The Serre de Minuit, setting off from La Chaudière

de fr

A lovely, easy walk at the foot of the Grand-Delmas with views of the Trois Becs, the Vercors, the Dévoluy…

Details

n°47218909
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.65 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,637 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,614 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,717 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,710 ft
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Description of the walk

To reach the start point, about 2 km before reaching the Col de La Chaudière on the Saillans side, turn left towards the village of La Chaudière. Park in the car park at the entrance to the village on the left.

(S/E) Walk straight through the village, then leave the path heading towards the Chapelle des Sadous and head down to the right towards the stream. Cross it via a small wooden bridge and head back up towards the hamlet of Les Hoirs.

(1) Carry on straight ahead and follow the path to the next junction.

(2) Turn right and climb up to the track.

(3) Follow it to the left (GR®) towards the village of Rochefourchat (a small village in the Drôme region which holds the distinction of being the least populated commune in France, with just one inhabitant recorded in the 2009 census). It is situated at the foot of the Grand Delmas and the Montagne de Couspeau. On the western side, the view gradually opens up to reveal the Obiou, the Grand-Ferrand, the Rocher Rond and other peaks of the Dévoluy and the Vercors. Ignore the side trails and, after about 4.5 km, you’ll reach the clearly marked trail junction at “Serre de Minuit”.

(4) Turn left, leaving the path towards Rochefourchat and heading for La Chaudière. Note the few larch trees which add a splash of colour to the forest in autumn. Pass by the foot of a building and then above several clusters of houses. A few metres further on, you’ll reach a three-way junction.

(5) Turn right towards Col de Bauras, cross the stream and climb up to the pass with views of the Trois Becs.

Continue along the path until you rejoin the route you have already taken.

(2) Turn right and follow the path back along the same route to reach the village of La Chaudière (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,881 ft - La Chaudière car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.49 - alt. 2,799 ft - Les Hoirs. Junction of the circular loop - Courance (rivière) à finaliser
  3. 2 : mi 0.81 - alt. 2,864 ft - Junction A/R
  4. 3 : mi 1.56 - alt. 3,225 ft - Trail, GR695 of the Tour de la Vallée de la Roanne
  5. 4 : mi 3.74 - alt. 3,415 ft - Serre de Minuit
  6. 5 : mi 5.31 - alt. 2,799 ft - Three-way junction
  7. 6 : mi 5.66 - alt. 2,894 ft - Col de Bauras
  8. S/E : mi 7.65 - alt. 2,881 ft - La Chaudière car park

Worth a visit

Stunning cliffs on the eastern side of the Trois Becs right from the start.

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

3.9 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
3.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Denis26
Denis26 ★

Thank you for your comments; I’ve just amended the route to avoid private property.

Machine-translated

Saream62
Saream62

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk. Beautiful scenery.
Please note: the marked path goes through a vegetable garden, then across a field below the spot known as ‘Les Moines’.
The field is private property. A man who introduced himself as the owner (very friendly) pointed this out to us. He does not want walkers to pass through this area.
Further up this path, at the wire mesh gate that needs opening, do not turn left at the hairpin bend, but continue straight up the well-marked path towards the GR965.

Machine-translated

randodromeardeche
randodromeardeche

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Small correction to point 1: after passing through the gate, take the path on the right (marked with a cross) and go to a wooden gate. Go through it and cross the slightly uphill field, staying close to the fence to reach point 2 (without difficulty). This avoids passing close to the vegetable garden.

Machine-translated

Danielle / Emmanuel / Shakti
Danielle / Emmanuel / Shakti

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk offering magnificent views of the Vercors, Devoluy and the 3 Becs.
There are plenty of tracks, but the views are stunning all the way along, which makes up for it.
It’s difficult to follow the route description from 1 to 2; the unmarked section needs to be followed using a GPS.
A fairly easy walk.

Machine-translated

filou
filou

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy walk, lovely views, a bit too much of a track, but the views make up for it!!
Be careful, though – points 1 and 2 are on private property, with a few electric fences and wires in place for livestock.
I think the route will need to be altered in future! There’s no one around at this time of year, but it’s best avoided in summer!

Machine-translated

monique delunel
monique delunel

Not yet completed

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Chapelle des Sadous - Montagne de Faraud

Visorando Member
Chapelle des Sadous - Montagne de Faraud
↔7.30 mi ↗+2,208 ft ↘-2,208 ft ◔5h 15 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from La Chaudière (Drôme)
This is a wild hike to discover the little Chapelle des Sadous chapel through the ravines of the Vallon de la Coullance, followed by a crescendo climb to the summit of Montagne de Faraud. From the top of this spur, you can enjoy views of the Trois Becs, the Grand Delmas and the Montagne de Couspeau, the Diois, the Dévoluy, the Vercors and the Grand Veymont.

Walking La Chaudière - Col de la Baume

Visorando Member
La Chaudière - Col de la Baume
↔3.92 mi ↗+988 ft ↘-1,007 ft ◔2h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from La Chaudière (Drôme)
Hike opposite the Trois Becs massif, which forms the eastern slope of the Saou forest and its Perched syncline. Beautiful views of this magnificent rocky ridge.

Walking Les Sadous - Pays de Saillans

Local authority
Les Sadous - Pays de Saillans
↔6.22 mi ↗+1,411 ft ↘-1,411 ft ◔4h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from La Chaudière (Drôme)
At the foot of the majestic Trois Becs massif and the Montagne de Couspeau, leave the charming village of La Chaudière for the Chapelle des Sadous, perched on a wooded spur.

Walking Les Trois Becs

Visorando Member
Les Trois Becs
↔6.54 mi ↗+4,052 ft ↘-4,065 ft ◔6h 30 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from La Chaudière (Drôme)
Visit the Trois Becs, the highest points in the Saou Forest. ⚠️ The route passes through a quiet zone for wildlife. Certain passages are closed between 15 May and 15 July.Specific signage and a diversion from the GR®9 have been put in place to guide users, see here.

Walking Les Trois Becs via the Pas de la Picourère

Visorando Member
↔6.12 mi ↗+4,249 ft ↘-4,249 ft ◔6h 30 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from La Chaudière (Drôme)
A variation on the classic Trois Becs circuit, which is more demanding and reserved for experienced walkers, as the Pas de la Picourère is tricky and exposed. The ascent follows the access path to the climbing routes, where peace and quiet are guaranteed. However, the Trois Becs circuit is very busy and should be avoided at weekends in summer. Please note that the route passes through a wildlife sanctuary. Certain sections are off-limits between 15 May and 15 July. Specific signage and a diversion from the GR®9 have been put in place to guide walkers; seehere. 

Walking Rochecourbe and Rocher de la Laveuse via Pas de Picourère

Visorando Member
Rochecourbe et le Rocher de la Laveuse par le Pas de Picourère
↔5.93 mi ↗+2,877 ft ↘-2,881 ft ◔5h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from La Chaudière (Drôme)
A lovely walk to reach the summit of Rochecourbe (one of the 3 Becs), ascending via one of the prettiest passes (the Pas de Picourère) and returning via the magnificent Rocher de la Laveuse and the Pas de Siarra.Take care: the paths are steep and slippery, unmarked and run close to cliffs. This hike is therefore best suited to walkers accustomed to this type of terrain. Please note that the route passes through a wildlife sanctuary. Certain sections are off-limits between 15 May and 15 July. Specific signage and a diversion from the GR®9 have been put in place to guide walkers; see here.

Walking Les Trois Becs: a different perspective

Visorando Member
Les Trois Becs autrement
↔9.86 mi ↗+7,431 ft ↘-7,434 ft ◔6 hrs ▲Extremely difficult
⚑Departure from Chastel-Arnaud (Drôme)
Overlooking the southern Diois region, the Saoû perched syncline, with its main peaks of the Trois Becs (the Veyou, the Signal and Roche Courbe), forms a must-see and much-visited mountain range in the Drôme. However, there are still a few wilder routes featuring steep sections, which are rarely used and require sure-footedness. These routes also allow you to fully enjoy the panoramic views on offer, through the cliffs and other points of interest in this massif.Caution: the section between (6) and (7) is off-trail near rocky outcrops! Please read the route description carefully! Please note: the route passes through a wildlife sanctuary. Certain sections are off-limits between 15 May and 15 July. Specific signage and a diversion from the GR®9 have been put in place to guide walkers; seehere. 

Walking Faraud Mountain and Sadous Chapel from Chastel-Arnaud

Visorando Member
Montagne de Faraud et Chapelle des Sadous depuis Chastel-Arnaud
↔9.81 mi ↗+2,877 ft ↘-2,867 ft ◔7h 00 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Chastel-Arnaud (Drôme)
Montagne de Faraud offers magnificent views of the Trois Becs and all the surrounding mountains. This hike offers an alternative to the classic hike, starting from the hamlet of Saint-Moirans (Chastel-Arnaud) rather than La Chaudière. At the start, you will have the opportunity to visit the 12th-century Church of Saint-Moirans and, during the hike, the charming Chapelle des Sadous chapel. The hike follows good paths or tracks, with a few slightly steep sections.

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.