Roc des Hourtous – Les Détroits – Pas de Soucy

Park in the private car park of the Restaurant du Roc des Hourtous. The owner warmly welcomes all hikers, including those arriving in campervans and staying overnight on site.

(S/E) Head towards the car park entrance, where you’ll find the information board for the “Birds of the Causses and Gorges” nature trail, a circular loop created on the initiative of the Méjean school in La Parade.

Yellow PR® markings

Follow the trail which starts in front of this sign and winds gently beneath the pine trees. Signposts providing information on the various birds of the local area line the route. Continue to the junction located a few metres past the signpost about the “Diva farouche”, a small local passerine.

(1) Leave the nature trail straight ahead and head left to begin the descent towards the Tarn. This is a long and fairly challenging descent due to the steep gradient, the numerous small rocky steps to negotiate and the loose stones underfoot. It should be noted that the IGN route is completely incorrect on this section. After a steep descent, you reach the junction with the GR®736, where a signpost indicates Les Vignes, 9.4 km to the left.

GR® white and red markings

(2) Head in this direction. The pleasant path winds through the pine forest above the Tarn, unfortunately partially obscured by dense vegetation. You will soon reach the Détroits site, dominated on the opposite bank by the impressive Clapas de la Truque. This stretch, very popular with canoeists, is about 500 m long, but you will need to be patient to find the few spots where a partial view opens up, allowing you to take any photos

(3) Continue along the Tarn until you reach a change of direction marked by a signpost.

(4) Turn left: the IGN route is incorrect here too. Pass the beautiful stone buildings of La Croze and, further on, the Blaquière campsite on the riverbank. After the Cirque des Baumes, the Tarn bends to the left and heads south.

(5) From this point onwards, the vegetation becomes sparser and the view opens up over the river and the gorges. A few unsecured ledges allow you to enjoy the panorama stretching as far as Les Vignes, where the bridge is clearly visible. Reach the Pas de Soucy. This very wild site owes its popularity to the rockfalls that block the Tarn’s riverbed, making it inaccessible to canoes and kayaks, before the river calms down as it flows out towards Les Vignes. It is here that the route joins the GRP® Tour du Causse Méjean and a PR®.

GRP® yellow and red markings + PR® yellow

(6) Turn left and begin the most challenging part of the hike. The very steep and narrow path winds its way up a series of tight hairpin bends to reach the plateau, with an elevation gain of over 300 m over a distance of approximately 1.3 km. There is no respite during this seemingly endless climb before reaching La Caxe, where a magnificent Causse-style house is currently being restored. Leave the house on your left and continue to the tarmac road leading to the hamlet.

(7) Cross over and head straight ahead, following the double markings and the sign for “Rieisse – Stopover Lodge”. You’ll reach a junction with a “No Hunting” sign on a pine tree opposite and a second sign pointing to Rieisse.

(8) Head to the right. Much further on, go through the wooden gate in a fence and reach a junction about ten metres further on.

(9) Head straight on along the path. Keep to the right at the three-way junction in the road, following the marked path which slopes to the right, and you will soon reach a junction of cross-country tracks in open terrain.

(10) Continue straight ahead to follow the wide track, which appears to be a bridle path, judging by the numerous hoof prints. It runs almost flat through a beautiful pine forest before emerging into open ground. Keep heading in the general direction, ignoring the offshoots on either side, and arrive at a wire mesh fence, which was open when I passed through: signpost.

(11) Head straight ahead to cross a cleared area where the trail disappears for a good hundred metres. Simply keep going straight to find the path again at the end and continue through the woodland until you reach the access road to Roc des Hourtous at a signpost.

Yellow PR® markings

(12) Turn left and walk leisurely back to the car park where you started (S/E).

This hike is classified as Difficult due to the long, steep and stony descent between (1) and (2) and, above all, because of the very gruelling climb to La Caxe (7). The succession of numerous steep and stony hairpin bends makes progress difficult, especially if the climb is undertaken in the afternoon as you are mostly exposed to the sun. The climb is continuous, with no flat sections to rest or catch your breath.

The route is very well signposted throughout, with directional posts at the main junctions. Unfortunately, the IGN map is often inaccurate, but there is no risk of getting lost on the route.

After (5), a few unsecured spots offer stunning views, but you must be very careful.

Most of this walk takes place in woodland with a mix of pine and a few deciduous trees. You may find the long stretch along the Tarn between (2) and (5) frustrating, as the dense vegetation obscures the view of the river. However, the opening up to the valley after the Cirque des Baumes and the views are well worth the patience required.

Hiking boots with good grip soles are recommended due to the stony terrain. Trekking poles will be very useful on the descents but may get in the way during the climb to La Caxe.

There are no water sources on the route: make sure you bring enough water.

I recommend heading to the Roc des Hourtous viewpoint (S/E) at the end of the hike to round off the route in style with the exceptional view it offers and, why not, pop into the site’s bar-restaurant for a drink as a thank you for the free parking provided.

La Malène.

Sainte-Énimie.

Gorges du Tarn.