Montagnes des Gravières and Montagne du Raton

Access: in Rémuzat, park in the car park opposite the Tourist Office and the Maison des Vautours (note: on market days, which are on Saturdays, park in the car park by the Post Office/Town Hall at the entrance to the village).

(S/E) Head to the right of the car park towards the centre of the village to a small square (hotel-restaurant). At the hiking signpost, head towards Montrond then walk up the main street, passing several guesthouses and stopover lodges.

Leave the village via Chemin du Puy along the tarmac road (the road passes above the fire station) then continue right onto the tarmac road that climbs. At the entrance to the retirement home, continue along the well-trodden track.

(1) Continue the climb to the left on the track. To the right is the return route along a grassy path (Chemin de Béatrix).

(2) At the wooden sign, turn right towards Les Aiguilles. Leave the well-maintained track and continue uphill for about 100m. At the next junction, take the track on the right which continues to climb. Yellow markings.

(3) At the wooden signpost, follow the signs for Les Aiguilles to the left. Then leave the track by taking the small path leading uphill. The entrance is marked by a cairn with yellow markings.

The path climbs more steeply through broom at the start, then the vegetation becomes a little denser. The track climbs towards the Pas de l’Eygues, running alongside the Ravin de la Charbonnière halfway up. Towards the end of the climb, a section of the path is fitted with a handrail. This is because water can run over the stones, making them slippery.

Continue through the woodland and, after a few hairpin bends, you’ll reach a grassy track on a slight plateau.
At the wooden sign, turn right towards the Sentier Émile.
Continue along this small grassy track for about 80m until you cross a track suitable for vehicles.

(4) On the track, turn left towards Les Aiguilles. Pass a hairpin bend and then reach the Col d’Enclus via the track.

(5) Leave the track at the pass and follow the wooden sign on the right pointing towards Les Aiguilles. Take the path straight ahead, then a few metres further on it turns right. Yellow markings (the route is slightly offset on the map).

A warning sign has been put up to alert hikers to the technical section on Les Aiguilles. Begin a gradual climb, winding in wide loops below the summit of Les Aiguilles, and reach a small pass.

(6) Once you reach the flat section, continue to the right towards the top of the cliff. Pass a path on the left and reach the base. The final ascent is aided by several handrails. This section is exposed but presents no real technical difficulties.

(7) At the summit of the Aiguilles, begin the descent a few metres southwards, following a rocky slab, then make your way towards the ridge of the Montagne des Gravières, to the left, heading east. The path is poorly marked and you must weave your way through the boxwood. Yellow markings are present intermittently.

Continue along the ridge of the Montagne des Gravières for about 2 km. Pass the Col de Staton and the sheepfold visible below on the right. Reach the Pas de Pousterle, marked by a cairn, situated in the small hollow before the final wooded peak leading to the pastures of the Montagne de Raton.

(8) At the Pas de Pousterle, continue along the ridges of the Montagne de Raton, crossing the entire mountain for approximately 2.5 km.

The descent on the eastern side of Montagne de Raton takes you through boxwood and holm oak. The vegetation remains fairly low but dense. The path is present but not very well marked. The trail runs almost along the cliff face the whole way. Descend along the cliff to the right until you reach a rocky outcrop.

(9) Pass to the left of the rocky outcrop and take the path that descends into the forest. The single track descends rapidly through the undergrowth to reach the Col de Pommerol.

(10) At Col de Pommerol (or Col de la Fromagère), take the path on the right just past the hiking trailhead gate, then after a few metres, take the path on the left that descends. Yellow markings.

(11) At the junction with a track, at marker no. 199, turn right towards Auberge de Staton. Yellow markings.

(12) At the junction of several tracks, take the track on the left which leads back down. Continue for about 300m.

(13) At the junction with a track (about 100m from the hamlet of Raton, which lies to the left below), take the track on the right. Yellow markings at the start. Continue along this track to the end, ignoring all the turnings you come across. The track climbs steadily all the way.

(14) At the end of the track, continue straight on, following the yellow markings. Ignore the two poorly marked turn-offs on the left.

(15) Continue left, following the yellow markings. This section is a little steeper for about a hundred metres. The single track leads to the Auberge de Staton. Walk through the inn.

(16) At the junction of several tracks, turn right towards the west, taking the track that descends down the left-hand side of the valley. Pass a turn-off on the right and follow the track until you emerge from the woods. Yellow/red markings,^GRP® Tour des Baronnies.

(17) At the fork in two wide tracks, take the one descending to the right. No markings. The path becomes stony. At the small stream of the Ravin de la Fayolle, continue to the right for a few metres and reach the small forest hut.

(18) Ignore the path on the right, continue straight on, crossing the stream, and take the track suitable for vehicles. This climbs slightly and joins a large junction of several tracks with a large clearing.

(19) Head straight ahead, towards Rémuzat (wooden sign), along the track on the left of the clearing. Ignore the track leading down to the left and continue almost level. Yellow/Red markings,^GRP® Tour des Baronnies. At the next junction, head down straight ahead for a few metres and join a new track.

(20) Cross the track and take the path leading down opposite. Yellow/red markings,^GRP® Tour des Baronnies. After 75m, ignore the turn-off to the right, continue left around the hairpin bend and carry on straight ahead, leaving the turn-off to the right, until you cross the track again after about 100 metres. At the junction with the track, go straight on towards Rémuzat (wooden sign).

(21) At the next junction, continue along the track to the left which descends. This track runs alongside the Pas du Loup gorges. Yellow/Red markings (^GRP® Tour des Baronnies) and Yellow.

(22) Turn right onto the Béatrix path, which descends. Yellow markings. It crosses the stream and climbs slightly at the start. Continue along the single track on the cliff face via this ledge path. You will emerge onto the track.

(1) Head down to the left to reach the village of Rémuzat, following the route in the opposite direction, then head to the village square (S/E).

There are no water sources along the entire route.

Crossing pastures on Montagne du Raton and Col de Staton where mountain dogs are present, so dogs are not permitted.

The descent from Montagne du Raton takes you through fairly dense vegetation.
A good sense of direction is required, and you must not be afraid to push through the boxwood to follow the path.

The ridge crossing is in open terrain and therefore exposed to the wind. Please wear appropriate clothing for the weather.

The Maison des Vautours and the Chapelle Saint-Michel in Rémuzat.
The village of Saint-May and its gorges.