The Pic Cassini from the Mas de la Barque

de fr

Here too, in the Lozère region, a 360° summit bears the cartographer Cassini's famous name. Did he ever see, this cartographer, the map of this corner of Lozère? Perhaps not. On the other hand, this summit, which is easy to get to, offers a remarkable view, which can then be completed by a loop via the source of the Tarn river.

Details

n°14786779
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.80 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,204 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,207 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,509 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,423 ft
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Description of the walk

Start: Park in the large car park at the Mas de la Barque.

(S/E) Take the wide forest track leading to the Forêt Domaniale du Mont-Lozère. An easy climb takes you to the Col de l'Aigle, where several trails meet.

(1) Continue straight ahead to reach the edge of the forest and complete the ascent to the Pic Cassini.

(2) Continue on the opposite slope and, on a pleasant descent, reach the Tarn river.

(3) Follow the river on its right bank. Pass the edge of the Bois des Canargues and continue until you reach the junction with the Sentier de Découverte.

(4) Bear right, still on the right bank of the Tarn, to reach a wide track and the Mas Camargues car park.

(5) Cross the Tarn on a superb stone bridge and continue on this track. Reach the houses of the hamlet of Bellecoste.

(6) Continue straight ahead on the GR®72 marked in red and white. This GR® is shared with the track, follow it and, in a right-hand bend, reach the forest.

(7) Continue under the trees and on the track to return very easily to the Mas de la Barque car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,675 ft - Car park - Le Mas de la Barque
  2. 1 : mi 1.89 - alt. 5,279 ft - Col de l'Aigle (1604m)
  3. 2 : mi 2.36 - alt. 5,482 ft - Pic de Cassini (1680m)
  4. 3 : mi 4.18 - alt. 5,056 ft - Tarn (rivère)
  5. 4 : mi 5.75 - alt. 4,573 ft - Discovery trail
  6. 5 : mi 6.38 - alt. 4,426 ft - Mas Camargues
  7. 6 : mi 7.35 - alt. 4,491 ft - Bellecoste
  8. 7 : mi 8.51 - alt. 4,678 ft - Forest edge
  9. S/E : mi 9.8 - alt. 4,675 ft - Car park - Le Mas de la Barque

Notes

Start: Park in the large car park at the Mas de la Barque.

Note: Between waypoints (3) and (5) swimming is possible in the basins of the Tarn river.

Worth a visit

(2) The Pic Cassini named after this cartographer
(3) Sources du Tarn: located slightly to the left of this point, but in summer and early autumn the trickle of water runs underground, but soon feeds the river that is famous for its gorges downstream.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 23 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Jonat
Jonat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, a lovely hike, part of which was in the drizzle; we mainly followed the route on the app.

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User 2410518

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Quite busy up to the vicinity of Pic Cassini, but then you’re right in the heart of nature, surrounded by trees and birds.
Beautiful views and distant landscapes; snow still under the fir trees in May.
Discovering the source of the Tarn is a bonus, and the walk along the Petit Tarn is idyllic, with all those little streams feeding into the river.

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deneire
deneire
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Very nice route, very well described on the app (just the last 5 kilometres were a bit boring, but it's often the case that the approaches or returns are less exciting). The upper reaches of the Tarn springs were dry.

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kalisher
kalisher

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A magnificent walk! Once you pass the Cassini peak, it's like being in another world – it's magical
This walk is very easy, with little elevation gain. I did it alone in less than 4 hours, so I would say 5:30-6:00 with children and breaks
There are places to swim in the Tarn river just before you rejoin the GR trail
A really great walk

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello and thank you very much for your latest comment on this outing to Pic de Cassini and the source of the Tarn. We are always keen to improve our trails based on feedback from our fellow hikers. However, having read the previous messages, I'm not sure what else to add. Perhaps you could point out the various difficult sections so that I can improve the description.
Enjoy your future hikes.

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User 26303432

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

No signposts on this hike, lack of precision at each crossroads, resulting in a wrong turn. We met a group who had the same route as us from Visorando and they also got lost.
The climb to the peak is pleasant, but the descent is not signposted and the rest of the hike is on a bare plain on a track in full sun with cars passing by, which isn't great!
We're glad we shortened it by taking the wrong turn!

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Clo31130
Clo31130
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Trip taken on 5 June 2025, very pleasant route with beautiful views. Easy route, all 29 members of our group completed it without difficulty.
We went to the source of the Tarn, which is a must-see to see where the first drops of water gather to create the Tarn. It is interesting to see how this small stream grows as it flows along the route to become a river.
A hike not to be missed.

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e&oblondel
e&oblondel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent, relatively uncrowded walk. Very easy route. Lots of snow today, and glorious sunshine.

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Robertdu30
Robertdu30

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk from start to finish, with beautiful scenery and an easy trail to follow. Ideal at this time of year when there's hardly anyone around. Hard to leave these parts. Definitely worth doing. Thanks for sharing this trail.

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etienne92.d
etienne92.d

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent walk. A little crowded at Cassini peak but no-one thereafter.
Good swimming spots between points 4 and 5.
I recommend this walk, thanks for the route

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fontenette
fontenette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk in blazing sunshine, but be careful on the sunny part of the route (hydration and sun cream).
The refreshment in the Tarn was TOP.
Superb view from the Pic
Beautiful site at Mas de la Barque

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Jeancridepertuis
Jeancridepertuis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful scenery, easy walk.

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Daoud Kewit
Daoud Kewit

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a very fine walk in typical Lozère countryside, although there is little shade, which should be avoided in very hot weather.
No technical or physical difficulties, although the return from point (4) is less pleasant.
To avoid making mistakes, it is better to follow the GPS track rather than the instructions, particularly between (1) and (2).
Swimming is MANDATORY in the refreshing pools. You'll be spoilt for choice depending on whether you prefer them intimate (and therefore a little further from the path and smaller) or large and crowded (300m before the Mas Camargue bridge).

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CCh08410.
CCh08410.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This was a very nice hike, with different, magnificent landscapes as the day progressed. On this outing, we went right back up to the source of the Tarn, just 20m further back and forth. A whole host of good moments and memories: 360°c to the Pic, a magnificent and varied forest, unaltered buildings (bridge and buildings), colours (broom, trees, stones, etc.)...

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philoup
philoup

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It was a lovely, easy hike that could be done without reconnaissance, and the weather was fine.

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