The Rocher du Midi

de fr

A somewhat steep climb up an old paved slanting street, but once at the top, your efforts are rewarded with a superb view of the upper Ardèche valley at the Col de Fontfreyde, followed by a 360° view from the summit of the Rocher du Midi. After a beautiful stretch along the ridge, the less steep descent zigzags between the various hamlets of La Souche.

Details

n°48410038
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.04 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,051 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,041 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,507 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,683 ft
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Photos

Ronglon Stream
Lignon Valley
The Rocher du Midi
Col de Fontfreyde

Description of the walk

Starting car park in the hamlet of La Lioure, only five or six spaces. *

(S/E) From the car park, follow the arrival road for a few metres to the La Lioure signpost. To the right of the signpost, take a sunken path which initially resembles a stream, heading towards Mayres/Thueyts.
Continue along this path to a junction, 1.8 km further on and 250 m higher up.

(1) Turn onto the path on the left and continue climbing. Just before the pass, leave a path on the left that descends and reach the Fontfreyde signpost.

(2) Follow the main track to the right towards Jaujac for 200 m. Leave this track and take a path on the right that climbs through the broom. Cross the ridge, descend towards a small pass and arrive at a junction at a second pass.

(3) Turn right and follow the ridge path back towards the summit of Rocher du Midi.

(4) At the highest point, turn back.

(3) Ignore a path leading down to the right and continue straight on along the ridge to a pass.

(5) At the pass, head down to the right towards a chestnut wood and reach a track.

(6) Turn right onto a track at a water reservoir and come out onto a road.

(7) Take a small road on the right. At the end of the road, continue along a path to reach the hamlet of Les Roudils. Walk down the road to a crossroads.

(8) Turn right at the first junction and continue for about 50 m

(9) Head down to the left onto a small path. Turn right at the first junction and you’ll come out onto the road again.

(10) Head down to the left and continue along a path on the left. Cross the Ronglon Stream and come out onto another road.

(11) Follow this road to the right until you reach a junction after the stream.

(12) Leave the road heading up towards Monflat on your right and continue left until you reach the finish (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,772 ft - La Lioure car park, near the - Lignon (rivière) - Affluent de l'Ardèche
  2. 1 : mi 1.12 - alt. 2,579 ft - First junction
  3. 2 : mi 1.64 - alt. 3,386 ft - Col de Fontfreyde (1032m)
  4. 3 : mi 2.62 - alt. 3,114 ft - Junction. Return to the summit
  5. 4 : mi 2.8 - alt. 3,337 ft - Rocher du Midi
  6. 5 : mi 4.1 - alt. 2,500 ft - Junction, turn right
  7. 6 : mi 4.47 - alt. 2,205 ft - Track on the right
  8. 7 : mi 4.59 - alt. 2,113 ft - Road on the right
  9. 8 : mi 5.04 - alt. 1,913 ft - Road on the right
  10. 9 : mi 5.06 - alt. 1,913 ft - Path on the left
  11. 10 : mi 5.19 - alt. 1,837 ft - Junction on a small path
  12. 11 : mi 5.45 - alt. 1,772 ft - Road on the right
  13. 12 : mi 5.74 - alt. 1,831 ft - Road junction
  14. S/E : mi 6.04 - alt. 1,772 ft - La Lioure car park - Lignon (rivière) - Affluent de l'Ardèche

Notes

The route is partly marked with white and yellow signs, but the markings are not always very visible. Between points (2) and (6), you can follow the blue arrows of the Chaussée des Géants trail.

  • If necessary, there is a second small car park at point (12).

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 9 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 14762073

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Stunning views from the ridge and on the descent.
However, the ascent is via an unmarked path, which is therefore unmaintained and gradually becoming overgrown (with holes and small rocks that are not visible...).
So, take care throughout this section!!

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JPBellocq
JPBellocq

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The most beautiful hike we’ve ever done in the area! The climb is lovely, following the stream then through a cheerful valley, and the views are stunning even before the 1-kilometre mark. From there up to the 5-kilometre mark, the views are magnificent on both sides of the valley. Finally, the paths and tracks, and even the stretches of road, beyond the 5-kilometre mark are pleasant, often offering views. So, it’s a pleasure from start to finish.
Up to the 2 km mark, you can’t really go wrong. Then, from 2 to 7 km, it’s the Chaussée des Géants trail, so it’s very well signposted and the path is clear of vegetation. No trouble finding your way.

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User 4581738
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike undertaken in early May 2026. A very pleasant climb along a stony path up to two ruined houses (point 1) beside a stream. One can’t help but admire the impressive work that went into creating this remote path, which connects just these two houses. After that, the path is less well-marked and steeper, but still very enjoyable all the way to the ridge.
Following comments from some hikers: at the start of the hike, you are indeed walking through some grass, but once you reach the paved slanting street (300m after the start), there’s no problem.
We have re-marked the cairns for the section after point 1 and cut back some of this year’s branches and brambles, but the path is visible and free of obstacles (contrary to the description given by some). We always carry secateurs with us.
Thank you for this beautiful route: the descent down the Rocher du Midi, which follows the Trail des Géants, is spectacular, and in summer you can swim just before point 11 in a magnificent ‘pool’ in the Rouglon stream. The return to the car park, zigzagging between the houses on narrow paths, would have been tricky without the route marked out by the author of this hike.
A big thank you to him and happy hiking to all.
Don’t forget to always carry a pair of secateurs with you 😉 to avoid getting scratched by the brambles!

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User 13998405
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Departure from the Lioure car park.
The start is easy to find. After a few hundred metres of climbing, we meet other walkers coming down who warn us that the path is really dangerous further up and that it will be very difficult with children.
And indeed, after the climb along the stream (which is fine), we arrive at a path that is not maintained, with almost no markings or 80% of them worn away. We then arrived in a real virgin forest, where we had to make our way through brambles as tall as an adult, without really being able to see where we were putting our feet. It was a real ordeal to complete the climb, which seemed to last forever. However, once at the top, the plateau offered beautiful views in almost 360°.
We descend via the Giants' Trail, which is perfectly maintained
After talking to the villagers, it seems that the trail is maintained by volunteers, while the virgin forest section is supposed to be maintained by the municipality. What's the story?

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User 22197562

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

Superb hike. We had a lot of trouble finding the path halfway up the climb, as the grass was very tall and the vegetation dense. We almost turned back, which would have been dangerous given the steep slope. We missed point 9 after several trips back and forth and couldn't find the path. We went back down the road, which was an extra 3 km. In summary, a very steep climb, magnificent views and a gentle descent.

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Sardine*
Sardine*

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant stroll

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bbéa07
bbéa07

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk.
The initial climb is a bit steep and long (500m elevation gain), but what a reward when you reach the summit with its magnificent views!!!

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VanessaCL
VanessaCL

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike with a beautiful route along the ridges, which follows the Giants’ Causeway route for a while. The 500-metre climb straight at the start is well worth it for the view from the summit!
Thanks to the route creator!

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Flessbleue
Flessbleue

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A wonderful walk! We did it in the opposite direction, so the descent was a bit steep in places. Stunning views all along the way, and the walk down alongside the stream was a real treat too! Especially as there’s plenty of water at the moment!!! 12 km according to my pedometer. The route was perfectly marked!

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