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Departure from the entrance to the municipal campsite, Les Bords du Lacs, in Lac-d'Issarlès. Park opposite the campsite.
(S/E) At the campsite, facing the lake, turn right towards Lac d'Issarlès beach. You will pass some cave dwellings before arriving at the beach. There is a "Camping" sign at the entrance to the campsite. Follow the signs for "Le Lac - 1.3km" and followthe GR®3(white and red markings).
(1) At the D116, continue left, pass the retirement home on the edge of the beach and continue along the road following "Col du Gage - 2km", white and yellow markings for about 500m.
(2) At the crossroads, turn right and then, 40 metres later, left onto the footpath. Continue to the information point.
(3) The orientation table is unusable, but the layout of the site offers a beautiful view.
From the viewpoint, located at an altitude of 1099 metres, you can clearly see the confluence of the Loire and Gage rivers, the old erosion surfaces that accompanied the uplift of the Massif Central, particularly the one located at an altitude of around 1,190 metres, and, at the angle of the confluence of the Loire and Gage rivers, two successive surfaces from top to bottom, the highest starting at around 1,050 metres and the second ending at around 970 metres.
(4) About 200m after the viewpoint, at the crossroads, turn right to reach the Col de Gage.
(5) You will arrive at the "Col du Gage - 1098m altitude" information point. Cross the D116 and begin a one-kilometre climb on the small road, which will allow you to discover panoramic views of Lake Issarlès before arriving at a crossroads.
(6) Take the path on the right that leads into the trees. After a few dozen metres, you will come to the first gate: follow this track for at least 2 km, passing through several gates (at least three).
These few kilometres will take you through meadows where you can discover wild raspberry bushes and other plants.
At the crossroads (elevation 1,265), follow theGR®3(white and red markings) opposite towards "Le Béage - 5.4 km" and you will reach a fork.
(7) Turn right to climb another 800m, following "Le Béage - 5.3km" via Cherchemuse, marked in white and yellow.
(8) At this fork, turn right and go back to the summit of Cherchemuse, which is 200 m away. At the summit, there are a few antennas (yes, we have mobile phone coverage). You can see the Mézenc, the Allambre and the Suc de Montfol. There are also some beautiful views of the lake.
(8) On the way back, start the descent to Lac d'Issarlès via La Louvèche, following the white and yellow markings.
About 200m after the start of this descent, you will come to a signpost marked "La Louvèche - Lac d'Issarlès - 4.4km". At this point, there is normally a gate to open, but in August 2017 it was broken. Simply continue downhill, keeping straight ahead.
Pass between two lava flows, then wind your way above the La Louvèche farm. Follow a fence, go through a few gates (two, I think) and then cross a beech forest before arriving at the road. Follow the farm road to the junction with the D16 at a place called Rabiouze.
(9) Follow the D16 on the left for about 500 metres.
(10) Now is the time to head into the forest via the path on your left. After a few hundred metres, you will discover some beautiful little ponds. (We were lucky enough to see someone maintaining them.)
Follow the white and yellow markings to return to the municipal campsite on the edge of Lake Issarlès (S/E).
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