Le Trou du Loup and the karstic cave du Mas de Rouquet

This hike will take you to the Larzac plateau to discover its characteristic landscapes, two of its many chasms and the Mas de Rouquet, a testament to 19th-century agricultural activity.

Details

18113416
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.74 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 514 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 521 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 726 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 241 m

Description of the walk

In Soubès, park in the large hikers' car park (signposted) to the east of the village.

(S/E) Ignore the yellow markings and follow theGR®71markings.
From the car park, take theGR®71or Chemin de la Beaume, which descends behind the school. Continue along this path heading due north.

(1) Cross two roads to reach a crossroads.

(2) Leave the return path on your right and turn left onto theGR®71, which climbs steadily and leads to the Larzac Plateau through the magnificent Parlatges Forest, at the cost of a considerable effort (437 m elevation gain).
You will arrive at a meadow enclosed by a fence with a green cistern in the middle.

(3) Leave theGR® and take the track on the left for 400 m. You will arrive at a large clearing, where you will find a faint path on the right (small cairn) that leads into the forest and to the Trou du Loup (GPS recommended on this section). The hole is about twenty metres behind the watering hole, slightly to the right, and its entrance is closed by a gate.

(4) Return to theGR® trail, heading due south. Take it on the left and you will soon reach the boundary wall of Mas de Rouquet.

(5) Leave theGR®71, which branches off to the left, and continue straight ahead, passing in front of the ruins of this old farm (danger, do not enter). After the property, continue right on the track until you reach a crossroads.

(6) Take the left-hand track for 500 metres, then take a small path (cairn) that branches off to the left. A hundred metres further on, you will discover the impressive double karstic cave of Mas de Rouquet (danger, do not approach the edge).

(7) Turn around to return to the track junction.

(6) Take the track on the left. At the first intersection, turn right for about 240 metres until you reach another fork.

(8) Then take a less marked track that branches off to the right (small cairn). At the first crossroads, turn left until you reach a junction.

(9) View of Lodève and Lake Salagou in the distance.
Turn left and, after going through the gate (close it behind you), continue straight ahead, heading south, into the meadow opposite.
Find a yellow-marked trail and follow it straight ahead, still heading south. Pass in front of a dolmen, cross a track and continue for 200 m.

(10) Leave the yellow markings and take a path that veers sharply to the left. There is an old wooden sign indicating the direction of Soubes.
This small path, used more by wild boars than hikers, will take you down into the valley via a series of hairpin bends.

(11) When you reach a road, keep to the right and after about 100 metres you will rejoin theGR® (at the rubbish bins).

(2) Continue straight ahead on theGR®71and retrace your steps to return to the (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 257 m - Hiker car park
  2. 1 : km 0.56 - alt. 265 m - Crossing roads
  3. 2 : km 0.76 - alt. 308 m - Crossroads of the circular
  4. 3 : km 3.52 - alt. 676 m - Green cistern
  5. 4 : km 4.15 - alt. 690 m - Le Trou du Loup
  6. 5 : km 4.49 - alt. 687 m - Mas de Rouquet
  7. 6 : km 5.25 - alt. 702 m - Crossroads - Access to the karstic cave
  8. 7 : km 5.92 - alt. 724 m - Aven du Mas de Rouquet
  9. 8 : km 7.48 - alt. 661 m - Crossroads
  10. 9 : km 8.75 - alt. 691 m - Viewpoint
  11. 10 : km 9.56 - alt. 573 m - Path on the left - End of yellow markings
  12. 11 : km 10.7 - alt. 317 m - Road
  13. S/E : km 11.74 - alt. 256 m - Hiker car park

Notes

- No water on the route.
- Long descent on a "wild" path after point (10).
- Do not enter the ruins of Mas de Rouquet: risk of collapse.
Do not approach the edges of the karstic cave: risk of falling.

Worth a visit

- Mas de Rouquet: large agricultural property covering 630 hectares, which was in operation until 1926. Located at an altitude of 687 metres, the farm is surrounded by century-old trees (pines, cedars). It is a typical example of Larzac architecture, with its sheepfolds and arcaded granaries.
- Karstic cave du Mas de Rouquet: typical of the Larzac chasms, it has two imposing mouths connected by a natural bridge. A cheese cellar was built there in 1851.

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.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
goussa
goussa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 01, 2026
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 diverse landscapes

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titou034
titou034

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely hike, as described, completed in hot weather, climbing in the shade.

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Frieda
Frieda

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

Very beautiful hike. Very varied landscapes. The first part is in the forest, which is pleasant in warm weather like we had. In the unmarked section, the path is a little difficult to find – thank goodness for GPS. The descent along the wild boar trail is indeed challenging and probably often used by mountain bikes, which smooths out the ground...

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Tataficelle
Tataficelle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2024
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, done in hot weather, with no difficulty on that front as it is very shady almost all the way. Lots of forest passages on very pleasant little paths. The detour via the karstic cave of Mas de Rouquet (7) is not necessarily of great interest as it is visible from afar (surrounded by barbed wire), but the detour is not long, so you might as well do it. Several points of interest along the way and a beautiful viewpoint. I would happily do it again, thank you for this route.

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DROP34
DROP34

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hikes we had already done, still just as enjoyable, without too much difficulty.

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Pompon64
Pompon64

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Enjoy the hike! The climb is gradual as you pass by the mine. It's a bit tricky to find the path leading to the Trou du Loup cave, but it's not too difficult. Pass by Mas Rouquet, a magnificent farmhouse. I modified the hike by heading north to pass by the karstic cave des Perles and return to the karstic cave du Mas Rouquet. Return via the very pleasant Sangliers trail.

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BrigitteRieul
BrigitteRieul

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty hike, with varied, somewhat wild landscapes, a gradual climb and beautiful views across the plateau.

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André LALANDE
André LALANDE

Hello,
For future hikers on this route: if you wish to avoid the challenging descent of the "wild boar" trail, from point 10 you can continue straight ahead, following the yellow markings of the "Lou camin Farrat" route, which will take you back to Soubès. Enjoy your hike.

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Mountadous
Mountadous
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting and easy climb up to Mas de Rouquet.
It's a shame that this farmhouse has been abandoned.
Pleasant route on the plateau.
Long, challenging descent on the "des sangliers" trail.
We enjoyed superb mild and sunny weather.

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GSSR
GSSR

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

From point 9 onwards, the very pleasant path is damaged by motorbikes and downhill mountain bikes, which is a shame as it is likely to erode quickly. At the bottom of this path, just before entering Soubès, we encounter a free-roaming Patou sheepdog at the first house we come across at the bottom of the path.
A very beautiful walk that is not very difficult if you are used to walking (the elevation gain is entirely at the beginning of the hike on a steady slope). Very beautiful view of the Lodévois with the sea in the distance, the mountains of the Haut Languedoc and the Salagou.
A good walk to do at this time of year.

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André LALANDE
André LALANDE

I received an email from Visorando informing me that they had indeed modified the description:
"When a hike is posted on Visorando, it is checked by three successive moderators who, based on the map and route, try to ensure that the description is accurate.
If necessary, they may make changes (adding details, waypoints and formatting)."
They corrected the error regarding the colour of the GR trail markings.
All the best.

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la jot
la jot

OK, thanks for the feedback, André.

Where does the Visorando modification come from?

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André LALANDE
André LALANDE

I just checked the description and you're right. It doesn't match what I originally wrote. My description has been changed.
Visorando, can you explain?

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la jot
la jot

You are not referring to a GRP but to a red and yellow GR. The GR is red and white!
And I can assure you that on the version found on Viso Rando there are nine points; I didn't make it up.

(8) View of Lodève and Lake Salagou in the distance.
Turn left and after going through the gate (close it behind you), go straight ahead, heading south, into the meadow opposite.
Find a yellow-marked trail and follow it straight ahead, still heading south. Pass in front of a dolmen, cross a track and continue for 200 m.

Point 9: I'll repeat the text: Leave the yellow markings and take a hairpin path on the left. There is an old wooden sign indicating the direction of Soubes. This small path, which is more frequented by wild boars than hikers, will take you down into the valley. When you reach a road, turn right and after a hundred metres you will rejoin the GR at the rubbish bins....

I don't have a GPS or a smartphone, but I always carry a compass and an IGN map (2642OT), and I can assure you that due south: there is no path

I'm not being disingenuous.
Best regards
Sylvie

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André LALANDE
André LALANDE

Hello,
1 - I advise you to carefully reread the description of the hike. I never mention red and yellow GRP trails.
2 - There are only five points in my description. I don't understand how you could have reached point 8. The yellow-marked trail in the meadow from point 4 is easy to find.
The moral of the story is that if you're going to use Visorando, you might as well use its GPS function. There's even an alarm that warns you if you stray from the route.
Thank you for your interest in hiking, and good luck with your next hike.

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