The Gorges de la Borne, starting from Le Bez

A magnificent hike to do in autumn; the colours are stunning. Make sure you wear suitable footwear as there are some stony paths.

Details

n°2721683

Creation:
03 Nov 2019

Last update:
17 Aug 2021

Last review:
29 Jun 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 13.11 km
Average duration: 5h 20
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 569 m
Descent: - 574 m
Highest point: 1,358 m
Lowest point: 897 m

Country: France
Area: Massif central
City: Ardèche (07)
Start/End: N 44.638008° / E 4.050698°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2838OT
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Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the restaurant in Le Bez.

(S/E) Head towards the airfield, enter by simply opening the gate, and climb to the top of the hill. Continue straight on after opening the airfield exit gate, following the red and white markings of^{the GR®7}.

(1) Head straight on and continue along the ridge, passing first the Rocher des Résiliades, then the Sommet des Lassès. You will then reach the summit of the Mourre de l'Abéouradou.

(2) Continue along the ridge, still on the^GR®, following a fence on your left. Cross the Ribouna stream. Carry on until you reach a gate at the edge of a field near the summit of Pézouillouse.

(3) Turn left and enter the field. The signposting is poor here, if not non-existent. Head down towards the south-east, cross a stream to reach a new path.

(4) Take this path to the left, heading due east, and you will come to the Ruisseau des Combettes. Cross it and head due south, then south-east to reach the village of Borne and its church.

(5) Turn right onto the road and, at the junction just after, turn left. Continue to the end of the tarmac and go straight on towards the Borne tower.

(6) Facing the tower, turn left and follow the Borne Gorges along the^GR®72, which also forms part of the^GRP® Tour de la Montagne Ardéchoise. Continue to the hamlet of Chazalettes.

(7) Keep to this path, heading generally east.

(8) At the fork, keep to the right to reach the hamlet of Les Chambons.

(9) Turn left to cross the small hamlet and, just as you leave it, take the path on the left, marked with red and white signs for^{the GR®4}. Continue due north to return to the starting car park at Le Bez (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,231 m - Car park in the village of Le Bez
1 : km 1 - alt. 1,295 m - Crossroads, go straight on
2 : km 3.24 - alt. 1,352 m - Mourre de l'Abéouradou
3 : km 4.59 - alt. 1,321 m - Entrance to the field
4 : km 5.43 - alt. 1,168 m - Trail junction
5 : km 7.01 - alt. 949 m - Borne Church
6 : km 7.52 - alt. 912 m - Tour de Borne
7 : km 8.72 - alt. 1,044 m - Chazalettes
8 : km 10.82 - alt. 1,189 m - Fork in the path, turn right
9 : km 11.65 - alt. 1,158 m - Les Chambons after the bridge at - Borne (rivière)
S/E : km 13.11 - alt. 1,230 m - Car park in the village of Le Bez

Notes

Think of this as a leisurely hike of around 5 hours, including a picnic.
In autumn, set off around 11 am.
Wear suitable footwear.
No brambly sections: weather permitting, you can do the walk in shorts.
Numerous waterfalls.
A few designated picnic spots.
Moderate difficulty, suitable for all.

Worth a visit

Enjoy the view throughout.
The Library Tower.
The Gorges de la Borne.
The Borne Tower.
Saint-Sauveur Church.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5

Route interest
4.7 / 5

JPBellocq

29 Jun 2025 at 21:01 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful views of the ridges and then the gorge. It should be noted that:
- there are yellow and white markings between 3 and 5. This helps on this steady slope.
- from just past Chazalettes to Les Chambons, it’s on the road. Not the most pleasant...

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Terango

05 May 2025 at 10:07 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A lovely hike comprising three very different sections.
The first section, which follows the ridge line (stages 1 to 3), offers magnificent views.
The second section, which starts in the village of Borne, is more enclosed as it follows the stunning gorges of the eponymous torrent to the hamlet of Chazalettes.
The third section, which is more open, climbs up to the Col de Bez via the hamlet of Les Chambons.
A quick note regarding stage 3 at the hamlet of Pézouillouse.
Contrary to what is stated in the route description, once you have crossed the barrier, the signposting is clearly visible and relatively accurate.
The only point of uncertainty is a little further down the descent, near the small ruin where a marker is missing and where you must turn left, heading south-east, to rejoin the trail and the markings.
Hike completed on 1 May 2025.

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Bibié J.

07 Jun 2021 at 21:51 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

If I were to do it again, I’d take the route in the opposite direction to the one you suggest. Why? Because of that path between Borne and the ridge, which is littered with stones and difficult to walk down. We met a local group there who confirmed this.

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savate38

07 Sep 2020 at 11:01 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike along the watershed with "Le Phare".
WARNING!!!! Change to the descent path at Borne: make sure you go all the way to the signpost and not as indicated on the IGN map. On this descent path, pay close attention to the small yellow and white marked wooden posts; use a compass to find your way, as indicated on the map, particularly near the ruined house where the post is on the ground: the path runs alongside the ruin.
Gorges de la Borne: there isn’t much to see

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joorange

09 Jul 2020 at 17:56 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I set off on the hike from point 9 this morning at around 6am. It was only 9 degrees, but the gentle climb towards Le Bez warms you up quickly.
It’s as beautiful as ever, and I got to discover the lighthouse too.
The descent towards Borne is fairly well signposted, though it’s true that you can see the posts better going down than going up.
There were lots of cars this morning on the small road before Les Chambons due to a canyoning meet-up.
The hike is rated as moderate, but there are still a few fairly challenging sections, such as the descent through the scree before Borne.
It was lovely to share this hike.

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psoso

29 Jun 2020 at 08:49 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A fantastic hike, starting with some stunning views before heading into a section of the gorges that can only be reached on foot (or by canyoning!!). There’s a nice, steep climb to get back up onto a small road (take care in hot weather on this section).

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Lutin J.

01 Dec 2019 at 18:25 3600

I’ve got a few photos that I didn’t manage to upload when I posted about the hike.
As for the question, you need to cut across the large Genet massif diagonally or use your app with the map; it helps enormously if you have everything on the screen – it’s clearly marked and you just need to stay on the route that’s been published, really.
Enjoy your hike
Jean Marc

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joorange

01 Dec 2019 at 09:31 3600

I have two quick questions about this lovely route, which I plan to do (again) next year.

- Is the route shown on the map between points 3 and 4 a GPS track or a suggested route? It’s a shame that this lovely stretch isn’t better signposted, as it would only take a few posts to make it clear. I struggled a bit there this summer, going the other way, amidst the broom and sheep.

- Isn’t it possible, after the climb up from Chazalettes, to reach Les Chambons as close as possible to La Borne? The little road isn’t unpleasant, but it’s still tarmac.

Many thanks in advance

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