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From Saint-Chamond, head towards Parc du Pilat and La Valla-en-Gier. At the village exit, a sign on the left indicates the car park.
(S/E) From the car park, head north-west, continuing in the direction you came by car. Pass in front of the Marie Badard multi-purpose hall. At the crossroads, follow Rue de la Jacquetière opposite and join the D2. Follow it to the left for about 20 metres.
(1) Take the small road on the right called Chemin de la Combette, which descends towards the south. At the bottom of the valley, in a bend, cross the Jarret, then continue uphill, passing under the hamlet of La Surchette to reach an intersection marked by a sign for the Pilat Natural Park.
(2) Do not follow these directions. Leave the road on the left (Surchette) and opposite (La Boirie) and take Chemin de la Scie du Coin, which descends to the right. This road joins the Ban river, crosses it via a bridge and arrives at a place called Sordel.
(3) Leave the marked path on the right and continue straight ahead towards Scie du Coin on an unmarked path along the stream. Pass Scie du Coin, keeping to the left on the path along the stream.
(4) About 650 m from the Scie du Coin (elevation 690), ignore the path descending to the left that crosses the stream and continue on the path opposite. After 400 m, it turns right into a small valley tributary of the Ban, heading southwest, then climbs a steep slope to join a wide track.
(5) Take this track to the left, followed by a hairpin bend, then a wide right-hand bend and a straight stretch of about 600 m. At its highest point, leave the path on the right. Descend gently, cross the stream and you will soon reach an intersection marked by a flat, deforested logging area (elevation 751), where you will find the Ban stream again.
(6) Leave the path on the left. Continue along the track on the right (south-east), following the stream on your right. Pass the ruins of La Scie de Toile, then Gourney. The track then makes a hairpin bend to the right. 30 m further on, ignore the steep path on the left. Continue along the ascending track (north-west), moving away from the stream. After about 650 m and a second hairpin bend, the track turns south-east. Continue straight up to a place called Le Gallot, where you will come to a junction.
(7) Leave the track continuing opposite (south-east). Turn right onto the opposite track (north-west). After 50 m, ignore the path going in the opposite direction on the left. This white/brown marked track, called Chemin de la Petit Chomienne, is almost horizontal for about 500 m at the start, then begins to climb after a left-hand bend. It winds through the woods to reach a crossroads at the ruins of Le Toile.
(8) At a bend, you will find three paths marked by signs. Leave the Chemin de la Petite Chomienne, which continues to the right, and ignore the path climbing to the left. Head towards Les Railles via the middle path, which climbs for about 1.5 km and joins the GR®42 (elevation 1132).
(9) At the sign, turn left towards Le Bessat. Walk along a plateau until you reach a road called Chemin du Thoil.
(10) Continue along this road in the same direction until you reach the entrance to Le Bessat. Just before the roundabout, pass a sign for the Parc du Pilat on your left and continue for about 30 metres.
(11) At the second sign, leave the GR®42 and turn left towards Le Rot (east). The path descends, crosses a stream, continues downhill and finally levels out and heads north. Ignore a path ascending to the right and reach an intersection marked by a Parc sign at a place called La Petite Chomienne.
(12) Leave the track that descends straight ahead and take the one ascending to the right towards Le Rot. It undulates slightly before finally tackling the steep climb up Le Rot. At the top, turn right to join the D2.
(13) Follow it carefully to the left for 250 metres, then leave it for a path that climbs to the left and reaches a fork.
(14) Leave the path that turns left and continue straight ahead (arrow on a tree). You will reach a crossroads in a large cleared area.
(15) Ignore the side paths and continue straight ahead. Pass the Croix du Sabot, ignoring the road on the right. Continue along the path opposite and join the D2. Take it to the left for 400 metres, passing the bend.
(16) At the cross, take the path on the left and come out onto Chemin des Briassons in the hamlet of Luzernod. Turn left to avoid returning to the D2 and follow the departmental road until you reach it again.
(17) Cross carefully to rejoin the path opposite. Come out onto Rue de Luzernod, continue to the school and turn left at the hairpin bend to follow Rue Marcellin Champagnat, which leads straight to the starting car park (S/E).
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