0.23 - alt. 113 m - N7 road
  3. 2 : km 0.47 - alt. 111 m - Path on the right bank of the Drôme
  4. 3 : km 1.7 - alt. 106 m - Railway bridge
  5. 4 : km 3.92 - alt. 101 m - Motorway bridge
  6. 5 : km 4.91 - alt. 97 m - The fish pass
  7. 6 : km 6.87 - alt. 95 m - Viarhona footbridge - Drôme
  8. 7 : km 7.27 - alt. 92 m - Cul de Drôme - Rhône (le)
  9. 8 : km 13.86 - alt. 111 m - Commander Henri Faure Bridge
  10. S/E : km 14.3 - alt. 112 m - Town hall car park

Notes

There are shelters under the two bridges.
For a break sheltered from the north wind: on your way back from Cul de Drôme (7), turn left immediately onto the wooded path.
There are no water sources along the hike.

Please note! At times, access is restricted at the motorway bridge (backfilling work). Heavy machinery in operation.

Worth a visit

On the way there, you will have a view of the Ardèche mountains. Throughout the route, the river is present with its meanders and gravel banks. There is a remarkable fish pass that has been built to allow certain species to swim upstream. Then the Viarhona crosses the Drôme and goes to the Pouzin bridge.

At Cul de Drôme, you will undoubtedly see great cormorants, herons and other wading birds. Pairs of swans often glide across the water near the banks.

On the way back, on a clear day, you can see the Trois Becs mountain and the "Haut Livron", a small hill with ramparts. The Tour du Diable and its hillsides, famous for their "Bréseme" wine, come into view as you approach the Drôme bridge (Pont du Commandant Henri Faure, which was destroyed by the Resistance to prevent German troops from crossing the river during the 1940-1945 war).

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 23 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
BARNAVON
BARNAVON

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

An easy but long route. The return journey is more interesting than the outward journey: the path is wider and better maintained. But there is so much noise on both sides of the motorway, even as far as Livron!

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User 24370658

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy route with no elevation gain, so it can be enjoyed by young walkers.
Informative and enjoyable.

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arnaudchouchou
arnaudchouchou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike with no difficulties but covering some distance... perfect for a leisurely stroll or a gentle return to exercise.
Magnificent scenery.

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catche
catche

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very easy route. No noise pollution, apart from the train from time to time. Vegetation is abundant, so the path is sometimes sheltered.

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Rando MT
Rando MT

Not yet, thank you... MT

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Stéphane Schaffter
Stéphane Schaffter
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with no difficulties. Expect fairly strong winds, so be sure to dress warmly or walk faster

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Daniel Maciocia
Daniel Maciocia

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A natural spot that is well worth a visit, but unfortunately you can hear the noise of the motorway and railway for much of the route

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Rando MT
Rando MT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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jean laure
jean laure

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A walk with no elevation gain, but interesting for hikers with a history of knee sprains.
Please note that due to the Livron diversion works, the passage under the motorway bridge is currently closed to walkers on both the south and north sides, so please follow the diversion signs (this lengthens the route and is less interesting as it is on tarmac)

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marc 26
marc 26

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk with no difficulty whatsoever.

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BONNIFACY M LISETTE
BONNIFACY M LISETTE

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Hello to all Visorandonneurs
The hike didn't go well
One of us was bitten by a dog. The guy ran off without leaving an address
we are in the process of filing a complaint
it was a MALINOIS attached to a retractable leash around its owner's waist, and there was a second black dog
If you encounter them, be careful
they are dangerous
lisette B HORIZONS Hiking in Valence

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BRUN Mireille
BRUN Mireille

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Few birds can withstand a 90 km/h mistral wind!

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Pat059
Pat059

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A pleasant, easy hike as it is flat, great for getting back into shape, with a bit of a mistral wind as there is no shelter.
I will do it again in the spring when nature awakens, it will be more pleasant and the migratory birds will be back.

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colette et yvon
colette et yvon

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant hike, but it's a shame that the snow has caused so much damage, which makes the route a little more difficult.

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AlessandraYaya
AlessandraYaya

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

It was very hot. Most of the hike is not shaded, especially on the left bank of the Drôme. The walk is technically very easy, but not really interesting, except perhaps by bike...

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