The Marsanne plateau tour

Route in the Marsanne forest with beautiful views of the valleys, along wide paths with gentle slopes.

Details

n°29670342

Creation:
03 Jan 2023

Last update:
16 Jan 2023

Last review:
05 Aug 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 6.48 km
Average duration: 2h 15
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 149 m
Descent: - 151 m
Highest point: 587 m
Lowest point: 449 m

Country: France
Area: Dauphiné
District: Marsanne (26740)
Start/End: N 44.665815° / E 4.865621°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3037SB, 3038SB
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk assessment bulletin

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Photos

Description of the walk

From Marsanne, take the D57 towards the Marsanne forest. At the Col de la Grande Limite, park in the large car park on the left.

(S/E) Leave the car park via the wide path downhill opposite the road. Follow the signs for "Creux des Alexis". The path descends and climbs two drainage depressions, then curves clockwise in a very wide arc.

(1) At the "Creux des Alexis" hiking signpost, continue straight ahead. Shortly after crossing the high-voltage power line, look for a small path that forms a three-way junction on the left.

(2) Follow this small path until you reach the D57. Return to the car park by following it on the right, keeping away from it by passing through the open woodland (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 516 m - Car park - Col de la Grande Limite
1 : km 4.75 - alt. 582 m - Creux des Alexis
2 : km 5.4 - alt. 543 m - Start of a small path in the box trees
S/E : km 6.48 - alt. 515 m - Car park - Col de la Grande Limite

Notes

This route crosses a black mountain bike route reserved for experienced mountain bikers on several occasions. It is important to pay close attention to the many possible mountain bike crossings when cutting across the tracks or to ride alongside them on the side.

Worth a visit

Beautiful forest passages.
Beautiful views over the valleys towards Marsanne.
The small path after (2) crosses an area where box trees have grown back following an attack by the box tree moth.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5

Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5

Route interest
4.2 / 5

User 18535494

05 Aug 2025 at 23:06 7200 • Edited: 06 Aug 2025 at 08:45 7200

Very disappointed with this hike. The path isn't particularly pleasant, and there's very little visibility of the surrounding mountains. What's more, the route description isn't very detailed, which led us to take a wrong turn and end up under a high-voltage power line.
All in all, an uninteresting hike.

Machine-translated

mmg84

19 May 2025 at 13:08 7200 • Edited: 19 May 2025 at 14:10 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

pleasant hike

Machine-translated

BK626

12 May 2025 at 10:36 7200 • Edited: 13 May 2025 at 14:17 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant circular loop on the heights of Marsanne with no difficulties. However, be careful at elevation 475, follow the path downhill carefully, as it is easy to be drawn to the summit if you take the main path that branches off to the right, but a return trip to this spot offers a superb view to the south...
The forest is very dense and hides the plains ahead.
The return along the small path after point 2 quickly makes you forget the large rocks that clutter the forest road in places.

Machine-translated

Babs Sirène

03 Mar 2025 at 08:18 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A pleasant, easy family hike. Wide forest path that allows you to easily pass cyclists and other hikers (handy when walking with dogs). A few viewpoints over the Vercors and Ardèche.
After point 1, on the left, there is a wood with daffodils. We left with a small bouquet.
I will do this walk again in the autumn, when the forests are ablaze with colour.
(Mirmande is nearby; we stopped to explore this charming village before heading home).

Machine-translated

papou26200

06 Jan 2025 at 12:19 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A short, easy walk, ideal for eliminating New Year's Eve toxins, but with some great views nonetheless! Thank you for the hike.

Machine-translated

JuliaM

02 Dec 2024 at 16:15 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike on wide trails, with beautiful autumn colours, sometimes in the forest, sometimes with beautiful views of the Vercors in the second half. The route on Visorando on our smartphones allowed us to turn back, as it is easy to take the wrong turn at certain junctions. Thank you, Mr Bonin, for sharing!

Machine-translated

mijo26

29 Jan 2024 at 17:40 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Easy hike for families. Good description, fortunately, as it is not well marked. Watch out for mountain bikes coming at high speed.

Machine-translated

morilles

13 Nov 2023 at 20:19 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A beautiful autumn hike with all these colours.
A few details for those who don't have GPS.
2.9 km after the start, there are two paths at a cairn. Do not take the first one that goes uphill, but stay on the main path.
At point 2, there are two paths on the left. Take the second one (marked for mountain bikes).
Thank you Boninmi for your routes.

Machine-translated

NOATUK

23 Oct 2023 at 08:53 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A nice little walk.

Machine-translated

pierrot 26

13 Feb 2023 at 09:46 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk without any major difficulties. Suitable for families, with beautiful views of the valley and the Three Peaks

in the background. The paths are partly in the woods. A must-do.

Machine-translated

boninmi

14 Jan 2023 at 17:15 3600

Good evening,

- The tracks used by this route are wide and allow for peaceful sharing of the route between hikers and mountain bikers.

- Departmental hiking posts are clearly visible throughout the route and indicate destinations and distances.

Kind regards, M. Bonin.

Machine-translated

Département de la Drôme

13 Jan 2023 at 15:54 3600 • Edited: 16 Jan 2023 at 10:13 3600

Hello,
Please note that this hike is not official and therefore not marked. Official hikes are published exclusively by the Montélimar Agglomération Tourist Office.
Although this hike is easy to follow and easily accessible, it intersects with a black mountain bike trail, which is reserved for experienced riders. Please respect the official mountain bike trails.

Best regards,
The Montélimar Agglomération Tourist Office.

Machine-translated