Le Pilon Fontanés

Walk on the heights of the Col du Pilon, reaching Fontanés via the footpaths and returning via the small roads,
with little elevation gain.

Details

214966
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.90 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 149 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 144 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 896 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 763 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the car park, at the junction of the D54 and D4 roads before the hamlet of Pilon, take the path opposite that runs behind the houses. Then, on the D3, head towards the Croix du Geai.

(1). Turn right onto the road leading down to Les Combes; cross the farmyard and continue along the path leading to the top of the hill.

(2) Head back down until you come to a path, which you take on your left. At La Viria, continue along the path that climbs up to the left. You will reach Le Crêt des Alouettes.

(3) Turn onto the road on your right to reach another junction.

(4) Ignore the road cutting across at right angles; continue straight ahead to find a path on your left. A cross on its pedestal marks this fork.

(5) Turn left onto this path for about 200 metres, then rejoin the D6, which leads you to the Croix des Hommes Morts on the left.

(6) Follow the path leading uphill straight ahead and turn right at the first path.
Continue climbing, keeping the water tower, which dominates the landscape, in your sights. You will reach the path to the water tower; take it on your left.

(7) You’ll discover a remarkable view at the viewpoint, which has an orientation table.
Then continue to the right towards the village of Fontanès.

(8) Take the path on the left that runs between the houses. Continuing straight on, you will come to the Croix des Hommes Morts.

(6) Head right along the path that runs above the farm on the right. You will rejoin the Crêt des Alouettes road.

(4) Then take the path you came along to the Crêt des Alouettes crossroads.

(3) Continue along the road to La Grande Borne on the D3, which you should follow to reach La Croix du Geai.

(1) Return to the car park (S/E) via the same route you took on the way out.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 800 m - Pilon rest area car park
  2. 1 : km 0.54 - alt. 804 m - Croix du Geai - Les Combes
  3. 2 : km 1.64 - alt. 773 m - Chemin de la Côte Couzon
  4. 3 : km 3 - alt. 831 m - Crêt des Alouettes
  5. 4 : km 3.54 - alt. 844 m - Crêt des Alouettes crossroads
  6. 5 : km 4.09 - alt. 837 m - Crossroads
  7. 6 : km 4.76 - alt. 844 m - Cross of the Dead Men
  8. 7 : km 5.94 - alt. 895 m - Water tower viewpoint
  9. 8 : km 6.49 - alt. 859 m - Fontanés
  10. S/E : km 9.9 - alt. 800 m - Pilo rest area car park

Notes

In the centre of the village, there is a picnic area with a water tap and toilets.

'Alternative route for the return journey'
(3) Return via the outward route, passing through points (2) and (1) to the car park (S/E)

Worth a visit

Viewpoint at the water tower in (7).
Between La Roche Pacard and Fontchevalier, a park with stags and does.
In the village of Fontanés, the Château with its park and tree-trunk sculptures (free).
In the centre of the village, a picnic area with a water tap and toilets.

Reviews and comments

4 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
3.6 / 5
talair
talair

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hello.
It's a shame that part of this route is on tarmac. Otherwise, there are beautiful views of Pilat, the Forez plain and the Alps on a clear day.

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Patrick1704
Patrick1704

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, with beautiful views

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HD3D
HD3D

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant stroll, nothing more.

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Clovisramboz
Clovisramboz

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing

It’s a shame that this route isn’t particularly interesting in such a beautiful region: just a series of circular routes to rack up the kilometres...

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joemaite
joemaite

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

a nice little walk.

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thanks, alalle
Have you perhaps mixed up the ratings by any chance?
In my opinion, it’s the route’s appeal that should be rated as average.

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alalle
alalle

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A walk with a bit of a drive involved, so best avoided in hot weather, but with lovely views

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you, Marechet Gilbert
It would be helpful if you could tell us where you went wrong and how to rectify it in the description

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marechet gilbert
marechet gilbert

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

I let a mate lead the way using the route description; he would have gone wrong twice if I hadn’t had the route on my GPS.
I don’t usually read the route descriptions, but I think this one isn’t clear enough.
We did a circular route through the village of FONTANES to avoid retracing our steps and, above all, walking on tarmac.
Thanks for a lovely route with beautiful views.

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