The Cèlerons caves

Magnificent valley at Vau de roche. Cliffs, rock shelters, caves, headlands and views of the famous Creux Percé abyss.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.80 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 233 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 231 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 512 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 367 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From Val-Suzon-Haut go up the Val Courbe (D7) towards Blaisy for about 600m and park at the small car park on the left. Starting point between two parks. A sign informs you of the trails.

(S/E) Take the footpath and 20m further on, cross the footbridge over the Suzon. Follow the path along the fence to the right.

(1) At Combe Vaux de Roche, turn left onto the 2nd path marked Vaux de Roche, and keep right at the next junction. The path climbs gently up to the bottom of the valley. This path erodes as far as the spring.

(2) About 800m further on, a sign on the left indicates Roche Beudon. This is the way back.
For the time being, go straight on, looking at the spring on the right, then continue along the path. At around 250m, turn right onto the path that climbs up into a small valley to reach Saut de la Carpe. The cliffs in this part of the country are superb. Admire the chimneys from which a trickle of water sometimes flows.

(3) From the chimneys, turn right onto the path beneath the cliff, which leads to the top. A short, easy climb to the top. Viewpoint. Go perpendicular to (at 90° to) the cliff on a small, unmarked path that winds around and around,

(4) Go left. Leave the first path on the left and 300m further on you come to a skid road.

(5) Go left (towards Pasque) and keep going straight on, ignoring the paths on the left and right, until you reach a gravel path.

(6) Pasques is now in sight, and a sign indicates the Creux Percé abyss on the left. Follow this direction and 500m further on, a barrier closes the abyss to vehicles.

(7) Go around this gaping hole reserved for cavers. Go straight back along the Chemin Bleu before the barrier, ignoring the paths to the left and right, then reach the end of the Vaux de Roche valley and go around it.

(8) At a turning, there is no longer a straight path. Take the left-hand path, which descends steeply to the first cave. It's there on the right, just below. Approach the abyss. There's a small ledge to get there and back. You shouldn't be afraid of heights, the dry stones are not for children.
Climb the path along the edge of the valley and look up at the petrified teddy bear that watches over the valley from its headland. Pay him a visit. Leave the headland on a narrow path to the left and head straight down, about 40m, to the 2 other caves. The first on the left, nicknamed the "letterbox" because of its narrow access, leads to the Dame des Cèlerons monolith. The other, opposite, has a gallery leading to a room with a large opening. On leaving the caves, don't go back up to the headland, but take the path directly opposite the ascent, then turn right at the first fork and left at the second fork.

(9) About 300m further on, at a right-hand bend, go straight on. You are now 200m from La Roche Beudon. Go ahead a little. The view is remarkable (keep children safe). Return to the crossroads and continue left.

(10) A little further on, a path descends to the left and joins the path at the lower level, which descends to the valley, and follow it to the left.
After a steep descent to a flat spot, turn right to admire the rock shelter, a climbing cliff. Then continue down the valley to reach the Vaux de Roche Combe path, taken on the outward journey.

(2) Follow this path to the right.

(1) Turn right to go down to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 368 m - Car park on D7 - Suzon (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.6 - alt. 374 m - Combe Vaux de Roche
  3. 2 : km 1.51 - alt. 391 m - Start of loop
  4. 3 : km 2.18 - alt. 445 m - Fireplaces
  5. 4 : km 2.54 - alt. 480 m - Left-hand path
  6. 5 : km 3.23 - alt. 495 m - Left-hand path
  7. 6 : km 4.43 - alt. 493 m - Stone path, left
  8. 7 : km 5.05 - alt. 478 m - Abîme du Creux Percé
  9. 8 : km 6.1 - alt. 481 m - Turning point
  10. 9 : km 6.85 - alt. 483 m - Roche Beudon
  11. 10 : km 7.36 - alt. 502 m - Small path on the left leading down
  12. S/E : km 9.8 - alt. 367 m - Car park on D7

Practical information

Caution! Some steep passages. Avoid in wet weather. There's a risk of run-off at the bottom of the trail, and the wet rocks are very slippery.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 55 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.8 / 5
Clarity of route map
3.7 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Marc21
Marc21

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Extremely beautiful circuit, I did it in autumn, it's marvellous, the different species of trees make the valley a masterpiece.
The circuit, with its climbing section, is not suitable for dogs or small children.

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catherine bretin
catherine bretin

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very, very nice hike. I set off from Pasques, near the hollow. We had a hard time finding the first cave because you have to be very careful at the fork and on the path that descends to the left (point 8).
Similarly, I couldn't find the path at point 10, but the descent through the trees is easy.
Caution for walkers with dogs: they must be able to climb the cliff.
This hike is too risky with children...

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lorelei421
lorelei421

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice idea for a route: the walk is really interesting, with extraordinary flora in May, cliffs and very nice viewpoints...
But although we were able to find the abyss, we passed by the caves without finding the access path... too poorly signposted and the route not clear enough...
once back down into the scree, which was a bit risky, we didn't have the courage to look for our way again!
Too bad for us!

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juliuskronos
juliuskronos

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Beware of cliff edges in wet weather and slippery terrain.
This is not a difficult route, but you need to be properly equipped.

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waki89
waki89

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

The term car park seems inappropriate to me. It is not indicated, the ground was muddy. It would be better to say that you can park along the road! The sign is not very visible. We chose to start from the town hall car park near the old forges and climb up to hill 499. I can confirm that there are some tricky sections

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montagne06
montagne06

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Lovely walk, with beautiful views. But two tricky sections after skirting the cliffs forced us to turn back and change our original route. To reach the upper plateau, you have to do some climbing, which is not for everyone, especially as there is a precipice at the back.
If you are sensitive, plan another hike or change the itinerary.

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teddy.masson
teddy.masson

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

path covered by the stream that joins the suzon (normal with the rain that fell in July 2021)
technical or risky places
do not set off alone as a precaution
slippery section at the cave

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JBGUIBOUX
JBGUIBOUX

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Hello fellow hikers

I highly recommend this hike, although it is a little difficult (climbing) as you pass around the cliffs.
But the scenery is superb, the cliffs impressive and the views of the sites a must-see.
Obviously: be very careful if you do this walk in the rain: the ground is extremely slippery.
I think it should perhaps be classified as "difficult" instead of "medium" because of the steep sections around the cliffs.
I really enjoyed it.

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Natanaviomat
Natanaviomat

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Hike too difficult for the explanations

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Soxe
Soxe

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

On the map, access to the caves is not clear... I took a different start from the one indicated.

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Soxe
Soxe

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Access to the caves is not clear on the map...

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Eymard Franck
Eymard Franck

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very pleasant walk, a little technical in places (for children over 10).
Preferably done in dry weather, as there is a risk of finding torrents and the passages on the stones can be slippery.
There's no risk of getting lost if you follow the description, which is very clear, with the help of the map and the paths. Don't try to follow the folkloric paint marks.
A very nice 3.5-hour hike with beautiful scenery.

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marsannay2016
marsannay2016

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

the hardest part is finding the track that goes off to the right to reach the end of the world. on the ground there is an old charcoal-production vat on the left. the track on the right is at the same height as this vat.
Otherwise a nice walk, slippery when it rains.

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danagnes
danagnes

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Beautiful walk full of discovery.
Perhaps a lack of signposting, but that in my opinion adds to the interest of navigating with a map and GPS.
Definitely worth doing again.

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Alabouvette Claude Luc
Alabouvette Claude Luc

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 31, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

An interesting hike, especially with children who are delighted to discover the Célerons caves.
The only tricky point in the description concerns access to the first cave. The turning point from where you have to take a very narrow path is no longer visible. What's more, there are several markings at this point: yellow, very faint blue and large recent red marks;

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