The Archiane vulture trail - Châtillon-en-Diois

de fr

Set off to explore the majestic Archiane cirque, which has become a favourite nesting place for vultures. Discover the four species present in the Vercors through explanatory panels and observation points. As you walk along the trail, you may also spot some ibex.

Details

n°2308901
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.09 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 367 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 367 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,134 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 767 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Vultures in the cliffs of Archiane

Description of the walk

(S/E) From Archiane, take the road to the first houses and cross the village on the way up. Follow the Sentier des Vautours trail via L'Aubaise towards the north-west
Take theGR® 9, a path winding through boxwood trees, to reach the L'Aubaise crossroads.

(1) From there, leave theGR® which heads towards the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors and turn right, following the yellow-green markings of the discovery trail. The trail skirts the base of the Rocher d'Archiane to reach the viewpoint.

(2) Continue along the trail, which gradually leads to the bottom of the Cirque d'Archiane, at a place called Pédâne.

(3) The path turns sharply to the right, finally heading south to reach the starting point of this walk, the hamlet of Archiane (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 767 m - Hamlet of Archiane
  2. 1 : km 1.4 - alt. 997 m - Carrefour de l'Aubaise
  3. 2 : km 2.05 - alt. 1,057 m - Le Belvédère
  4. 3 : km 3.03 - alt. 1,110 m - Pédâne Ravine
  5. S/E : km 5.09 - alt. 767 m - Hamlet of Archiane

Notes

Please note! Thefirst climb is steep and technical.

We strongly recommend that you take IGN map no. 3237OT with you. Hikers must be self-sufficient, but professional guides are available if required. Emergency number: 18 or 112.
Information available from the Pays Diois Tourist Office, Die office: 04 75 22 03 03 / Châtillon-en-Diois office: 04 75 21 10 07 / www.diois-tourisme.com

Worth a visit

Wildlife
The Vercors is one of the few mountain ranges to be home to all four European vulture species. Clumsy on the ground, these birds of prey are all the more majestic in flight, with a wingspan of around 3 metres. Reintroduced to our region in the 1990s via the Vercors Regional Nature Park, and although still threatened with extinction, these former "birds of ill omen" now soar like guardian angels over our mountains.
- Griffon vulture: these are the most numerous in our region, with around 80 individuals released from Chamaloc.
- Bearded vulture: around ten individuals have been released in Treschenu-Creyers. The last link in the chain of scavengers, it breaks bones by dropping them in flight and can even swallow them whole.
- Black vulture: this is the largest of the vultures, entirely dark brown in colour. A pair from the Baronnies regularly visits the Chamaloc site.
- Egyptian vulture: this is the most colourful of the vultures with its yellow mask and white plumage, but also the smallest with a wingspan of only 1.5 metres. Its return to the massif was spontaneous thanks to the presence of the other vultures.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 19 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
carrezdrome
carrezdrome
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and enjoyable hike with autumn colours. During the climb, don't hesitate to go and see the nearby bubbling river, especially as it was hot even at this time of year.
Before point 2, take the GR trail that climbs to the right and not the path followed by the hike that follows the course of a dry stream, so as not to be discouraged by the difficulty.
At point 3, do not immediately take the path that descends, but go straight ahead to enjoy the impressive view of the cirque, the "holes" in the cliffs, the naturally carved stones on the ground and, of course, the vultures.
There is a small refreshment bar open 7 days a week at the finish.

Machine-translated

User 24981353

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Early October 2025.
Bring a pair of binoculars, as the telescope is not in place. The vultures are clearly visible at the edge of their nests (you have to look a little; the locations of the nests can be identified by the droppings)
Accompanied by the bellowing of stags in the morning!!!

Machine-translated

liters16
liters16

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A relatively easy route, suitable for a half-day outing. Don't worry too much about the "steep" sections: with good footwear, they're fine. There is a large car park. The access road is narrow but there are plenty of places to pass. The cirque is magnificent. The sections in the forest are refreshing. We didn't see any vultures or the telescope, but we didn't look very hard either...

Machine-translated

User 26449433

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Everything was perfect!

Machine-translated

strittmatter
strittmatter

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Shaved

Machine-translated

ddlyonnais
ddlyonnais

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route.
As it was very hot, we started at 8 a.m.
With lots of shaded areas, it was bearable.
However, we didn't see the vultures that come out a little later to take advantage of the warm updrafts. Too bad.

Machine-translated

E100126
E100126

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Cover up well in hot weather, as the start is in direct sunlight, but the rest of the route is under trees and parish specific to Brittany and very pleasant. A lovely little walk.

Machine-translated

serpel
serpel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very good, parish specific to Brittany

Machine-translated

jctrimintin
jctrimintin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I did this hike in August 2024. I used a Garmin GPS and had no trouble following the trail. It was a magnificent hike, and the vultures were there as expected. The Cirque d'Archiane is truly magnificent. The best spot for watching the vultures is at point three, "Ravin de Pédâne". There is a telescope a little way off the path.

Machine-translated

B SANCHEZ
B SANCHEZ

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent Archiane cirque
charming forest trail after climbing the scree slopes
the vultures were there
and the little bar at the end was much appreciated, even though it wasn't mentioned in the description

Machine-translated

hubert scifo
hubert scifo
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great walk 👍which was exactly as described.
Very beautiful views 👍
Thank you

Machine-translated

Berni-1806
Berni-1806

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

There are very few people in October, which makes it a great time to observe wildlife and birdlife.
At point 3, it is worth straying slightly off the path to a small observatory. From there, you can see the cliff face where several pairs of vultures nest during the breeding season. A telescope, fixed to the ground, is available for use. Breeding season: January-February.
The dry toilets in the car park (S/E) have been out of service for a long time.

Machine-translated

Nicole13330
Nicole13330

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

easy, shaded route. The vultures are a bit far away, but this short hike is very pleasant. The trails are well marked

Machine-translated

bfiat
bfiat

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful, easy hike
Bring binoculars to see the vultures
There is a viewpoint with a telescope accessible to all. This is a plus

Machine-translated

VALARI
VALARI

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike done under bright sunshine. We did it counter-clockwise, and the "steep" descent was no problem for us. Unfortunately, there were no vultures in the sky that day. To be done again.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Archiane and Plateaux du Vercors

Visorando Member
Archiane et Plateaux du Vercors
↔20.78 km ↗+1,330 m ↘-1,335 m ◔9h 45 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Treschenu-Creyers (Drôme)
Short circular loop in the south-west of Vercors and Glandasse mountain.

Walking High plateaus of the Vercors by Archiane

Visorando Member
Hauts plateaux du Vercors par Archiane
↔15.29 km ↗+1,033 m ↘-1,024 m ◔7h 20 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Treschenu-Creyers (Drôme)
This hike takes you from the picturesque Cirque d'Archiane to the high plateaus of the Vercors and offers exceptional views of Mont Aiguille and Grand Veymont.

Walking The Jardin du Roi from Archiane

Visorando Member
Le Jardin du Roi depuis Archiane
↔18.70 km ↗+1,122 m ↘-1,123 m ◔8h 35 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Treschenu-Creyers (Drôme)
A little-used circular trail to discover one of the wildest areas of the southern Vercors. It offers magnificent views of the Diois mountains and the Cirque d'Archiane. Ibex and vultures are frequently seen here. As it is largely unmarked, a good sense of direction and ability to read the terrain will be invaluable. GPS is strongly recommended and an IGN map is essential. Please note: be sure to read the practical information before setting off.

Walking Les Carnets d'Archiane

Visorando Member
Les Carnets d'Archiane
↔6.00 km ↗+381 m ↘-386 m ◔2h 50 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Treschenu-Creyers (Drôme)
A lovely little hike that allows you to easily explore the Cirque d'Archiane. Discovering this place is magical as it is surrounded by magnificent cliffs. You are bound to come across a couple of griffon vultures nesting in the crevices of the rock and gliding over the cliffs.

Walking Serre de Beaupuy via the Col de Côte Chèvre

Visorando Member
Serre de Beaupuy par le Col de Côte Chèvre
↔10.73 km ↗+920 m ↘-918 m ◔5h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Treschenu-Creyers (Drôme)
A lovely, easy walk offering views of the south of Glandasse and part of the Cirque d'Archiane. You may see griffon vultures. 225° view from the top of Serre de Beaupuy. Not a very busy walk.

Walking The Glandasse balconies starting from Valcroissant Abbey

Visorando Member
Les balcons du Glandasse au départ de l'Abbaye de Valcroissant
↔10.84 km ↗+1,156 m ↘-1,156 m ◔6h 25 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Die (Drôme)
A pleasant walk, through woodland all the way, which will take you to the foot of the impressive Glandasse cliffs. Be quiet and keep your eyes peeled; it is not uncommon to spot ibex and chamois. This is a walking and hiking trail, marked in yellow and green, with a section of the GTV (GR®®95). ⚠️ 21/04/2026: 2 km before the Abbey, the road is closed due to a landslide; it is currently not possible to access the start of this walk.

Walking The Dôme du Glandasse via Valcroissant Abbey and back via Châtillon

Visorando Member
Le Dôme du Glandasse par l'Abbaye de Valcroissant et retour par Chatillon
↔30.10 km ↗+2,373 m ↘-2,356 m ◔10 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Die (Drôme)
A challenging and demanding hike, with superb views of all the surrounding mountain ranges: Vercors, Dévoluy, Écrins, Mont Ventoux and the Trois Becs. Guaranteed wildlife sightings: marmots, ibex...A change of scenery and a sense of well-being... ⚠️ 21/04/2026: 2 km before the Abbey, the road is closed due to a landslide; it is currently not possible to access the start of this hike.

Walking Around Valcroissant Abbey

Visorando Member
Autour de l'Abbaye de Valcroissant
↔10.82 km ↗+630 m ↘-632 m ◔4h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Die (Drôme)
Leave the Die road and, at the mouth of a narrow gorge, you’ll find yourself facing a welcoming valley that ends at the gigantic rocky outcrop of the Glandasse. Seclusion, abundant water, forests and farmland framed by limestone cliffs: you may well be in raptures... just like those Cistercian monks who settled in November 1188 at Vallis Crescens, the starting point of the hike. ⚠️ 21/04/2026: 2 km before the Abbey, the road is closed due to a rockslide; it is not currently possible to reach the start of this hike.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.