Pontaix walks

Easy hike from the pretty village of Pontaix. Ascent into the Grand Barry Forest. Descent into the Ravin des Lots. The ruins of the castle are worth visiting for the view over the Drôme, and from the village you can access the waterfalls and pools of the Ruisseau des Lots.

Mainly on wide tracks, this hike—which is not difficult apart from its length—takes you up to the Taillefer, offering stunning views from the Vercors to the Trois-Becs Massif with beautiful vistas over the Drôme Valley.

This is a very short route, the main purpose of which is to explore the waterfalls and their pools, just a stone's throw from Pontaix. A short detour to the heights will allow you to see the castle ruins and enjoy views of the Drôme valley.

Tour of the small villages and hamlet of the Quint valley.

The Crête de Ramiat is the flagship hike from Sainte-Croix, and rightly so! Admittedly, there is a bit of road at the start, but then there are wide paths or well-marked trails and, above all, splendid panoramic views of the Drôme Valley and the Vercors. The passage along the ridge can be tricky in short sections for those prone to vertigo and requires sure-footedness in places. However, it is possible to avoid this section without missing out on the beauty of the landscape.

Alternating between trails and forest tracks, you will discover the small Saint-Christophe Chapel and its tiny cemetery, perched on the heights of Véronne in the Grand Barry Forest, as well as the Roury Forest House, all in a setting of absolute tranquillity.

A very beautiful circuit, mostly in the forest and therefore quite shaded, with a magnificent view once you reach the ruins of Barry Castle.

Starting from Vercheny-le-Temple (or Vercheny le Haut), a very pleasant hike along easy paths and trails, providing access to one of the ridges of the Grand Barry-Gaudichart, as well as the ruined Château du Barry. Exceptional views over the Vercors, the Baronnies and the Diois.The return route follows partly along the western slope, offering another view of the Saoû ridges, and finishes on the eastern slope via the Pas de la Bernarde, a path carved out between the rocks (no equipment required).

Hike in the Justin National Forest, in a typical Diois atmosphere, with narrow paths in little-used valleys, a mainly forest route with views of the southern Vercors mountains.

This lovely hike goes all the way around Taillefer, passing through Saint-Andéol-en-Quint, Vachères-en-Quint and the two Col de Vachères (north and south). Beautiful views of Vercors, Bec Pointu, Tête de la Dame, Montagne de Glandasse and Les 3 Becs. Good news at the end of the route: you no longer have to wade through the Sépie river, but can cross via a very pretty footbridge!

A circular hike to discover the hamlets of L'Escoulin and Eygluy, formerly separate communes in two parallel valleys. In 1971, they merged to form Eygluy-Escoulin! Along the route, there are beautiful views of the mountains and peaks of southern Vercors and you can discover the small local heritage of this region of Diois. The route is easy, following either carriage roads or quiet country lanes.

A circular walk starting from the village of L'Escoulin in the wild Sépie valley, with the highest point being the Taillefer (932 m). The route, which follows little-used paths and trails, is often through forest with beautiful views of the Drôme mountains (Bec Pointu, Tête de la Dame and the southern edge of the Vercors, Glandasse, Trois Becs).

On a clear day, the Serre Chauvière plateau offers a magnificent 360° panorama of the peaks of the Devoluy, Vercors, Baronnies and Diois. The Balcon de la Colombe is a very pretty trail.

A walk through the forest overlooking Aurel with views of the village.

On a clear day, the Serre Chauvière plateau offers a magnificent 360° panorama of the peaks of Devoluy, Vercors, Baronnies and Diois. A major effort has been made to re-mark and clear the trails on this superb hike, which adds considerable value.

A lovely little hike to the summit of Pégarnier, which offers magnificent views of the villages of Espenel, Vercheny and Aurel en Diois.

Variation on the classic Tour de Chabrier hike via the Col des Vallons and the Pas de la Bernarde, with a return via a tiny path overlooking the Drôme and the D93 between Saillans and Vercheny. Splendid views guaranteed over the Drôme Valley, the Massif des Trois-Becs and the Vercors.

Tour of the Montagne de Chabrier starting from Saillans.

An extension of the classic Tour de Chabrier hike, this figure-of-eight hike (with the Col des Vallons at its centre) takes you to the Pas de la Bernarde (magnificent views of the Vercors, Montagne de Glandasse and Drôme Valley on the Vercheny side) and into the Fond de Chabrier. In total, the Col des Vallons will have been explored from all four cardinal points!

From the lively village of Saillans with its narrow streets, arcades and fountains, passing by the turquoise blue pools of Rieussec, climb up to the Saint-Christophe Chapel. It faces the Trois Becs!

Circular on the Montagne de Desse, between Marignac-en-Diois and Ponet-Saint-Auban. Long passage on the ridge, exposed. Beautiful views of the Drôme valley, near Die, and the foothills of the Vercors.

This is a lovely walk, with a route that differs from the other itineraries starting from Saillans. The path takes you over three passes. You start off on the Chemin de la Clairette, then head via the Col des Beaux. The ridge walk, after the Col de Pourcheton, offers views of the Diois and the Rhône Valley. At the Col de Sauzet, you descend towards Jomare to join a wide path that leads back to the village.

A beautiful hike above the village of Espenel, providing access to the three peaks on the Cresta ridges.

A beautiful but long hike around the Rochers de Cresta, with the added bonus, if you feel up to it, of climbing to the top of the ridges: breathtaking views of the Trois Becs massif, the Drôme valley, the Vercors, Glandasse, and even a glimpse of Grand Ferrand... But only do this in dry weather with very good footwear that grips well, as there are steep slopes and secure rocks...

During this hike, the land of Clairette wine offers us a surprising encounter with a centuries-old chestnut tree. Standing alone at the foot of the Trois Becs and the Rocher de la Laveuse, a sign indicates its age and characteristics. One cannot help but admire this witness to history, which was most certainly a contemporary of Joan of Arc!

Departure from Vaugelas. Car park in the centre of the village. A pretty little village, fairly well restored, located at the bottom of a valley

This circular hike takes you up the south-eastern slope of Bec Pointu from the Quint Valley. Although the ascent and descent are challenging, your efforts will be rewarded by the incomparable 360° view from the summit, taking in the Vercors, Glandasse, the Massif des Trois-Becs, Omblèze and, of course, the Tête de la Dame.

Circular on trails, paths and tracks, visiting some of the characteristic sites of the Justin mountain, Pas du Renard, forest lodge, Bât de l'Âne. Beautiful views of the peaks of the southern Vercors and more wooded areas.

A beautiful walk starting from Marignac-en-Diois, which provides access to the Vercors balcony. Very beautiful view to the south. Numerous possible extensions on the Vercors plateau.

This circular hike via the Col de Vassieux, But Saint-Genix and the Pas des Boullanains offers magnificent panoramic views of the Vercors, the Diois and the foothills of the Baronnies and Ventoux.

From Beaufort-sur-Gervanne, the gradual climb to Plan-de-Baix and then to the Croix du Vellan (a picturesque passage between rocks and cliffs) is on good paths. From there, you can enjoy a unique view of the Gervanne Valley and the Trois Becs Massif. The return journey takes you through the village of Lozeron and the Domaine des Arômes (Sanoflore organic cosmetics factory and botanical garden).

A beautiful circular leading to a summit offering stunning views of the Vercors, Diois and Trois Becs.

Côte Belle is a classic hike from Beaufort-Sur-Gervanne. Here we offer a longer and more complete version, covering almost all of the ridges and extending around Merly, a pointed mountain overlooking Eygluy. As a bonus, you can enjoy views not only of the Massif des Trois-Becs and the Drôme Valley, but also of the Montagne de Glandasse, the But Saint-Genix, Ansage, the Falaises d'Omblèze and the Rochers du Vellan. No difficulty except for the length.

From Saint-Benoît, a hilltop village and strategic point, climb up the paths once used by farmers through the sunny south-facing slopes. They offer breathtaking views of the Roanne Gorges.

At the gateway to the Vercors, at the end of a long ridge at an altitude of 1,000 metres, this rocky promontory is visible for dozens of kilometres around. The site offers a remarkable panorama of the village, which it overlooks by nearly 200 metres, the Rieussec and Gervanne valleys and the high plateaus of the Vercors, the Diois, the Trois Becs and the Montagne Saint-Pancrace. The place is peaceful at sunrise and offers an interesting view of the plateau stretching around the village with its farms, temple, chapel and castle. The elevation gain is modest and the distance is short. The loop makes the climb less difficult. We chose to start from the Church of Notre-Dame, at the bottom of the village, to discover this well-renovated Romanesque heritage site.

The Druise waterfall, an impressive 72-metre drop, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the Vercors. The view from below is breathtaking: the high waterfall looks like a bridal veil, accompanied by a thunderous roar and a huge blast of air.

This two-stage circular loop takes place in a sparsely populated region with luminous landscapes, alternating between Provençal and mountainous scenery. From the Druise car park, the path heads to the Druise Waterfall, then follows the La Gervanne Gorge route and visits the La Pissoire Waterfall before venturing into the eerie Gueulards Canyon. It reaches the Abbaye de Léoncel lodge for a peaceful, monastic night’s rest. The next stage begins with a good warm-up leading to the Pas du Grand Échaillon, then on to the Col de la Bataille and its viewpoint, before continuing to that of the Croix d’Ambel. The path descends to the Pierre Plate viewpoint and then to the village of Omblèze, from where it climbs to the Col des Ayes and on to the Col d’Anse. It descends to the hamlet of Ansage and returns to the car park.

First stage of the circular route around Omblèze in the Southern Vercors. This route begins with a visit to the Chute de la Druise, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Vercors, which plunges 70 metres from the bottom of a narrow gorge. After passing through the Gervanne Gorge, you come to the charming little Pissoire Waterfall, followed by a crossing of the Gueulards Canyon, a unique geological feature that inspires both unease and delight, before reaching the small, isolated village of Léoncel and its 12th-century abbey, with its old-world charm, which offers hospitality in a discreet manner.

Randonnée permettant de parcourir sur la journée l'ensemble des cascades et des particularités des gorges.

This is a very beautiful hike, but should only be undertaken in very good weather. The first part follows the course of the Gervanne river, crossing numerous fords and wading through water, until you reach the magnificent Druise waterfall. The second part leads, via theGR®9, to the plateau and the Croix de Vellan overlooking the small village of Plan de Baix, where a 360° view allows you to admire some of the peaks of the Vercors and Baronnies.

A short, easy and wild circular route with beautiful views from the top of the cliffs.

A few steep paths, a touch of orientation in the boxwoods and pines, a very short vertiginous ledge on the way back, a narrow passage between two cliffs, four small fords, an exceptional 360° view from the summit over the Vercors (as far as Veymont), the Devoluy, the southern peaks of the Drôme, Serre Chauvière, the Trois Becs, the Drôme Valley: this is the "Beaufayn" programme!

Like a ship, the massif stands at the foot of the Vercors and offers a panoramic view of the Drôme and Rhône valleys. In good weather, you can see the snow-capped peaks of the Alps and, on the opposite side, the Cévennes. Several contemplative breaks are necessary to discover these landscapes. Please note that the route passes through a quiet zone for wildlife. Certain sections are closed to the public between 15 May and 15 July. Special signage and a diversion from the GR®9 have been put in place to guide users, see here.

Montagne de Faraud offers magnificent views of the Trois Becs and all the surrounding mountains. This hike offers an alternative to the classic hike, starting from the hamlet of Saint-Moirans (Chastel-Arnaud) rather than La Chaudière. At the start, you will have the opportunity to visit the 12th-century Church of Saint-Moirans and, during the hike, the charming Chapelle des Sadous chapel. The hike follows good paths or tracks, with a few slightly steep sections.

Another, quieter and wilder route across the ridges of Les 3 Becs.It is possible to do this without returning (shorter) by descending to the Col de la Chaudière, in which case two cars are recommended (or hitchhiking). Please note that the route passes through a wildlife sanctuary. Certain sections are closed between 15 May and 15 July. Special signage and a diversion from the GR®9 have been put in place to guide users, see here.

Walk through the Clairette de Die vineyards. Views of the Trois Becs, the Glandasse, and the Drôme valley.

This unusual spot offers a complete change of scenery, with a crevasse that plunges into nowhere and a calm, sombre atmosphere among rocky outcrops, lichens and ferns. The return route takes you along a track with seven hairpin bends that illustrate the art of building passages carved into the rock on the mountain side and masonry on the side facing the void.

Enjoy a complete change of scenery in this superb canyon between two narrow cliffs. An unusual spot with a crevasse that descends into nowhere, offering a calm and sombre atmosphere among rocky outcrops, lichens and ferns. Please note! The route has been changed to avoid the Ferme du Pêcher du Bas. At (1), go straight ahead, then take a path on the right and head straight for (3).

This short family hike starts at the Col de Vassieux and takes you to the But de l'Aiglette via forest paths with a very moderate elevation gain. Enjoy the view of the Diois, the Route du Rousset, the Grand Veymont, and maybe even spot some vultures!

This unusual spot offers a complete change of scenery, with a crevice that plunges into nowhere and a calm, dark atmosphere among rocky outcrops, lichens and ferns. Access to the canyon is via a track with seven hairpin bends that demonstrate the art of building passages carved into the rock on the mountain side and masonry on the side facing the void.

The absence of houses gives this hike a wild feel. This route, which takes us to an altitude of 1,000 metres, offers beautiful views of the Trois Becs, the Saou Forest, the Ambel Plateau, the Rhône Valley and the Monts Ardéchois.