Saint-Michel - Pays de Saillans

On the foothills of the perched syncline of the Saoû forest and through vineyards, forests and ridges, this route offers beautiful views of the Trois Becs.

Details

2309015
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.82 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 274 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 274 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 554 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 299 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Turn left at the southern exit of the village.

(S/E) Take the road climbing towards the mountain. At the fork, continue straight ahead, cross the bridge and continue to the right along the road.

(1) At the hairpin bend, continue straight ahead along the dirt track. This climbs gently, sometimes through woodland, sometimes in open country. Pass a ruin, ignore the path climbing to the right and continue straight ahead, then cross the tributary stream. The track makes a hairpin bend to the right, then a second to the left.

(2) Immediately afterwards, take the path on the right. It climbs up the hillside through the woods, overlooking the stream, then through the pine trees.

(3) Take the Balcons-de-la-Drôme track on the right. Leave the farm access on your right and continue to the shoulder of Pas Saint-Michel.

(4) At the crossroads, descend the track on the right and stay on the main path. Ignore the farm on the right and continue straight ahead. After the meadow, continue straight ahead along the grassy path. On the hillside, it passes to the right of the hillock (elevation 416), joins the ridge, then goes around the greenhouse on the right through the vineyards before descending to the north.

(5) Descend via the hairpin bend on the right facing the Trois Becs, cross a valley, come out onto a path at the edge of the fields, then turn left. Cross another stream via a ford. Go around the field on the left, then cross it. Follow it a little further before entering the forest, take the hairpin bend to the left and go up this path.

(6) When you reach the road, turn left, then continue to the right at the hairpin bend to rejoin the starting path. Continue along the road to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 299 m - South exit of the village, on the left
  2. 1 : km 0.16 - alt. 303 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.59 - alt. 450 m - Path on the right
  4. 3 : km 2.09 - alt. 552 m - Path on the right
  5. 4 : km 3.08 - alt. 513 m - Épaule du Pas de Saint-Michel
  6. 5 : km 5.37 - alt. 317 m - Trail with a sharp right turn
  7. 6 : km 6.31 - alt. 333 m - Road, on the left
  8. S/E : km 6.81 - alt. 299 m - South exit of the village

Notes

We strongly recommend that you take IGN map no. 3137OT with you. Bring enough water and food and wear suitable clothing for walking. Hikers must be self-sufficient, but professional guides are available if needed. Emergency numbers: 18 or 112.

Information from the Coeur de Drôme – Pays de Crest et de Saillans Tourist Office: 04 75 25 11 38 / accueil@coeurdedrome.com / valleedeladrome-tourisme.com

Worth a visit

GASTRONOMY - Clairette de Die.
Clairette de Die is a traditional wine made from two grape varieties: 75% white Muscat and white Clairette, which lightens the sweet taste of the Muscat. The winemaking technique is based on incomplete fermentation in vats (one to two months), which continues in the bottle using the residual sugar from the grapes (around four months at 12°C). It stops naturally when the wine reaches an alcohol content of around 7° to 9°. The wine is then ready to drink. With its two thousand years of history, Clairette de Die is steeped in legend: Pliny the Elder wrote of a wine enjoyed by the Voconces (ancestors of the Diois). This Gallic people are said to have left jars of wine in a river throughout the winter and rediscovered a precious, sweet and sparkling liquid in the spring.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Hervebu
Hervebu

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk, very easy, varied and with beautiful views.

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Michel RODA
Michel RODA

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very interesting route for a warm-up or for a hot day, thanks to the presence of a stream and well-shaded sections. The surroundings are varied and, at the beginning of May, the presence of numerous flowers (orchids) makes the route even more enjoyable.
To be enjoyed without moderation.

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arnaudchouchou
arnaudchouchou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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Danielle / Emmanuel / Shakti
Danielle / Emmanuel / Shakti

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Point 1: Please note that the "dirt road" mentioned in the description is now paved from the hairpin bend to the farm, after which it becomes a dirt track. It is called "CHEMIN DU MOULIN".
Point 2: The path on the right is located in the second hairpin bend (and not after... busy watching where we were putting our feet, we didn't see it and climbed higher thinking we would find it later). You can see it clearly in the end, but it's right in the middle of the hairpin bend.
A very nice hike, with beautiful views on the second part. Thanks to the author.
DAN

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pago26
pago26

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, accessible short hike with varied scenery and few tarmac roads.

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BOMPARD Sylviane
BOMPARD Sylviane

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy route, took less time than indicated, beautiful view.

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BARNAVON
BARNAVON

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

This is an easy route, which is why we have extended it slightly. Beautiful views of the southern face of the Vercors and part of the Drôme Valley.

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mortluiloeil
mortluiloeil
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A few steep climbs, the start is not easy to find, and finally, good to know: there is a farmer-baker on the left when you leave the road to take the valley on the left (country bread); it is the only house he has.

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