Salavas walks

This hike takes you along the Montagne de la Serre, whose highest point is La Baume Lardière. To reach this ridge, take the path that leads to the Col de la Cize. At the ridge, you will discover numerous viewpoints over the Cévennes, as well as the Baronnies massif and Mont Ventoux. The return journey is via the Ravin de la Fontaine du Merle.

From the banks of Ardèche, to the balconies of Salavas, but fairly challenging in the bed of Rieussec. There are stringing points. ATTENTION: Some sections can quickly become very dangerous for hikers who are ill-equipped or not trained for this kind of more technical hike. Therefore, please take care.

A walk amid holm oaks along the capricious Ibie river, whose water doesn’t always flow overground.

Between Vallon-Pont-d'Arc and Saint-Remèze, this hike should be done mid-season before it become too difficult to park in "gorges de l'Ardèche" after Pont-d'Arc.The walk offers beautiful view points over the Ardèche and Tiourre valleys, the Saint-Remèze plateau then Pont-d'Arc on the trip back.

This hike will take you from the heath to the pine forest and back in time as you discover the ruins of the Moulin de la Tiourre.

Sampzon, a small village perched on a promontory overlooking the Rocher and encircled by a loop of the Ardèche, (you have to see it from the top of the car park). A veritable natural belvedere, it offers a unique panorama of the meandering Ardèche. The old village has preserved its traditional houses. The route is very well signposted.

From the Ibie Valley, make your way to and explore the little village of Lagorce by a route other than the road, setting foot on the land that nourishes the vineyards and, further on, the fields and meadows. At the end of the day or early in the morning, startle a wild boar rooting around in a field and approach the village gently, making your way up to the church from below and winding your way up the narrow cobbled streets before returning via an old path between the houses.

A beautiful, easy walk that takes you through the shade of the trees in the Ardèche scrubland (very pleasant in the sometimes intense heat) before offering a beautiful view of the Ardèche and the Pont d'Arc.

The first part of this circular path descends into a forest of tall conifers, in the refreshing Tiourre Stream valley, known for its turquoise pools. The path then takes you along a balcony above the Ardèche Gorges road, offering views of one of the famous river’s meanders and its cliffs. The second section, which is more challenging, climbs above the hamlet of Châmes, mostly through woodland, with a more Mediterranean feel as you approach the Serre de la Desferre. A complete change of scenery guaranteed! Recommendation: in the Tiourre valley, there are numerous unmarked trails and mobile network coverage is patchy. Remember to download the technical sheet or the GPX file before setting off.

Following small roads and tracks through the Ardèche countryside, at the foot of the village of Lagorce, we join a path that goes deep into the trees to climb to the summit of Sigaud. We then continue to link the various summits of the Ranc, sometimes on footpaths, sometimes on forest tracks. The view of this superb region of the Ardèche opens up regularly from one side to the other. After a steep, stony descent of around 200 m, we return to small roads and country lanes. In spring, all this is amply covered with a multitude of varied flowers.

Set off from the charming hamlet of Labastide-de-Virac for a dip in the Ardèche, then return via Labastide.

A beautiful hike in the heart of the Ardèche Gorges, during which you will:- descend a valley, follow the river along a path equipped with cables and ladders for a short section. Cirques, cliffs, small caves, rocks, needles, rapids, sandy or pebble beaches follow one after another. Many birds inhabit the cliffs.- climb back up another beautiful valley, offering some stunning views of the gorges and their meanders, to reach the plateau.

This beautiful 9 km hike will take you to the banks of the Ardèche, in the heart of the canyon. A hike with handrails and ladders along the route. Swimming is allowed and irresistible. The descent through the Combe des Champs will be long, but you will be amazed when you arrive in the canyon. A significant elevation gain of -500 / + 500 will make this hike difficult, but the trails are well marked and protected. Please note: this hike is currently impassable due to a major rockfall on the Ardèche riverbank on 14 June 2024 Please check with the Vallon-Pont-d'Arc Tourist Office on 04 75 54 54 20 or the Syndicat de Gestion des Gorges de l'Ardèche, which manages the trails in the nature reserve, to find out if access is possible again.

An easy walk on the ridges between Ruoms and Pradons. Beautiful views over the Ardèche valley and the cliffs of the cirque de Gens in the second part. Avoid hot weather, as shade is scarce and there's no water.

The Ibie Valley and its cliffs are full of geological curiosities. The Ranc de l'Arche is the best known, with the Trou de la Lune rock. It is easily accessible via this route. The second part takes you along a section of the botanical trail, and the third part takes you to the Salastre stream canyon and its famous gour, where you will be alone in the world. Allow 3 to 3½ hours to take your time and enjoy the scenery.

From Lagorce, the route climbs to the Notre-Dame d'Ajude chapel, through holm oak woods to the Ibie cliffs, past the Gour de la Sompe (waterfall and plunge pool), and returns to the village through more open farmland. This hike requires a good awareness of the environment, reading IGN maps and/or GPS indications.

A somewhat long route with the advantage of bringing together several must-see spots in the area, which are also offered separately as shorter circular routes on Visorando: Le Gour de l’Oule, Le Ranc de l’Arc, Pertus de Fabria, panoramic views of the Ibie Valley and the Ardèche mountains, and of course, Le Gour de la Sompe. For those who aren’t afraid of getting their feet wet now and then (there are numerous fords), this walk along the water’s edge is best undertaken outside the summer dry season, when the rains feed the Ibie and the streams of the Sompe and Salastre.  

In the Ardèche Gorges, the Cirque de Gaud is home to a discovery trail dotted with information panels about the region's flora and fauna. At the Gaud campsite, you will find Gaud Castle and the Ardèche River.

Leaving from the centre of the small village of Lagorce (Ardèche), we set off along the usual roads to the entrance to Vallon Pont d'Arc. The return journey is a pleasant one, through the countryside of the Ardèche, on a small road with no (or almost no) vehicles, along farm tracks, stony or slightly rocky, to arrive on the other side of the village.

From Ruoms to Labeaume, the hike alternates between ancient villages and nature. This itinerary passes the Ardèche river, the heights of the Baume river gorge, the pretty village of Labeaume and the old town of Ruoms. Alternating between shady and sunny stretches. Several possibilities for swimming along the way.

A pleasant hike along the banks of the Ardèche river, sometimes with overhanging cliffs on a magnificent path, and sometimes skirting the riverbed. There's also a cave within easy reach.

The easiest and authorised route to reach the ruins of "Chastelas" and the Font Vive resurgence is via a superb ridge line above the village.

This hike allows you to discover the Combe Fille Dolmen, then the Sous-Planas Dolmen, different views of the Ardèche foothills to the Lozère Mountains, a small drystone shelter in a magnificent holm oak undergrowth, the Chapel of Notre-Dame des Songes, the ruins of the "Chastelas" and finally the Font Vive Resurgence.

A very pleasant, easy walk through the heath between dry stone walls, with the option to explore the Neolithic necropolis and the Bourbouillet resurgence cave if you wish. Magnificent in spring when white yarrow blankets the landscape, dotted with pink, yellow or blue from other flowers. The wetland vegetation near the Reméjadou karstic cave is surprising, featuring mosses, lichens, ferns, etc. 15/05/2024: Starting car park changed.

In this part of the Plateau des Gras, the Bourbouillet resurgence and the Aven du Reméjadou are among the classic routes often described. This hike will take you along some lesser-known and therefore less-frequented trails in the surrounding area. A word of advice, however: forget the IGN map, which is very incomplete in this area. Instead, use the OpenStreetMap hiking base map with the Visorando app; the built-in GPS may come in handy.

Shortly before flowing into the Ardèche, the Beaume (or Baume) has carved out meandering gorges in the limestone plateau west of Ruoms. Two routes along paths, paved slanting streets and tracks, but also tarmac, run along one bank of the river and then the other between Labeaume and Ruoms. Here you will find the typical landscapes and vegetation of karst areas, between abandoned farmland and new developments, and the unspoilt charm of the old village of Labeaume.

This pleasant circuit explores picturesque trails and places north of Labeaume.

This is a surprising route due to its wild character and beauty, which takes you around the place known as "Le Sauvage", starting from the megalithic necropolis of Ranc de Figère and continuing along that of L'Abeille. This is karstic terrain in all its splendour: large limestone slabs criss-crossed with impressive faults, rocks sculpted by erosion, deep depressions. Paths lost in nature alternate with wide tracks passing close to superb isolated houses.

Spectacular hike off the beaten track and unmarked trails on the limestone plateau of Labeaume, discovering the landscapes and vernacular heritage: engraved crosses, dolmens, cliff-side path to the confluence of the Ardèche and Ligne rivers. On the way back, pass by the splendid Mas de l'Abeille. :

A short circuit that will take you along beautiful trails to discover an underground cave and beautiful beaches on the banks of the Ardèche with breathtaking views of the Ruoms gorge and the Cirque de Gens.

Following good paths through holm oak trees, this hike will take you to the ridges of the Grospierres hills with beautiful views, sometimes towards the Basse Ardèche on the south side, sometimes towards the mountains on the north side. On the way back, you can see the Notre-Dame des Songes chapel, the abandoned village of Chastelas and the Font Vive resurgence with its green water.

An easy hike to discover the landscapes of the Ardèche and Gard regions at the Carabasse rocks and, a little further on, the archaeological remains.

A hilly walk through green oaks between Pradons and Lagorce. Beautiful views of the Ardèche cliffs on the final descent.

Walk in the Bois d'Ajude near Lagorce. The Gour de la Sompe is not well described in guidebooks and is not on a marked path, but the site is worth a visit for its green water and waterfall (when there is enough water). Beautiful view of the Ibie valley from the Pertus de Fabria.

The village of Chauzon is located at the end of a plateau surrounded by the Ardèche, the Ligne and the Gournier stream. Following the edge of this plateau, this hike will reveal beautiful views of these three valleys. These viewpoints are located on rocks at the top of cliffs. Access is not vertiginous, but please be careful with children.

A very beautiful hike along the Ardèche Gorges, between the Bivouac du Gournier and the Cirque de la Madeleine, over magnificent limestone slabs and at the foot of the imposing cliff face bordering the gorges. Along the route, you’ll discover the huge rock known as the ‘Cathedral’, over 100 metres high, whose jagged shape resembles a cathedral.

From the plateau to the river, this short and fairly easy route will also allow you to discover the vegetation of the gorges, notably the Phoenician juniper. The elevation gain is at the end of the route, and the concrete track from the Gournier bivouac to the starting point is very steep. The route is well shaded. Pay attention to point (3).

A circular route starting from the "La Digue" campsite, leading to the village of Chauzon and then to the viewpoint overlooking the Ardèche valley. The route alternates between limestone paths, stretches of heath and riverbanks. The viewpoint above Chauzon offers unobstructed views of the Cirque de Gens and the Ardèche cliffs.

This walk begins in the era of the dolmens and continues along a route between the piles and walls of cleared stones, allowing you to admire the colossal work of the Ardèche ancestors in clearing a few square metres of usable land. The paths are easy but sometimes a bit stony; not all the stones are in the piles... Best done in winter when the oak trees have no leaves.

This walk, starting from Les Salelles, will take you through the woods along well-maintained paths. It offers a chance to get away from it all and is a great way to discover the charms of this woodland. There is a short climb at La Combe Billiaire, which you’ll need to go over.

A very beautiful hike starting from the hamlet of Les Salelles. You will first take a short tour of the hamlet to see the two bread ovens, then continue into the forest and pass by a lavender field. The return trip will be less shaded.

A beautiful hike on easy trails, with numerous magnificent views of the Ardèche mountains, the Vercors and the Ventoux, discovering the remains of ancient cultures and the forgotten and abandoned hamlet of Les Pallières. A route through areas that were inhabited and cultivated until the 19th century. As a bonus, if the water is flowing, finish with a swim in the Ibie.

Hike along clear paths with beautiful views of the Ardèche valley and the Massif Central on one side, and the forests of Lagorce and the Dent de Rez massif on the other.

A short hike that will take you to many interesting sites around Chapias: the Notre-Dame Tower, the Maison Unal, the Remène waterfall and the Rocher des Curés site. Take care on certain tricky sections; please read the practical information carefully.

Between Baume, Ardèche and Ligne, vast stretches of stony ground have been and are still partly cultivated, with olive trees now reigning supreme. The former silkworm farms have now been converted into homes but retain their old-world charm. Along the river, hanging gardens are still maintained and clearly visible on the banks on the sunny side of La Baume. The Ardèche and Chassezac rivers have created a vast plain where vineyards, fruit trees and gardens occupy the space.

The Plateau des Gras is a limestone plateau, cut by rivers, which stretches from the Païolive woods in the south-west to the slopes of Coiron in the north-east. The path along the edge offers unobstructed views of the entire Monts d'Ardèche mountain range and leads to several viewpoints over the Ligne valley. This route winds its way across a quasi-desert plateau dotted with numerous stone walls and piles of stones, evidence of a time when every square metre was exploited.

This hike will take you through an enchanting forest above one of the region's large underground water networks, which can be seen in several places: in an underground cistern, at the bottom of a karstic cave, in the bed of an almost dry river, or at a resurgence. You will also see one of the most beautiful dolmen sites in southern Ardèche. Please note that the Aven du Reméjadou is extremely dangerous.

A very beautiful walk, partly along the river, leading to the exceptional site of La Maladrerie, situated opposite the Cirque de la Madeleine. Ruins of an ancient monastery, probably dating from the 12th century, with an uncertain origin. Fact or myth of the Knights Templar? Follow the yellow markings on the ground carefully between (6) and (7), and avoid this route during periods of high water in the Ardèche. As the riverbed is subject to change, some sections of the route may be difficult to access (water, branches, mud, etc.).To check water levels and flow rates: https://www.rdbrmc.com/hydroreel2/statio...

A walk starting from Les Vernades, in the commune of Rosières, passing by the Maison Bulle, the Chapias Tower, the heights of Labeaume, the hamlet of Peyrole in Ruons, the submersible bridge at Labeaume, and returning via the Gorges de la Baume and the hanging gardens. (See practical information).

This walk, starting from the Camping du Sous-Bois, takes you along paths through woodland. There is a ford as you cross through the village. The path then climbs again. You can pick wild thyme and sage.