The Chirouse Volcano

A very pleasant route through the Ardèche forest and its peaceful little hamlets. The omnipresent calm allows you to recharge your batteries and become one with nature.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.49 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 600 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 599 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 733 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 358 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From Privas, follow the D2 then the D344 towards Pranles. Before entering the village, turn left onto the road towards Le Clap (lodge). Park in the small Chirouses car park (4 spaces) above the large building of the Domaine du Clap.

Yellow-white markings

(S/E) With your back to the car park, follow the path that climbs up to the right. It starts off as a beautiful paved slanting street and then becomes stony. Pass several cattle gates (close them behind you) and follow the main path that leads to the Col du Muret.

(1) Continue straight ahead to begin the descent (ignore a vague path on the left). After a short stretch through the woods, the path comes to a bend. Turn right to stay on the main path and continue for 400 m to the Goutoulas farm. Pass the houses and leave the main path to descend onto a smaller parallel path on the left. Continue for 50 m after a crossroads to the Goutoulas signpost.

(2) Head right towards Saint-Étienne de Serres (leave the path on the left, which will be the return route). Descend through the chestnut trees, leave a path on the right (not marked on the map) and join the Pizette signpost at the entrance to the hamlet of the same name.

(3) Turn left onto the paved road to cross the hamlet. At the end, when the road curves to the right, follow the lane that branches off to the left between the houses at a row of letterboxes. Descend to reach the bottom of the hamlet on a small plateau. Turn left and follow the path that continues between the low walls (ignore a path that climbs up to the left towards the hamlet). Continue downhill until you reach a crossroads (old wooden signs). Turn right and follow a few hairpin bends to reach the Pont Merlet bridge. Cross the bridge and continue for about 20 metres to reach the signpost.

(4) Turn left towards Croix de Creysseilles, go through the gate and follow the path that climbs steeply into the forest. Be careful, about 200m further up, leave the main path and turn left onto a small path that is not very visible at first but is well marked (the route is offset on the map). Follow this path through the chestnut trees until you reach the hamlet of Magerouan at the Place signpost.

Continue left on the tarmac road to cross the hamlet towards Croix de Creysseilles. Reach the Magerouan crossroads at the exit of the hamlet. Turn left towards Eyrebonne and immediately on the right of the path you will see an open cemetery (no fence).

(5) At the corner of the plot, take the path on the right that continues along the side of the forest. Go through two gates, then after passing through some box trees (the route on the map is slightly off), the path turns left to join the other side. The path widens; go through another gate, ignore a path on the right just after and continue straight ahead.

After a left turn, you will reach a crossroads. Take the left-hand path, go through more gates and follow the path along the hillside (beautiful views of the Pizette and Magerouan). Cross another area of boxwood (or what remains of it!) and you will arrive at Eyrebonne.

(6) Turn left towards Goutoulas for about 50 m. At the crossroads, turn right onto the grassy path that passes under the hamlet and then moves away from it, descending in a few hairpin bends into the hollow of a valley. Cross a second valley and, at the third, the path climbs up to the right for a while, following the dry stream bed, then turns left for a short but steep climb. You will arrive at a wide path at the foot of a scree slope.

(7) Turn left onto the path, then immediately leave it and head right into the scree of the Chirouse volcano, following the numerous cairns. After a short steep section, the trail skirts around the volcano, crossing the entire scree. Numerous cairns, resembling land art, decorate this magical place. At the end of the crossing, a sign provides information about the Chirouse volcano. Reach the forest and then, via a good path on the hillside, return to the houses of Goutoulas. Pass under the houses and return to the crossroads you passed on the way there.

(2) Turn right and follow the same path back up to the Col du Muret.

(1) From the pass, descend along the path to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 647 m - Chirouses car park
  2. 1 : km 0.84 - alt. 733 m - Col du Muret
  3. 2 : km 2.05 - alt. 614 m - Goutoulas marker
  4. 3 : km 2.88 - alt. 521 m - La Pizette
  5. 4 : km 3.68 - alt. 364 m - Merlet Bridge
  6. 5 : km 5.08 - alt. 554 m - Magerouan
  7. 6 : km 7.34 - alt. 621 m - Eyrebonne
  8. 7 : km 8.08 - alt. 581 m - Chirouse Volcano scree slope
  9. S/E : km 11.49 - alt. 645 m - Chirouses car park

Practical information

Good footwear is essential, especially for crossing the scree.
Shelter is available in the hamlets you pass through.
There is a fountain in Eyrebonne, but no information on the quality of the water.

The route crosses numerous pastoral areas, so make sure you close the gates behind you.

In the nearby area

Protestant Vivarais Museum at the exit of Pranles.
Open from 1 May to 31 September, but can be opened for groups on request.

The Mandy Mill

The 11th-century Romanesque church in Pranles.

The Chirouse Volcano (several spellings found).
An ancient volcano that probably experienced a phreatomagmatic phase followed by a Strombolian phase. Today, the site features an inversion of relief and a vast scree slope of basalt rocks resulting from erosion.

The ancient Chirouse volcano rests on granite dating back more than 300 million years and on Triassic sandstone. It is part of the second wave of volcanism in the Ardèche, between 8 and 6 million years ago, like the rocks of Gourdon and Ajoux.

The first phase of activity of the Chirouse volcano was phreatomagmatic. The explosions of the volcano caused blocks of sandstone, basalt and granite to be projected into the air. Subsequently, a lake formed in the explosion crater (several hundred metres in diameter). Diatoms developed there: their siliceous shells gave rise to diatomite, a rock found under the lava flows.

The second phase of the volcano, which was Strombolian in nature, caused the crater to be filled with basaltic lava flows. The lava, which was fairly fluid, flowed down fairly gentle slopes and covered a vast area. Today, the dimensions of the scree are evidence of the scale of the flow: the scree stretches for 9 km between Pourchères and Le Bouchet de Pranles, is up to a kilometre wide in places, and rises to a height of around 100 metres near Eyrebonne. The point of origin is unknown.

Erosion has led to a reversal of the relief, with the flow now forming a plateau rising to 767 metres at the summit of Les Chirouses and up to 916 metres north of Pourchères. Large basalt columns have been exposed by erosion, feeding the scree at their base.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 53 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Grappa26
Grappa26

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

We did the opposite for reasons of rainy weather, which increases the risk of falling rocks on the volcano's slopes. A difficult but very pleasant route through hamlets and woodland. We returned uphill via the scree slope, reading the information boards along the way. Please note that the small car park can only accommodate 3-4 cars, which must be parked carefully so as not to interfere with farming activities. Please close the gates behind you as you pass through.

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Nad07
Nad07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Superb hike! Magnificent landscapes, beautiful autumn colours, the scree slope is a place that never ceases to amaze, calm yet empty at the same time...
The animals were there, cows and sheep in the forest...
This is the second time I've done it and I noticed a real improvement in the signposting in the scree... Thank you!
I highly recommend it!

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User 21273805

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Magnificent hike, beautiful scenery and an exceptional finish among the volcanic rocks!!!

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Vakoran
Vakoran

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

An extraordinary hike with everything you could wish for: forests, small rivers to ford, bridges, small waterfalls, panoramic views, villages, and this surprising volcano that contrasts with the rest.
All bathed in the colours of autumn, unrivalled in the Ardèche. Pure bliss.

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User 27458849

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

second solo hike, starting out in sunshine then ending up in rain, which gave me a chance to test my gear... an extraordinary journey despite the rain. Lots of undergrowth, grassy paths, streams, gates to close behind me... and finally, arrival at the foot of the volcano! The recent rain had created waterfalls at the top of it. MAGNIFICENT! After exploring the scree, I had to leave, but then I couldn't find the path to continue😱. I think the description misled me. After 30 minutes of wandering around, I finally found my way and finished the hike. Despite a few difficulties, due as much to the weather as to my lack of experience, I loved it. I will do it again soon under more favourable skies
I recommend it 100%

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User 27563945

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful hike with diverse landscapes and vegetation. A lovely discovery ☀️

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elnitro160
elnitro160

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

I wasn't expecting to find this kind of scenery in Ardèche. A lovely walk, original and rich in wildlife, if you take the time to look. The atmosphere by the river was really great! However, I never managed to find the entrance to the famous Camisards cave...

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elnitro160
elnitro160

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A lovely walk, original and rich in wildlife, if you pay attention. The atmosphere of the river

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User 2324548

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

To do! A truly unique hike. Thanks for the route description.

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christine.thomas4
christine.thomas4

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A magnificent hike along beautiful wild trails.
The scree is magnificent! What a trip back in time 🥰
A freezing wind accompanied us, but the advantage was that we were alone.
No roads... great!
Thank you

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einnag
einnag

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Beautiful hike. You need good shoes to cross the scree and watch where you put your feet. Otherwise, no difficulty.

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SebP26
SebP26

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful hike with lots of variety, including the volcanic scree site. I didn't dare venture into the Grotte des Camisards cave, as the entrance was littered with large rocks and very narrow; no point taking unnecessary risks on my own.
Well signposted and very well explained
Highly recommended

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sommet
sommet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very good hike

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jocelyne.sp
jocelyne.sp

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Very beautiful hike, a little challenging (crossing scree slopes).
Well signposted and very well explained
Many thanks
Recommended

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Muni
Muni

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Superb walk. Highly recommended.

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