The Rochers de Roques Altès and the Corniches du Rajol

de fr

You will discover this dolomitic ruin hidden in the pine woods, but it is at the edge of the cliffs overlooking the Dourbie that the cornices of the Rajol will reveal their majesty.
What can be said about the Dantesque beauty of the stone giants of Roques Altès? Appreciate the voluptuous curves of the roofs of the eponymous farm.
A family walk that oscillates between enchantment and dreamlike fantasy.

Details

n°1815031
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.19 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 109 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 109 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 856 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 793 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

View of the village of La Roque Ste Margurite
The chaos of Rajol
The dolomite blocks

Description of the walk

You will need to go to Saint-André-de-Vézines, follow the signs (Roques Altès) and drive a little over a kilometre along a wide track before parking your vehicles in the car park provided for visitors to the site.

(S/E) After reading the recommendations for use (cleanliness and respect for the site, danger of processionary caterpillars), head south on a wide gravel track that leads to the Roques Altès site.
When you reach the barrier in front of the farm entrance, turn left onto the well-marked path, theGR®®62marked in red and white, which leads to the foot of the Roques Altès rocks.

(1) At the fork, turn left and go around the huge dolomite blocks, then continue through the pine trees.
Continue straight ahead until the next fork.

(2) At the three-way junction, take the left-hand path, leaving theGR®®62, and continue straight ahead until you reach the next fork, which is a junction with theGR®®62.

(3) Take the left path, leaving theGR®® on your right, and head towards the telecommunications pylon that can be seen in the distance. Continue to another crossroads.

(4) Continue straight ahead to reach the edge of the cliff at the pylon. Enjoy the view.
.
(5) Return to the previous crossroads.

(4) Turn left onto the path closest to the edge of the cliffs. You will come back to the fork in the path you took on the way there at the GR®® crossroads.

(3) Continue left along the path closest to the cliffs. Quickly leave theGR®® and turn left towards the cliffs.

(6) Take the path closest to the cliffs and continue. Be careful.

(7) Please note: you must turn right, as the crossroads does not appear on the map, and take a path that climbs steeply through the pine woods to rejoin the three-way junction from the outward journey.

(2) Follow the path to the left through the woods in the opposite direction until you reach the fork in the path from the outward journey.
From there, go around the rock formations on the left, which will give you another view of the site, and continue to the first fork on the way there.

(1) Continue along the same path as on the way there to return to the (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 833 m - Car park and information boards
  2. 1 : km 1.06 - alt. 838 m - Common fork in the road for the return trip - Rochers de Roques Altès (861 m)
  3. 2 : km 1.63 - alt. 844 m - Common three-way junction on the way there and back
  4. 3 : km 2.41 - alt. 820 m - Common fork in the road for the return trip
  5. 4 : km 2.87 - alt. 797 m - Crossroads common return trip
  6. 5 : km 3.02 - alt. 793 m - Pylon
  7. 6 : km 4.17 - alt. 841 m - Follow the path to the left; cliff trail.
  8. 7 : km 4.47 - alt. 855 m - At the crossroads, turn right onto the path that climbs uphill.
  9. S/E : km 6.19 - alt. 834 m - Car park and information boards

Notes

No special equipment is required, except for the essentials: hat or rainwear, drinks
etc.
Please note: however, from March to autumn, processionary caterpillars are out (they sting)

You will be hiking in a magnificent but fragile area.
Be mindful of the beauty of the surroundings, take care near cliffs, and be eco-friendly and courteous.

Enjoy your walk on our Causses.

Worth a visit

This site offers a 360° view from the rocks.
A bird's eye view of the village of La Roque-Sainte-Marguerite and its famous castle.
A bird's eye view of the hamlet of Montméjean, its towers and its medieval architecture.
Further away, a view of Saint-Véran, Revens and the snow-covered slopes of Mont Aigoual.

 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.

Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 13 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 19414575

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike with stunning scenery

Machine-translated

cc_ribas
cc_ribas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route. A very pleasant little path. The village of Roquesaltes is very picturesque. The view of the rocks is splendid.
Thank you to the author of this beautiful route.

Machine-translated

Nadher
Nadher

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent! A beautiful ballet of vultures at the end of the morning.

Machine-translated

Christelle29
Christelle29

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike
Taken in the late afternoon, no one else on the trail.
Taken in May, very flowery route, magnificent panoramas.
I recommend it

Machine-translated

Canelle
Canelle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

What a wonderful discovery this magnificent route with its impressive rocks of various shapes is. Beautiful views, even of the Millau Viaduct. Causse farm before the rock passage. An interesting route due to its diversity and beautiful vegetation in full bloom on the Causse plateau. Be sure to go to the pylon and see the village of Montméjean opposite. A real treat in perfect weather. Thank you for this route.

Machine-translated

ju_cha2000
ju_cha2000

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful walk, fairly easy. Please note, however, that there is an error in the title: it is "Roquesaltes" and not "Roques Altes".

Machine-translated

MICHEU
MICHEU

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2023
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. When you reach the telephone relay station, don't hesitate to climb down a few metres into the undergrowth to find yourself on a promontory where you can admire the gorges in silence and tranquillity

Machine-translated

cabausselchristine
cabausselchristine

Thank you for sharing this, excellent and well-described guide
The trail markings and the hamlet of Roquesaltes are a must-see

Machine-translated

cleonte34
cleonte34
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

If time permits, it is well worth descending to Montméjean Castle and then climbing back up above the castle to follow the suggested route.
The descent is a bit tedious, but the visit and the return trip will make for an excellent memory.

Machine-translated

cabausselchristine
cabausselchristine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Thank you for sharing this, excellent and well-described guide
The trail markings and the hamlet of Roquesaltes are a must-see

Machine-translated

Patufeta
Patufeta

Hello, I see that the author warns us to be careful along the cliff edge. Is this trail suitable for a 4-year-old child? Does anyone have any photos of the tricky sections, please? Thank you.

Machine-translated

fredounet
fredounet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful hike, without any difficulty

Machine-translated

Fz6anne
Fz6anne

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Be careful between points 2 and 3, as you cannot see the pylon, but otherwise it is a magnificent walk with vultures flying past us at cliff level!

Machine-translated

randofrater4s
randofrater4s

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful site... MAGNIFICENT... you have to take the time to go to the foot of the spectacular rocks.
meri

Machine-translated

CDoucet
CDoucet

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, accessible to families. Magnificent views of the Dourbie Gorges, with dolomitic rocks in the foreground and the Millau Viaduct in the background.
However, the route description is very difficult to follow due to the numerous intersections between PR, GR and other trails, and the route on the map is difficult to read. I recommend taking a detailed blank map and following the route of the hike that way.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Chaos de Roquesaltes

Visorando member
Chaos de Roquesaltes
↔11.11 km ↗+464 m ↘-461 m ◔4h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from La Roque-Sainte-Marguerite (Aveyron)
Starting from the charming village of La Roque-Sainte-Marguerite, this hike first leads to the remarkable Roquesaltes rock formations, highlighted by a discovery trail dotted with informative and fun signs suitable even for the youngest hikers. After exploring the magnificent Causse farm of the same name, the circuit continues on the Causse Noir and leads to the site of Montméjean, dominated by the ruins of its castle. A beautiful trail leads back to the village, where you can stop to discover the 12th-century Sainte-Marguerite d'Antobe Church before descending via a beautiful paved slanting street to the banks of the Dourbie, where a swim in the summer months is a refreshing and pleasant way to end the circuit.

Walking The sublime viewpoint of the Jonte Gorges from Saint-Jean-des-Balmes

Association / Club / Walk leader
Le Point sublime des Gorges de la Jonte à partir de Saint-Jean-des-Balmes
↔5.56 km ↗+126 m ↘-117 m ◔1h 55 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Veyreau (Aveyron)
This sublime spot we recommend is located on the Causse Noir.First, take a look at the bucolic priory of Saint-Jean des-Balmes.Next, the Bartasserie will reveal the charm of the Causse buildings.Finally, the cliffs that line the tip of Causse Méjean, the legendary vases of Sèvre and China, the Francbouteille rock and Capluc.In short, a breathtaking panorama with a reasonable elevation gain and distance. A family outing.

Walking The Point Sublime on the Corniche du Causse Noir

Visorando member
Le Point Sublime de la Corniche du Causse Noir
↔10.85 km ↗+273 m ↘-275 m ◔3h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Veyreau (Aveyron)
A fantastic hike among old stones (Saint-Jean des Balmes priory, Saint-Michel Hermitage), magnificent panoramas, amazing ruiniform rocks and a nature reserve (Cirque de Madasse). The hike from Saint-Jean des Balmes avoids a significant elevation gain, allowing you to extend your hike to the Point Sublime at the top of the Corniche du Causse Noir.

Walking The Corniches of the Causse Noir

Visorando member
Les Corniches du Causse Noir
↔11.08 km ↗+468 m ↘-430 m ◔4h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from La Roque-Sainte-Marguerite (Aveyron)
You will need two vehicles for this journey from La Bouteille to Saint-André-de-Vézines.

Walking The Hermitage of Saint-Michel and the cornices of the Causse Noir

Tourist office
L'Ermitage Saint-Michel et les corniches du Causse Noir
↔8.05 km ↗+651 m ↘-651 m ◔4h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Peyreleau (Aveyron)
A very beautiful hike along the Jonte Gorges on the ledges of the Causse Noir. Remains of the Saint-Michel hermitage. Close to vultures.

Walking The Hermitage of Saint-Michel from Peyreleau

Visorando member
L'Ermitage de Saint-Michel au départ de Peyreleau
↔9.22 km ↗+559 m ↘-563 m ◔4h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Peyreleau (Aveyron)
A beautiful hike above Peyreleau with many points of interest: views of the Tarn valley and the Jonte gorges, vultures and eagles in flight, the ruins of the Hermitage of Saint-Michel and swimming in the Jonte on the way back. The most strenuous part is the first section to reach the viewpoint.

Walking The chaos of Caoussou

Association / Club / Walk leader
Le chaos du Caoussou
↔5.16 km ↗+152 m ↘-154 m ◔1h 55 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Millau (Aveyron)
With all due respect to its illustrious neighbour (the Montpellier-le-Vieux site), the Caoussou chaos is a ruiniform formation rich in concretions, certainly more modest but just as interesting to discover. A family walk with a gradient suitable for both young and old.

Walking The Méjean cliff path

Visorando member
Les corniches du Méjean
↔10.89 km ↗+786 m ↘-784 m ◔5h 20 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Le Rozier (Lozère)
Perhaps the most beautiful walk along the Causse Méjean, which traditionally starts out from Le Rozier. Here, by starting on the cliff top, there is less vertical drop, as you stay between 870 and 720m the whole way. As well as breath-taking scenery, you can see vultures circling above you and even below you on the cliffs!

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.