Le Serre du Gruas from Saint-Cierge-la-Serre

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View of the Vercors on one side and panoramic view at the Serre de Gruas.

Details

n°541170
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.40 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 400 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 395 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 813 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 512 m
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Photos

View of the Gruas greenhouse
Autumn colours
Magnificent viewpoint.
Near Col de la Croix

Description of the walk

Park at the junction of the D265 and D265A in Saint-Cierge-le-Serre.
(S/E) Head west, pass the first road on your left, then at the fork just after, take the left fork towards the cemetery and continue until you reach it.

(1) At the fork, follow the road straight ahead towards Gruas (wooden sign and yellow and white markings).
You will see the Vercors behind you.
Ignore the Chemin des Prés on the left and continue straight ahead to the Col de la Croix (hiking signpost).

(2) Head towards Serre de Gruas on the right. Ignore the paths on either side and continue to the Goulet de la Verrière signpost.

(3) Turn left towards Serre de Gruas. Admire the 360° view from this summit.
Continue past a pylon and then a barrier (remember to close it behind you). Pass the hamlet of Gruas and continue straight ahead until you reach the signpost for Croix de Gruas (cistern).

(4) Head towards Flaviac, take the second road on the left, and continue until you reach the Serre de Gruas signpost located at a hairpin bend.

(5) Continue straight ahead. Pass several turnings on the left and right and continue to the hamlet of La Coste.

(6) Follow the road to Aurelle.

(7) At the crossroads, keep left and follow the white and yellow signs.

(8) At the fork at the entrance to Vignal, follow the road uphill on the left, which further on becomes a path. Continue straight ahead on this main path until you reach Col de la Croix.

(2) Go straight ahead and follow the same route back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 550 m - D265/D265A junction
  2. 1 : km 0.52 - alt. 555 m - Cemetery, fork, straight ahead
  3. 2 : km 1.53 - alt. 633 m - Col de la Croix
  4. 3 : km 2.76 - alt. 731 m - Goulet de la Verrière
  5. 4 : km 4.82 - alt. 777 m - Croix de Gruas
  6. 5 : km 5.48 - alt. 746 m - Hairpin bend, straight ahead
  7. 6 : km 7.56 - alt. 558 m - La Coste, road
  8. 7 : km 8.19 - alt. 515 m - Aurelle, on the left
  9. 8 : km 8.44 - alt. 512 m - Le Vignal, on the left
  10. S/E : km 11.39 - alt. 550 m - D265/D265A junction

Notes

Between points (3) and (4), the paths are stony; good shoes are recommended.
There is no water source, so please bring some with you.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 44 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
souche serge
souche serge

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A fairly easy hike. The climb up to the Serre de Gruas is steady (except for a steep but very short section just before reaching the pass). Visibility wasn’t great that day. It was difficult to make out the snow-capped mountains of the Vercors; it was a bit clearer for seeing Mont Mézenc and the Gerbier de Jonc. The descent towards Les Hameaux is a bit stony but nothing too bad. Lovely little hamlets.
A hike best done on a clear day to enjoy the 360-degree views, and without too much wind.
Be careful at the start when you go round the small hamlet near a chapel; there is a ‘private property, no entry’ sign, so you need to take the path just below the sign on the right.
You can also start from the cemetery, which has a large car park.

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pallandre chantal
pallandre chantal

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2026
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 stunning views of the Vercors, the Monts d'Ardèche, and even Mont Ventoux!
Pleasant trails with no major difficulty.
Thanks to the author for this lovely discovery.

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Sylvictor
Sylvictor

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike, superb views.

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Calanquaise
Calanquaise

Magnificent and wild! A VERY beautiful hike on a magnificent day at the end of October...
In some places, I tried taking the small paths marked on the IGN map rather than the road or track (because there were no more herds). It works. Less comfortable than the track but wilder.
The views throughout the hike are magnificent. Thank you for this hike. I'll do it again in the spring.

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taphanel
taphanel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Beautiful hike with a stunning view
One minor hiccup: the path has just been widened, so it's wide but a bit rough
We'll have to wait until winter for the traces of the widening to fade away

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JuliaM
JuliaM

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, pleasant hike with magnificent panoramic views of the Eyrieux Valley, the Vercors, Mont Ventoux, sheep and cattle, etc. It took us 4 hours and 15 minutes from the cemetery. The second part of the return trip isn't particularly interesting, except for the view of the Vercors and the meadows.
Be careful, the paths are often stony and a bit steep. Good shoes and walking sticks are required for occasional hikers. Not recommended for those with weak ankles. But otherwise, I highly recommend it!

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sommet
sommet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

No change

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Roche 07
Roche 07

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike with magnificent views.
Avoid weekends, as on Saturday we were overtaken by around fifty motorbikes on the same route.

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Roche 07
Roche 07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, good signposting, a bit slippery after the rain the day before.

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lolochaz
lolochaz

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with magnificent views of the Ardèche mountains, the Vercors and even Mont Ventoux.
No difficulties or steep slopes.
Best avoided in summer, as the first part is completely unshaded.
I recommend it 100%

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Baleine2703
Baleine2703

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with magnificent views. We did it in reverse, stopping for a picnic at the top to enjoy the scenery. I highly recommend this route. We didn't meet many people, just a few friendly hunters, and it was very peaceful.

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armelle42
armelle42

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 : No

It's easier to park directly at the cemetery. I parked as indicated, but it was difficult to find the right direction
Otherwise, it was a great hike with beautiful scenery and no particular difficulties

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BBfrompaname
BBfrompaname
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with no technical difficulties.

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hubertandre
hubertandre

Hello,
I would like to add a comment, not about the hike, but about the hiking fair that took place last weekend.
I visited your stand, where I met someone who was very pleasant and knowledgeable.
Following their presentation, I signed up on your website.
best regards

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WALTER ALEX
WALTER ALEX

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful hike

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