Les Balcons de Thau - Dumbo's Head Tour

This route offers views over Frontignan on the sea side, as well as Sète and the Bassin de Thau with its oyster beds.
The trail is well marked (yellow rectangle).
It is not the most beautiful route in the Gardiole mountains due to the presence of high-voltage power lines and the Frontignan oil depot, but it allows you to cross from the sea side to the lake side in a short distance and enjoy a unique view of the Frontignan Muscat vineyards as you walk through the heath.

Details

16616266
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.96 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 128 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 124 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 137 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 46 m

Photos

Description of the walk

La Cible car park next to the motocross track.

(S/E) Take the path at the back of the car park. Continue until you reach the huge stone wall (firebreak) on the left. Then turn left up the slope until you reach the junction with a small path leading off to the right.

(1) Follow this path. The hike follows the lower edge of the pine plantation, then enters it slightly to the left. Stay on the yellow rectangle markings. The path joins a track, take it to the right. This track crosses another track that is more suitable for vehicles, which you should also take to the right.

(2) Below Pioch de la Barre, the road makes a sharp right turn. Stay on this road, which goes around Pioch de la Barre at a constant altitude until you reach a crossroads with several roads.
Note: you can go straight ahead, taking a steep path heading north without going around Pioch de la Barre.

(3) Continue straight ahead, following the same markings. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead for a few dozen metres. Turn left at the next crossroads and continue for another hundred metres or so until you reach a four-way crossroads.

(4) Take the path that descends slightly to the right and passes under the high-voltage power lines. After passing them, continue straight ahead at a cistern and reach a three-way junction.

(5) Enjoy the view of the Étang de Thau lagoon, then take the path on the left. Stay on this main path until you reach the Montjas platform crossroads after passing under the high-voltage power lines again.

(6) There are many paths, but stay on the yellow markings via the second path on the right. When you reach a pylon, begin the final descent via the path that joins the stone path you took on the way there.

(1) Continue straight ahead to reach the car park next to the motocross track (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 46 m - La Cible car park
  2. 1 : km 0.26 - alt. 63 m - Starting point and finish of the hike
  3. 2 : km 1.33 - alt. 105 m - Sous le Pioch de la Barre (South)
  4. 3 : km 2.39 - alt. 119 m - Multiple crossroads, straight ahead
  5. 4 : km 2.69 - alt. 123 m - Sous le Pioch de la Barre (North)
  6. 5 : km 4.19 - alt. 76 m - Panoramic view of the Étang de Thau lagoon, on the left
  7. 6 : km 6.01 - alt. 123 m - Montjas platform
  8. S/E : km 6.96 - alt. 46 m - La Cible car park

Notes

Worth a visit

Pioch de la Barre.
The vineyards of Frontignan.
Bouzigues oyster tasting.
The Ancient Mediterranean Garden in Balaruc-les-Bains.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 27 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
yvessc
yvessc

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route with magnificent scenery.
The route was completed without any difficulty. However, caution is advised on the final descent.
A walk to be recommended.

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Ch_Bouchez
Ch_Bouchez

Hello, If you finished the route parallel to the road, it means that at checkpoint 6, you took the path on the right instead of the left. I made the same mistake on my first hike, but on the other hand, you avoided the rather gruelling downhill finish on rocky ground... The hike is indeed enjoyable.

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shumash
shumash

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant hike with beautiful views of the Thau lagoon, Sète and the Mediterranean Sea. The route itself is very peaceful, but the start is from the car park with the motocross track and the end of the hike is on the hills parallel to the road, so there is background noise for long periods, which may bother some hikers. Nevertheless, the route is recommended.

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GuylèneP
GuylèneP

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Quite pleased with the walk.
One or two yellow rectangular markers would have been welcome at certain intersections...
But we managed just fine with the printed map...
The Balcons de Thau... What an apt name! What beautiful views!

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User 20387286

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A wonderful discovery of Gardiole. Beautiful views.

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Hervé3434
Hervé3434

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy walk except for the slightly steep descent at the end, which requires suitable walking shoes. Somewhat shaded (but not all the time) and very well marked.

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Ch_Bouchez
Ch_Bouchez

I made the same mistake on my first hike on this trail. My mobile phone was beeping and I wondered why. It turned out that the Visorando app was alerting me that I was not on the right track... this app is great.

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User 26519357

Hello,
Actually, I have reviewed the route and you are right; I should have gone straight ahead instead of turning right.
I therefore withdraw the end of my comment.
Kind regards,
Christophe THIERRY

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Ch_Bouchez
Ch_Bouchez
• Edited:

Hello, I believe that the final stretch you took along the motorway is not part of the marked route. You should have turned right at point 6 instead of going straight ahead. However, if you take this marked route, the path is very rocky and steep... a bit of an ankle twister... Overall, it's a nice hike.

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User 26519357
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It is an easy route, well marked and pleasant with its changing landscapes.
Otherwise, passing under the high-voltage power line (which is quite far away) is no more bothersome than that.

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User 17891590

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route, this is a leisurely walk offering beautiful views of the Thau lagoon. It is also interesting due to its proximity to the port of Bouzigue, if you want to finish off with a meal in the sunshine!

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Olivier TGV
Olivier TGV

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike offering magnificent views of Frontignan, Sète and the Thau lagoon.
No particular difficulties, except perhaps the descent at the end of the hike, which can seem dangerous given the numerous stones covering the path. However, a small trail well hidden among the trees allows you to descend safely.

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tontonyves2
tontonyves2

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Interesting route and beautiful views of the Thau lagoon

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User 17885472

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route above the Thau lagoon. Very easy and accessible, even with children.

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User 24191090

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

alternately overlooking the Thau lagoon and the sea, magnificent

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