The Léoux stream from Saint-May

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This hike follows the beautiful Léoux stream. Littered with natural pools, it offers beautiful places to cool off. The slopes quickly converge to form beautiful rocky gorges. You then leave the gorges on the western slope via a fairly steep stony path.

The return journey is along a track offering beautiful views of the gorges and surrounding mountains. Then a path and a section of road take you back to the beautiful village of Saint-May.

Technical sheet

n°1338384
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.38 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 530 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 522 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 830 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 409 m
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Photos

St May
The waterfall
View of St May
The vultures

Description of the walk

Leave the D94 towards the village of Saint-May. Cross the bridge over the Eygues, climb up and leave your vehicle just before the entrance to the village (there are about twenty parking spaces).

(S/E) Walk back down the road. 220 metres after the first hairpin bend, take the wide stony path on your right. After 300 metres, leave this path and take the trail on the left, walking down towards the Léoux stream and crossing over a small bridge.

(1) After the bridge, take the path on the right that goes up the stream on its left bank.

(2) Leave the path that climbs up to the left. Walk up the stream as far as possible to admire the gorges.

(3) Turn around and find the right path.

(2) Take the path on the right that climbs up the western slope under the power line carried by wooden poles.

(4) Between the first and second wooden poles, ignore the path on your right that leads to the stream further upstream and continue climbing to a plateau at an altitude of 640 metres. At the T-junction, take the path on the right. After 100 metres, you will come to a second T-junction.

(5) Turn left and join the road. Follow the road to the right for 200 metres and, at the hairpin bend, take the path straight ahead. It joins the road 300 metres further on. Cross the road and take the path that climbs for 200 metres to a junction of four paths. Turn right and return to the road 300 metres further on. Continue along the road for just under a kilometre.
Leave the road by taking the path that descends to the right to Ruisseau Léoux. Cross the stream and continue along the path for 100 m to reach a fork.

(6) Leave the path and take a farm track that climbs up to your left at about seven o'clock. Join the Chemin de la Botte 300 metres further on. Turn completely right and follow this track for about 2 kilometres.

(7) After the Botte farm, take the path that descends to your left, marked by an old wooden sign indicating "St-May" with a blue marker. Descend this path to the road below.

(8) Take the road on the right and follow it downhill for 1 km.

(9) Leave the road at the hairpin bend on the right and continue straight ahead on a path that leads to the village of Saint-May. In the centre of the village, turn right to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 446 m - Car park at the entrance to the village of Saint-May
  2. 1 : km 0.55 - alt. 411 m - Bridge
  3. 2 : km 1.06 - alt. 480 m - Round trip
  4. 3 : km 1.29 - alt. 490 m - Start of the gorges
  5. 4 : km 1.59 - alt. 488 m - Fork in the road
  6. 5 : km 2.21 - alt. 645 m - Turn right at the fork
  7. 6 : km 4.27 - alt. 729 m - Turn right at the fork
  8. 7 : km 6.91 - alt. 817 m - Turn left at the fork
  9. 8 : km 8.04 - alt. 593 m - Route
  10. 9 : km 9.05 - alt. 500 m - Shortcut
  11. S/E : km 9.38 - alt. 446 m - Car park at the entrance to the village of Saint-May

Practical information

The climb up the western slope is rocky and a little steep. Hiking boots are recommended.

Another version of this hike avoids the climb up the western slope and follows the Léoux stream with your feet in the water.

In the nearby area

The Léoux stream offers numerous pools and waterfalls where young and old alike will enjoy cooling off. Remember to bring your swimsuit and water shoes.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 23 reviews
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Clarity of route map
3.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 23048678

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Just magnificent!!!

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User 2997921

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful hike, especially in the first part: the gorges and basins.
After that, the route is difficult to follow as the paths are often hard to identify, neglected and covered with lots of other tracks. This leads to a lot of unnecessary backtracking...
As for the markings, they are often non-existent or faded...
It's a shame.
In hot weather, be careful as there is little shade...
At the end of the route, the view overlooking the village of Saint-May is nice.
You can easily spot numerous vultures.

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User 17000837

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Beautiful hike
However, the route is difficult to follow as the paths are often difficult to identify, neglected and prone to errors, with markings that are faded or missing. A shame
When climbing, take care in hot weather as there is little shade...

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yoguini
yoguini

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

thank you for putting together this sublime hike.
however, you absolutely must use GPS
as the trails are neglected and sometimes very difficult to find.

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Manany
Manany

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

The route is easy to follow up to a certain point (between two electricity poles) where you have to choose between climbing up (a scree slope that is clearly not often used, judging by the vegetation) or descending towards the stream, which is very beautiful but requires a bit of climbing to continue the walk. The stream is very beautiful with its small waterfalls and mini lakes

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GABY et OLIVIER
GABY et OLIVIER

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful route along the stream at the beginning. After that, there is a nice climb up the scree slope, where you sometimes need to use your hands. Then there is a path or track in full sun. It was very beautiful and very hot on 22 July
We only encountered one other person, but the vultures kept us company and the views were stunning.
Swimming on the way back was pure bliss.
To be repeated in more normal weather conditions

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Chesenau
Chesenau

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

After point 2, I had to stop at a waterfall that I couldn't cross even with the piton in place. And yet the path continues well beyond that point. Where to go?

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temislooade
temislooade

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful hike.
There is a shortcut, but unfortunately it is prohibited by the local council, even though it is not too dangerous and a fallen pylon allowed us to cross the Leoux, which was quite full. On the marked route, we would have had to walk at least 2 km along the road and cross through the water... Not ideal for this time of year 😱😱.
We did it in 6 hours, yes, we like to take our time and eat along the way... 4 hours 10 minutes seems a bit "athletic" to me

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Filgout
Filgout

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Beautiful route; at the end, you can approach and observe the vultures. Very peaceful walk at this time of year.

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Babfont
Babfont
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Hello, the rare but torrential rains and lack of visitors have certainly changed the trails (rockfalls, tall grass, etc.), which were difficult to find. No more T-junctions. Please note, there is definitely a typo in point 5. It should read "go up the road on the right for 20 metres" and not 200 metres.
A hike planned for 9km took us 12km. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful hike. The Léoux pools are truly superb. I would rate it as above average. The descent trail is quite long with two tricky sections (narrow, one foot, with a drop on the left and a slippery slope).

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Zibounu
Zibounu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Clarity of route map : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful and varied route. Gorges, limestone plateaus and vultures. Magnificent. Thank you.

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Daniel Poley
Daniel Poley

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Hello
A pleasant hike that is not too difficult, except for the rocky sections, with magnificent views of the gorges and mountains with vultures overhead...

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FéeViviane
FéeViviane

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very beautiful hike; plan to leave early in the summer.
Worth repeating for the pleasure of the eyes.
The vultures were there as expected. After point No. 6, about 600m to the right, take a short detour to admire the vulture cliff.

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Pascal.pakoni
Pascal.pakoni

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Overall, it was an enjoyable hike, thanks to the proximity of the stream at the start and the views. We saw vultures several times during the second half of the route.
Two drawbacks:
- two sections of road that detract somewhat from the appeal of this hike
- be careful between stages 5 and 6, as there is a herd of cattle (with a fence and vicious dogs), forcing us to return to the road just after the observatory (turn right instead of continuing straight ahead on the path)

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nonnay1951
nonnay1951

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

The information sheet is sorely lacking in detail. Fortunately, we met with environmental officials who guided us.

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