Mont Mézenc

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Climb Mont Mézenc from the Croix de Peccata - car park.

Details

n°5910
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.40 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 261 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 263 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,747 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,498 m
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Photos

From the summit of Mont Mézenc
View of the Mont gerbier de Jonc
Panoramic views of the Alps from the summit
The North Summit at sunrise

Description of the walk

Parking at the Croix de Peccata.

(S/E) From the car park, head perpendicular to the road onto a wide forest track.

(1) Then take thefirst path on the left that leads to the summit, between moors and rocks.

(2) At the next crossroads, turn left towards the Croix du Mézenc.

(3) Then turn right onto the ridge line until you reach the second summit of Mezenc.

(4) Retrace your steps and begin the descent.

(3) At the Croix de Mézenc, take the same path back to the junction.

(2) Take the path on the left that descends to the road at the Croix de Boutières.

(5) Turn onto the path on the right that leads to meadows. Take the path on the right that runs alongside the meadow and the forest, passing the source of the Gazeille, until you reach the D274. Turn right and return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,569 m - Parking at the Croix de Peccata
  2. 1 : km 0.38 - alt. 1,592 m - On the left
  3. 2 : km 1.01 - alt. 1,674 m - Crossroads of the loop
  4. 3 : km 1.38 - alt. 1,733 m - Cross of Mézenc
  5. 4 : km 1.74 - alt. 1,747 m - Mont Mézenc
  6. 5 : km 4.1 - alt. 1,508 m - Col de la Croix de Boutières (1502m)
  7. 6 : km 4.66 - alt. 1,515 m - Source of the - Gazeille (rivière)
  8. S/E : km 6.4 - alt. 1,569 m - Parking at the Croix de Peccata

Notes

All shops in Les Estables.

Worth a visit

Le Rocher Tourte
Typical villages around Mézenc
Saint-Front Lake
Chaudeyrolles

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 75 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 25265645

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The route is well marked and the return via the Croix de Boutieres (long route) takes you on a beautiful loop and is less crowded

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User 25265645

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The route is well marked and the return via the other side (longer route) takes you on a beautiful loop and is less busy

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User 22098322

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike, just one small point: some steps are a bit high (40 cm), which can be difficult if you have knee problems

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User 23285285

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
The route described no longer exists
You must follow a well-marked route as it is forbidden to leave the paths to protect the flora
The location is superb: 360° view

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patricklanglois
patricklanglois

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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jaco07
jaco07

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Walk carried out in sunny weather with some wind on the summits.
Newly laid out route in the undergrowth on the way up and down. The route on the way up no longer follows the route indicated on Visorando, but don't worry about following the path.
Option to eat at an inn at la croix de boutieres
Enjoy the setting and panoramic views from the orientation tables at the summit, where you can see all the peaks of the Massif Central and the Alps on a clear day.
A pleasant walk accessible to all

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JuliaM
JuliaM

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Starting from the Croix de Piccata, we followed the well-marked path. Quite an easy climb. The panorama is breathtaking! Especially at the cross, which is impressive in the wind.
We followed the path from point 1 to point 5 and retraced our steps at the Boutières cross.
A magnificent walk! All I want to do is go back.

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daniele hector
daniele hector

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful circuit...

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LFau
LFau

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pretty walk with no real difficulties (done with a 6-year-old child).
Beautiful panoramic views from the two peaks of the Mézenc.
One small downside: there are a lot of people at the top, which unfortunately can make you want to cut short your contemplative break.
A very pleasant descent through the woods.
Preferably done outside the busy tourist season to get the most out of the walk.

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Mh Ardeche
Mh Ardeche

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Super, trail walk, accessible, breathtaking panorama 👍

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Granol'Anne
Granol'Anne
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Well-marked walk, easy access, short, well-structured climb and the reward: a magnificent panorama at the finish.

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Cfnk
Cfnk

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very fine hike, well worth the effort to reach the summit for the magnificent scenery.
Not too busy for this time of year.
I recommend this hike.

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chris73!
chris73!

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

superb and easy walk

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Marc Vandevelde
Marc Vandevelde

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike to the summit of Mont Mézenc, with spectacular views in all directions. In particular, the views towards the Ardèche mountains are breathtaking (we were lucky enough to have good weather). The descent is gentle and the path back to the Peccata cross offers superb views of the vast landscape around the village of Les Estables. What a magnificent view!

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Titiss
Titiss

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A little difficult to find the route after the Col de la Croix de Boutières.

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Other walks in the area

Walking Mont Mézenc

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↔8.46 km ↗+312 m ↘-316 m ◔3h 20 ▲Moderate
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This is a short circular loop in the Mezenc National Forest, from La Roche Pointue to Le Ventographe, passing by the peat bogs. Le Ventographe is a quirky object created by a DIY artist, placed on a ridge; it is the centre for transmitting messages to the wind, which are received further down by another equally quirky work of art!

Walking The Mézenc Mountains (North and South)

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↔6.82 km ↗+260 m ↘-265 m ◔2h 40 ▲Easy
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A very easy climb to reach the highest point of the Ardèche and Haute-Loire, offering sublime panoramic views.

Walking The Ventographe des Boutières via the Mézenc peaks

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↔14.25 km ↗+471 m ↘-477 m ◔5h 25 ▲Moderate
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Circular starting from the Croix de Boutières, passing by the peaks of Mont Mézenc and the strange machine called the Ventographe des Boutières.

Walking Les Estables - Goudet

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↔26.74 km ↗+308 m ↘-875 m ◔8h 30 ▲Difficult
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This second stage leads from the Hauts Plateaux du Mézenc to the Loire Valley. It takes you through the Mézenc National Forest and the Breysse woods, a mixture of beech and coniferous trees.The route more or less follows theGR®®40trail, avoiding wide tracks and small roads where possible.

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Starting from the charming village of Les Estables, this hike takes you on a tour and ascent of Mont d'Alambre (a ski resort in winter), with a 360° view of the surrounding peaks and a magnificent view of Mont Mézenc, the highest point in the region.

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Mont Mézenc et Mont d'Alambre depuis Les Estables
↔15.93 km ↗+665 m ↘-664 m ◔6h 25 ▲Moderate
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Starting from Les Estables, Mont Mézenc, La Croix des Boutières and back via Mont d’Alambre. The descent from Mont d’Alambre is partly via a ski run, so avoid this route when the ski area is open. A very pleasant and varied hike. The ascent of Mont Mézenc is very well signposted and not very steep; the two summits of the mountain offer fabulous views over the Ardèche, the Haute-Loire and much more; this part of the route is quite busy. From Mont d’Alambre, things get slightly tougher. The climb is steeper but not excessively so, and not very long. The descent from the summit back to the path is steeper as we took a ski run; it is far from dangerous, as you are walking on grass. The rest of the return journey is flat with a slight downhill gradient.

Walking Tour of Rechausseyre and Rocher Tourte

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Tour de Rechausseyre et du Rocher Tourte
↔12.10 km ↗+222 m ↘-222 m ◔4h 05 ▲Moderate
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Beautiful scenery around Rechausseyre and Rocher Tourte with lovely views of Mont Mézenc and Mont d'Alambre and very pleasant forest trails from the village of Les Estables.

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