This trail goes around and climbs up the Gerbier de Jonc whose summit offers a view over the Ardèche mountains.
Calculated time: 6h20[?] 
Distance : 15.77km
Vertical gain : 626m
Vertical drop : 620m
Highest point : 1498m
Lowest point : 964m 
Difficulty : Average
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Area : Massif central 
Location : Sainte-Eulalie
(07510)
Starting point : N 44.843095° / E 4.216347° 
Start at the Mount Gerbier de Jonc car park at its base on the D378.
(S/F) Take the D378 towards Estables (north-west). A first shortcut heads away from the road at Eschaffis leading to “Confitures de Nicole”, before leading back to it.
Follow the road to Accès des Princes. After the forestry building (2) take a second shortcut on the right of the road at the end of the car park (covered picnic table) on the way up a ravined embankment and then along the beech forest edge. Return to the road and follow it to the right for 15 m.
(3) Leave the road to follow the path on the right. 80 metres from the road ignore the path that goes downhill to the right to follow the path that goes left. Walk along a flat section to a crossroads of two lumber haulage roads (4) near the 1360 marker on the map. From there turn tight on a path that makes several turns and which "plummets" gently between the forest and beech woods.
The descent continues and meets a path at the edge of the forest leading to the Maison de Bourgès on the left (5) (a signpost nearby). Don't turn left towards the ruins, but go right for 20 m to reach the discovery trail of the Tour du Gerbier. After two streams (6), the trail becomes less steep and joins a track in the hamlet of Ribalasse (7), where there are farms typical of the area.
Leaving the hamlet taking a track to the left. Follow it for 1 km. Take a bridge (8) over the Pradal stream follow this track to reach the hamlet of Pradal.
At the intersection (9), turn right on the road above the houses. It continues along a wide forest road that rises gradually along a long stretch through the forest, during which there will only be a few glimpses of the Gerbier de Jonc and always backlit.
Stay on this long forest road to a branch in the route (10) shortly before the D237 (station 11 post marker). Veer right on a trail above the forest path. It curves to the left and takes you through the broom, before reaching an open area (overlooking the Gerbier de Jonc).
Reach the crossroads between the D237 and the D378 (11). Turn right and go past the huge car park. Take the Gerbier de Jonc trail to the south-east of the mountain, climb to the top (12), and then down to the south-west to reach the car park. (S/F)
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 1416m
1 : km 1.01 - alt. 1383m - "Confitures de Nicole" food break for food lovers
2 : km 1.79 - alt. 1359m - Covered picnic table
3 : km 2.46 - alt. 1380m - Crossroads of the D378 and a path to the right
4 : km 3.49 - alt. 1356m - Crossroads of two logging trails
5 : km 4.21 - alt. 1255m - Ruins of the Maison de Bourgès
6 : km 4.56 - alt. 1161m - Two small streams (depending on the season
7 : km 5.04 - alt. 1096m - The hamlet of Ribalasse
8 : km 6.25 - alt. 971m - Bridge over the Pradal river
9 : km 6.56 - alt. 976m - Hamlet of Pradal
10 : km 13.01 - alt. 1341m - Fork just before the D237
11 : km 14.21 - alt. 1412m - Junction of the D237 and the D378
12 : km 15.39 - alt. 1497m - Summet of the Gerbier de Jonc - Mont Gerbier de Jonc
D/A : km 15.77 - alt. 1417m
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
14.21km
+610m
-610m
5h50
Average
Starting point in Thueyts - 07 - Ardèche An "airy" hike which will yield fine views over the Ardèche Cévennes, the Ardèche valley to the south and the Fontaulière valley to the north. The route follows some of the paths maintained for the "Giants' Causeway Trail" and overall is thus very practicable and without difficulty. A large part of the walk is waymarked white and yellow.
Best done in May/June when the broom is in flower.
13.62km
+1045m
-1046m
6h55
Difficult
Starting point in Mayres - 07 - Ardèche You are at the heart of the Ardèche. View of the Cevennes and the Gerbier de Jonc.
13.93km
+744m
-741m
6h05
Difficult
Starting point in Laboule - 07 - Ardèche At the heart of the Monts D’Ardèche Regional Natural Park, Laboule is the ideal starting point for a walk with a variety of contrasting atmospheres. At the summit of the Sentier des Granges trail there is an unparalleled panoramic view (Mont Blanc, Mont Ventoux, Mont Bouquet, Mont Lozère...) a day’s walk across the third-highest summit of the Cévennes range (at 1,548 m) with its rocky mountains and luminous rivers.
10.45km
+247m
-251m
3h40
Average
Starting point in Saint-Laurent-sous-Coiron - 07 - Ardèche A route starting at a hilltop village, Saint-Laurent-sous-Coiron, with a wonderful, panoramic 180° view over the Ardèche mountains and plains, from Villeneuve de Berg to the Col de l'Escrinet (the Cham du Cros, Rocher d’Abraham, Montagne Sainte-Marguerite, Mont Lozère). In addition, educational panels depicting the history, geology and life on the Coiron adorn this hike.
23.6km
+570m
-361m
8h20
Average
Starting point in Le Puy-en-Velay - 43 - Haute-Loire Twenty to thirty thousand walkers set out from Puy-en-Velay every year to do the pilgrimage along the Way of St. James. Discover the Way of St. James by doing the first stage by foot. You can return to Puy-en-Velay in the evening in a special coach.
6.67km
+167m
-168m
2h25
Easy
Starting point in Villeneuve-de-Berg - 07 - Ardèche An easy family walk to the "Forêt des sens" (forest of senses), arboretum and interpretive trail created under the impetus of the municipal children's council. A few welcome benches punctuate this playful and instructive walk for all ages.
For more walks, use our search engine.
The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
