Ranc de Banes and Les Jumeaux

de fr

Tour of the Rieutord valley via the ridges between Sumène and Ganges, with the unique feature of crossing the Baume Clauside cave. You will enjoy the typical panoramic views of the southern Cévennes.

Details

n°2632034
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.70 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 897 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 900 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 711 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 156 m
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Photos

View from Sumène
Ranc de Banes
Ganges
baume Clauside cave

Description of the walk

Park in the station car park, after the bridge (take thesecond right onto Avenue de la Gare

(S/E) Go up towards the station to join the old railway line on the right, which you leave on your left.

(1) Pass under the Voie Verte to begin the climb, following the yellow markings. Cross the Pas du Loup and then the Pas de Madame. Further up, leave a path on the right.

(2) Turn left to climb up to Ranc de Banes, signposted "Point de vue".

(3) Turn back to the fork.

(2) Stay on the hillside by turning left.

(4) Continue south-west.

(5) Turn right. Pass by the Grotte de la Mâchoire cave and then reach the Grotte de Baume Clauside cave.

(6) Enter the cave. The path curves to the right before coming out again. Be careful of slippery ground.
Continue south-southwest, pass under the Voie Verte and arrive at the edge of the Rieutord.

(7) Continue straight ahead without crossing the Pont des Chèvres bridge to reach the Rieutord riverbed. Walk up the right side of the riverbed if the flow allows.

(8) Take the road on the left that crosses the river. Go around the left pillar of the gate to reach the D4.
see the practical information section.

(9) Cross the D4 and take the path opposite, which immediately heads north-west. Keep going in the same direction.

(10) Turn left at the hairpin bend. After another hairpin bend to the right, the path continues north-northwest.

(11) Ignore a turn-off on the left, which is almost in the opposite direction, and continue straight ahead.
see the practical information section.

(12) Take the stony path on the right that climbs up to the Jumeaux antennas.

(13) Descend to thefirst right-hand bend and turn left into the forest.

(14) Turn right to climb up to Serre de Tourrière (elevation 525). Turn back.

(14) Leave the path you took on the way up and continue straight ahead.

(15) Descend to the right into the forest. Continue straight ahead to cross the hamlet of Le Pouget to the end of the road. Further down, cross the road, follow the river and rejoin the road at a bend. Follow the yellow markings on the left to cross the bridge and return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 201 m - Sumène Church car park
  2. 1 : km 0.59 - alt. 208 m - Under the Greenway
  3. 2 : km 1.92 - alt. 669 m - Towards the Ranc de Banes panorama
  4. 3 : km 2.15 - alt. 711 m - Banes bench
  5. 4 : km 2.95 - alt. 632 m - Junction, on the right
  6. 5 : km 4.33 - alt. 544 m - Path on the right
  7. 6 : km 5.21 - alt. 491 m - Baume Clauside Cave
  8. 7 : km 6.78 - alt. 164 m - Pont des Chèvres
  9. 8 : km 7.52 - alt. 164 m - Road across the - Rieutord (rivière) - Affluent de l'Hérault
  10. 9 : km 7.63 - alt. 168 m - Crossing the D4
  11. 10 : km 8.82 - alt. 265 m - Hairpin bend on the left
  12. 11 : km 10.47 - alt. 401 m - Junction, straight ahead
  13. 12 : km 11 - alt. 421 m - Climb to the antennas
  14. 13 : km 11.66 - alt. 513 m - 1st Jumeau
  15. 14 : km 11.96 - alt. 475 m - Serre de Tourrière junction
  16. 15 : km 12.76 - alt. 410 m - Fork towards Le Pouget
  17. S/E : km 14.7 - alt. 201 m - Sumène Church car park

Notes

Avoid in rainy weather or on wet ground. The climb up the dirt track above Sumène is quite steep and can quickly become slippery.

(8) If the Rieutord river is high, you can take the Pont des Chèvres bridge and join the path higher up via the D4 departmental road.
(11) Return trip possible to Mont Méjean for the viewpoint.

Worth a visit

(6) Visit to the small Baume Clauside cave
(7). Beautiful overhanging gallery accessible via a staircase on the left just before the exit (return trip).

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 14 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
jmdarracq
jmdarracq

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting and varied route, with a good climb at the start, then easier going afterwards.
The climb to Les Jumeaux is gradual and easy.
Completed in 4½ hours

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goussa
goussa

Hello,

Regarding the difficulty rating of this hike as "moderate", I think it should be classified as difficult, considering the 700 m elevation gain at the start over a distance of 1 km with a gradient of more than 10% and then 13 km plus a very steep descent... no, it's not moderate. Just for your information...Kind regards.

Cyril GOUSSAKOWSKY

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jougla jean michel
jougla jean michel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The first part of this hike is quite difficult.
Fortunately, you can shorten it if necessary by returning via the greenway from Pont des Chèvres.

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Pritgreg
Pritgreg

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Like some others, I question the advertised difficulty level. For me, it's medium++ or even difficult. The climb is tough, but the descent is just as challenging.
On the other hand, the view from the top is really nice. And the option of returning via the greenway is a significant advantage for the less adventurous, even if the second part after the goat bridge is less difficult.

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Klodeko
Klodeko

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I changed the starting point as suggested to start from the larger car park under the old railway station.
Option to return to Mont Méjean at point 11 for a view of Ganges.
There is a pretty overhanging gallery in the Baume Clauside cave, which can be accessed on the left just before the exit (round trip). Headlamp recommended. Be careful not to disturb the bats.

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fontduloup
fontduloup

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Departure from the old Sumène railway station, with ample parking and toilets. Start on the greenway. Don't miss the markings on the parapet on the left. This is where the route begins, but it's quite a strenuous start. Muscle power, stamina and endurance are essential. But there's a reward waiting for us at the end. Beautiful views over the Rieutord valley, Les Jumeaux, Sumène, and the start of the Cévennes. On the descent, the short passage through the cave requires lighting. Good shoes with good grip are essential on the steep path.
Due to a late start and a leisurely pace, we decided to shorten the route. We returned after the goat bridge via the greenway to Sumène. After looking at the map, I wondered whether starting from the Ubac woods and then the Col de l'Agas might be a longer but less steep start to the Ranc de Banes.

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pmandre
pmandre

superb hike, very well marked in yellow (PR), beautiful Cévennes panoramas, which I would classify as difficult. It is rare in our region to find such a steep descent (-500m) over such a short distance, and a tricky descent, even on dry ground. Not recommended for "average" hikers! Because of the heat, we reached Sumène via the greenway: 3.5 km of flat, monotonous, asphalted terrain, but more restful than the climb back up to Les Jumeaux.

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Klodeko
Klodeko

I have added the Station Car Park as an alternative parking option.
Thank you for the suggestion, and happy hiking!

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bernbla
bernbla

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A good, challenging hike, with a nice climb at the start and a nice descent halfway through, which is great for warming up your calves:. The scenery is really nice. Not to be done in rainy weather or even the day after, as it can be slippery and even dangerous.
A suggestion for parking: instead of the church car park, use the station car park, which is larger and closer to the start.

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marco3031
marco3031

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Good evening
Superb hike, it has everything (views, difficulty, points of interest, etc.). It is quite steep in places, though!
We highly recommend this route.

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Pastis34
Pastis34

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this route corresponding to PR22 of the FFR in Gard, with some very nice adaptations.
More photos and information on my website, and even a video!

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Yapas
Yapas

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb setting with fabulous views of the Cévennes landscape.
Original, with a small cave to cross and different surfaces depending on the location (dirt track, pebbly river bed, large rocks, etc.).
We took it backwards, so be careful on the descent at the end, which is moderately difficult.

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cali34
cali34

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, beautiful views, well-marked PR trail markers, follow the description for the circular.

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evlist
evlist

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful route with fabulous views of the Cévennes and the coast. During wild asparagus season, allow an extra hour or so: they are abundant and very tasty, but they slow you down considerably!

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