Country:
District:
Try to park at Les Gambins, at the south-western exit of Poleymieux, towards St Didier au Mont d'Or, in one of the parking spaces along the D74.
If there are no spaces in the car park, go to the Ampère car park 400 m below, towards the centre of the village.
A landmark: the small hamlet of Les Gabins has a narrow passage with two traffic lights on either side.
The Ampère car park is below this passage. The few parking spaces in the hamlet, and the start of the hike, are above this passage, on the St Didier au Mont d'Or side.
(S/E) Opposite the "Montée des Chavannes" road, go down a dirt track that zigzags to the bottom of the Thou valley, a small river that is very often dry. There you will come to a wash house, just below the start of the Mont d'Or Aqueduct, recently rediscovered by a young retiree from Poleymieux. There may still be traces of earthworks.
(1) Opposite the wash house, continue along the path following the contour line at the edge of the forest. Do not confuse this with the start of a path following the stream or the access to a meadow.
After about 300 metres, take one of the paths on the right that zigzags up through the forest and joins a steep escarpment. The path climbs diagonally up this escarpment and joins large boulders 20 metres above.
(2) From the boulders, which you can see by going around the back, finish the climb almost on all fours on natural steps. The very narrow path continues along the fence of a private property, above a cliff overlooking the previous boulders.
The path then runs alongside a field before joining a small road. Go down the road to the left for 50 metres, then turn right onto a path that climbs fairly steeply to the ridge of Mont Thou. The climb zigzags to the right, then turns sharply to the left. Be careful not to take a small path to the right, which will remain below Mont Thou and will not allow you to climb it.
(3) At the top of the path, at the ridge, turn right and continue straight ahead along the ridge, heading south-west. Stay on the edge of the woods, ignoring the various paths on the left that lead into the meadow, and you will reach Mont Thou after 1 km.
(4) Enjoy the view and the orientation table. Then descend by the same route back to the car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Easy 
