The Rocher de Cheylard from Ray-Pic

This is a fairly short climb that takes you to a summit offering a superb 360° panorama of the Ardèche mountains and the Alps. It is a simple round trip, most of which follows ridge paths with magnificent views.
On the way back, take the time to visit the Ray-Pic waterfall.

Details

601780
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.37 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 356 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 356 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,403 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,047 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Coming from Burzet, pass the Ray-Pic waterfall car park and park in the next bend, next to the orientation tables.

(S/E) From the viewpoint car park, look for the path that climbs directly up to the ridge on the right-hand side of the road.
Do not be discouraged by the first 50 metres of very steep and stony climb. Further on, the path becomes easier to walk on and at the top it is a real boulevard.
A path on the right is marked on the map but its starting point is not visible; continue climbing along the ridge.
When you reach the first rounded summit, ignore the path on the right and continue to the small Col de Sextrier.

(1) On the climb after this pass, there are two parallel tracks; take either the right or left one. Note the impressive volcanic rock on the right with almost horizontal basalt prisms.
At the top of the climb, the path on the left shown on the map no longer exists. Continue to a clearing.

(2) From there, there are five paths on the left according to the map. These are either proper paths or simple grassy forest tracks. Keep turning right until you reach the edge of the woods.
After a short descent, the path leaves the woods and arrives at open ground with a direct view of the Rocher de Cheylard.
Do not take the first path on the right. Continue for a few dozen metres until you reach the electricity pole closest to the path.

(3) Then turn right onto a grassy track that is visible all the way to the summit.

(4) Turn back and follow all the paths in the opposite direction to the one you took on the way up: always turn left until you reach the Col de Sextrier.

(1) Follow the ridge to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,047 m - Viewpoint car park
  2. 1 : km 1.93 - alt. 1,299 m - Sextrier Pass
  3. 2 : km 2.87 - alt. 1,372 m - Clearing
  4. 3 : km 3.44 - alt. 1,376 m - Signpost
  5. 4 : km 3.69 - alt. 1,403 m - Cheylard Rock
  6. S/E : km 7.36 - alt. 1,047 m - Viewpoint car park

Worth a visit

On your return, don't hesitate to visit the Ray-Pic waterfall. From the waterfall car park, it's a half-hour round trip on a paved path. You can also continue on the D215 towards Lachamp-Raphaël, where there is a viewpoint a few hundred metres further on, but you can only see the top of the waterfall.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 17 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
saint-didier
saint-didier

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike with a very steep start. Superb panorama at the summit with views of the snow-capped Alps (360°), beautiful autumn colours. A round trip and a must-see stop at the Ray-Pic waterfalls.

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User 23622849
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent view of the Ardèche! From up there, the 360° view is really nice.
Don't be discouraged at the start, as there is a little (well, a lot) over 50 metres of scrub and rocks to navigate. This is the most difficult and longest part. Once you reach the first pass, it's plain sailing. Make sure you wear good shoes, possibly trousers to avoid getting scratched at the start and on the way back, and a windbreaker once you reach the rock. Beautiful wildlife, and several stops to admire the scenery are possible along the route. Combine with a visit to the Ray Pic waterfalls.
It's a shame that it's a round trip

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22yves32
22yves32

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy-to-follow route. The summit is very pleasant, with a 360-degree view of the Ardèche countryside. Combined with a visit to the Ray Pic waterfalls, it's sure to be a successful day out.

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rochenadine1
rochenadine1

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

The Cheylard rock is well worth the effort. The start is steep and challenging, but it's worth the effort.
This path winds its way through broom bushes and magnificent trees, even though they have no leaves
and, surprisingly, patches of snow in the undergrowth. A real treat.
The 360° view from the top of the Cheylard rock is splendid.
We had stopped at the Ray Pic waterfalls on the way there and there was so much water that we went back before
leaving.
If there was one improvement to be made, it would be to find a different route back.
I loved this walk. To be done again

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olivier.farenc@me.com
olivier.farenc@me.com

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Beautiful view at the summit, starting with a long, steep climb.

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DURIVAL
DURIVAL

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk after a difficult start: wear sturdy shoes to avoid slipping on the stones and dry grass. Magnificent view at the end!

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El-ardécho
El-ardécho

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting hike on the Ardèche plateau with beautiful panoramic views and a pleasant mix of flat terrain and woodland!
However, the route would be better as a circular, as retracing your steps is not the most interesting part!
Difficulty: 2/10 (be careful on the steep descent!)

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fontjerome
fontjerome

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

magnificent viewpoint.
The start is tough, but it's worth persevering because the landscape is magnificent and varied. The passage through the woods is magical and the arrival at the foot of the rock is superb... The 360° view is breathtaking.

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Pégase07530
Pégase07530
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short (very) easy hike... done today, scouting a route for a 2-day trip in preparation, which will take this section. A great alternative for descending from the plateau to the Bourges valley!
For those who want to "extend" this route a little, after climbing the rock, don't hesitate to continue south to the small hamlet of "Les Granges de Sausses"... breathtaking view of the beginning of the Besorgues valley (and a beautiful place for a picnic)

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identifiantvisorando
identifiantvisorando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

At this time of year, there is yellow everywhere and the trees are very green. It was beautiful, we forgot about the slope of the path

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buissonrougepap
buissonrougepap

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike at the end of May. The flowering broom covers entire mountainsides, and the trail, especially at the start, winds its way through the broom. It's magical, with blazing colours and an intoxicating scent.
We highly recommend it.
It's true that the trail can be difficult at the start for people who aren't used to hiking on slightly steep paths, but it quickly becomes easier.

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Aud120
Aud120

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Thank you for this hike. Very pleasant and very beautiful. Varied. Well described.
You don't see anyone there.
The car park at the orientation table was covered in gravel. We parked at the waterfall car park. (Which you must also visit, of course.)

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Ganesh07
Ganesh07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful walk, alone in the world and a superb 360° view from the rock. A little difficult at the start, but then very easy and pleasant.

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fanch140
fanch140

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The description is accurate and precise.
The first part of the hike is tough for the first 250 metres, with a steep incline and tricky terrain.
The rest is much easier and more enjoyable.
weather conditions prevented me from climbing the rock, but I will return
The return journey is very tricky over the last 100 metres due to the slope and the terrain
very good hike
Fanch

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car25tes
car25tes

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Hello
Route from La Bastide to Rocher du Cheylard followed the described itinerary, but the trail was often in poor condition as it is rarely used.
another route from La Bastide to the Pissarelle waterfall, where the trail is also in very poor condition and requires caution.

On the day of the outing with our bus and 60 participants, we were blocked 30 km from our destination by roadworks, and I had to change the day's programme, which meant that we did not explore the area as I would have liked.
However, I am using your descriptions to discover the area.
In a while, I will send you a hike I did in St Chef with the necessary modifications.
Best regards, Marcel Grésin

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