The Rocher du Caire

The route along the ridge overlooking Rémuzat and the cliffs at the summit of Le Caire are home to majestic griffon vultures.

Details

n°25589

Creation:
05 May 2013

Last update:
01 Mar 2020

Last review:
02 Jun 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 11.70 km
Average duration: 5h 00
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 587 m
Descent: - 586 m
Highest point: 1,035 m
Lowest point: 434 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Baronnies, Dauphiné
District: Rémuzat (26510)
Start/End: N 44.415081° / E 5.355459°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3139OT
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk assessment bulletin

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park opposite Remuzat on the right bank of the Oule.
(S/E) Head to the trail junction just after the bridge.

(1) Head south-west on the yellow marked trail (^PR®). Follow the right bank of the Oule, passing in front of the Rafour factory. Continue to follow the right bank of the stream, which is now the Eygue. You will reach the start of the climb.

(2) Climb quickly to the right to reach the cliff. Walk along it until you reach a cable-assisted passage followed by a ladder.
You will then reach a first balcony, and the climb continues on a very rocky path. Pass a second cable (no danger) to reach the second balcony. Through a small wood, you will then reach the ridge (cross).

(3) Continue north to reach the summit of Le Caire.

(4) Descend, keeping your distance from the cliff, to reach the Col de Saint May.

(5) Take the first path on the right (follow the sign for La Ravine). You will then join the^GRP® (red and yellow markings) of the Tour des Baronnies.

(6) Take it on the right and stay on it for about 1 km. You will reach a new crossroads.

(7) Leave the^GRP® and take the path on the left. Cross the woods and the fields to reach the D61b road.

(8) Take it on the right and follow the right bank of the Oule to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 450 m - Parking on the right bank of the &gt - Oule (rivière)
1 : km 0.2 - alt. 447 m - Start of the PR
2 : km 1.51 - alt. 437 m - Ascent trail - Eygues (rivière)
3 : km 2.93 - alt. 758 m - Cross
4 : km 4.32 - alt. 878 m - Summit of Le Caire
5 : km 6.31 - alt. 970 m - Col de Saint-May (975m)
6 : km 6.96 - alt. 816 m - GRP crossroads
7 : km 8.52 - alt. 644 m - Crossroads towards the road
8 : km 10.67 - alt. 456 m - D61b
S/E : km 11.7 - alt. 449 m - Parking on the right bank of the Oule

Notes

There are no water sources along this route. Make sure you take enough with you as the hike is quite long and it gets very hot on the ridge in summer.
The cable passages and the ladder are completely safe.
However, if you are hiking with children, be very careful on the ridge and especially when you reach the cross, as the cliff is very high and there are no safety barriers.

Worth a visit

- Of course, there are lots of vultures here. Rémuzat in the Drôme and Peyreleau in the Aveyron were the first two sites to reintroduce griffon vultures to France in the 1980s. These majestic animals are a delight to watch as they glide through the air, almost without ever flapping their wings.
- The Saou forest is about forty kilometres away.
- Nyons

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 25 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5

Route interest
4.7 / 5

papinou73

02 Jun 2025 at 17:28 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

the last third of the descent to Rémuzat is a path of small rolling stones underfoot

Machine-translated

emilimetre

31 Mar 2025 at 11:40 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike, very well marked, breathtaking views of the cliffs and griffon vulture nests, perfect route, well estimated duration. Thank you!

Machine-translated

Chesenau

13 May 2024 at 14:24 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The highest point is at 1,048 metres

Machine-translated

Chesenau

13 May 2024 at 14:21 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

People on the ridge

Machine-translated

pepol13

13 May 2024 at 12:03 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, not recommended for children as the ascent involves ladders and climbing.
We got a good view of the vultures.
Thank you for this route.
Patrick

Machine-translated

jll39

24 Apr 2023 at 11:27 7200 • Edited: 24 Apr 2023 at 11:32 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent, very varied circuit.
The first part is physically demanding but does not require any particular technique.
When I reached the summit, I had the pleasure of seeing a few vultures flying just a few metres above me. Impressive.
The route along the ledge is superb. I didn't meet many people: about ten in total.
There were a few minor issues with the route on the way back. When I reached a quarry that wasn't mentioned, I followed the red and yellow trail to descend opposite Rémuzat. It didn't matter though, given the quality of the landscape at the end: I don't think I missed out on anything.
Although the circuit is less than 12 km long, it is physically demanding and requires good shoes and walking sticks.
Hike took 2 hours and 55 minutes.
Well done and thank you for this beautiful route.

Machine-translated

Mac1

04 Jul 2022 at 13:46 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Two routes are available: only the upper route is accessible on the return journey; the other is closed to the public and is private property

Machine-translated

Maraisse

27 Jun 2022 at 13:15 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, very diverse, with a short section featuring ladders and handrails, beautiful views along the ridge. In short, I recommend it, but not in hot weather as it's quite a climb

Machine-translated

xtian74

01 Jun 2020 at 12:33 7200

Overall rating : 1 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

This description doesn't make sense! It duplicates the correct description in No. 6061, suggesting a return to Rémuzat not via the excellent GR Tour des Baronnies Provençales trail, but via a track used by lorries serving a quarry, followed by the D61b road.
→ This description should simply be DELETED!

Machine-translated

AqualiJu

12 Aug 2019 at 10:19 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, with views and vultures to brighten up the walk! (Don't forget your binoculars to see them properly, especially when they're perched on the cliff).
The path is well marked (don't go in the opposite direction, as mentioned above)
At the end, the GR trail to Rémuzat deviates from the route: there is no point in following the GR trail, which climbs and descends into scree (our mistake...)

Machine-translated

Jocelyne Serveau

29 Apr 2019 at 09:50 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful outing in trail running mode. The route is magnificent, with beautiful aerial passages and magnificent views. The route is easy to follow, but I confirm the previous reviews about the end of the route, which is no longer entirely accurate (you cross a kind of quarry, then end up in front of a field fence with barbed wire). Instead, take the path on the left when you reach the "quarry", then pick up the trail a little further down on the right, which leads to the small road to Rémuzat.

Machine-translated

cb-cv-vr-88

02 Oct 2018 at 18:27 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike with many vultures.
The climb up the cliff should be avoided with children.
The description of the end of the route needs to be revised: crossing through woods and/or meadows without a marked path should be avoided, as you may find yourself in the middle of hostile vegetation and unable to continue. It is better to follow the path that descends from the quarry, even if it is not very interesting and the route is a little longer. This explains the average ratings for the description and reliability of the route, as the rest of the route is well described.

Machine-translated

nicovercors

17 Sep 2018 at 11:03 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful hike (which I already knew). The description at the end is not very clear regarding a quarry, but if you follow the path taken by the trucks, you will rejoin the PR trail that leads to Rémuzat (sign on the right after a left turn)

Machine-translated

miraflor

26 Jun 2018 at 22:39 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

a beautiful hike, just technical enough to have a little fun and almost forget that it's quite a steep climb, with enchanting landscapes and vultures always present. The route is easy to follow.
However, the tourist office and vulture house are closed on Sundays, but luckily the café is open!
And I can confirm that the hike must be done in the direction indicated, as the descent in the other direction is prohibited.
Thanks to the author of this route.

Machine-translated

bbrandoleon

18 Aug 2017 at 12:08 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

very beautiful hike, the vultures were there as expected.
just to clarify, the route described by Bernardino between points 5 and 6 seems to take the ravine at the Col de St May instead of following the IGN trail.
best regards, bbrandoleon.

Machine-translated