The Sentier des Granges trail

At the heart of the Monts D’Ardèche Regional Natural Park, Laboule is the ideal starting point for a walk with a variety of contrasting atmospheres. At the summit of the Sentier des Granges trail there is an unparalleled panoramic view (Mont Blanc, Mont Ventoux, Mont Bouquet, Mont Lozère...) a day’s walk across the third-highest summit of the Cévennes range (at 1,548 m) with its rocky mountains and luminous rivers.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Le Massif du Tanargue

Details

45038
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Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.58 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 773 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 764 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,408 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 669 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start at the Laboule stopover gite next to the church. Head on through via the steps, to the right of the multi-purpose hall.

(1)Take the path 10 m ahead of the glass cube which heads up to the north-west of the village behind the houses above the car park, follow the mule track marked with yellow and white. Steady climb. After the second barn(follow the right bank), under the hazelnut trees. A new crossing point precedes two hairpin bends and a climb through an oak wooded area, (short, steep climb). narrow passage with a water source, then afterwards a new stream crossing, and then through and out of the beech woods into the gorse heathland.
A long walk across the hillside southwards which leads to the crest of the Pialade. The path follows hairpin turns through the gorse bushes and rejoins a poorly marked pass to the west of a beech wood(small pass). The sheep pen can be seen to the north.

The small track crosses the Anglanier stream. Along long hairpin bends, cross the Redonde plains through the gorse bushes to come out 140 m above the Ranc des Barres. When you arrive on the path, turn right at the crossroads to meet with a sheep enclosure and the GR route.

(5)Follow the path to the summit for 2.5 km (an excellent opportunity to eat lunch with a view over Mont Gerbier des Joncs the source of the River Loire.) Head in an easterly direction towards the Langoustines pass along the Tour du Tanargue GRP route, marked in red and yellow.

(6) At the Cros de L’Aygues, 400 m before the Langoustines pass, head downhill along the southbound DFCI (forest fire prevention pathways) on your right for 5 km which takes a natural approach to Laboule. (Enjoy the magnificent view and take the opportunity to take photos of: Mont Gerbier de Jonc, Cham du Cros, Basse Ardèche, the valleys of Cévennes, Mont Lozère... )
Depending on the amount of rain before your visit, the pebbles on the path may be loose in places.

(7)For braver walkers and those who love steep climbs, at the Langoustines pass, a short extra loop is an option: The tower of Mont Aigu (1 hour 15 minutes) is a beautiful walk before heading back down to Laboule.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 669 m - Car park at the back of the church
  2. 1 : km 2.24 - alt. 934 m - Changing banks
  3. 2 : km 2.73 - alt. 1,026 m - short, sharp climb to the right
  4. 3 : km 3.98 - alt. 1,293 m - small collar
  5. 4 : km 5.37 - alt. 1,391 m - track joining the GR
  6. 5 : km 8.83 - alt. 1,269 m - Cros de L'Aygues
  7. 6 : km 14.21 - alt. 700 m
  8. S/E : km 14.58 - alt. 671 m

Notes

Water available at the ascent.
Be careful when fording during floods.
It is not advisable to walk this route during storms, snow or fog.
Shelter (hunters') half-way down the hill on the descent.
Bring good hillwalking shoes and an IGN map of the area.

Worth a visit

An amazing diversity of vistas all along the walk: views over Mont Gerbier des Joncs, Vercors, and in fair weather even Mont-Blanc, and on the way back down, Mont Ventoux, Cham du Cros, lower Ardèche, Mont Bouquet, and Mont Lozère...
Visit the village of Laboule and its numerous artists and artisans.
Farm produce including local preserves (chestnut, raspberry) at the stopover gite next to the church.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 39 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Yankélée
Yankélée

Hello,
Thank you for your message.
The shortcut was indeed maintained by the village hunting association until a few months ago, and we have noticed that it is no longer used regularly by hunters as it was before.
We are glad that you enjoyed the hike.
Best regards

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baroulaïres
baroulaïres

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike. Magnificent landscape and 380-degree views.
The only downside is the descent between 5 and 6 on the DFCI track, which is difficult and slippery.
Between 5 and 6, after a 3.5 km descent, leave the DFCI on the left onto a path that shortens and rejoins the DFCI further down. Do not take this path as it is poorly maintained and dangerous in places. Continue straight ahead on the track.

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Kevengwen
Kevengwen

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful walk with superb views over the ridge: Mt Bouquet, Ventoux, Mt Gerbier de Jonc and the Alps.
A pleasant climb through undergrowth along the torrent.
After the 1st ford, the path does not follow the GPX track. No consequence, the two join after a few hundred metres.
A long descent on a DFCI track. Be careful, at a green cistern, the GPX tracks take a path on the left and the markings continue straight ahead. The two also merge, but it seems a little longer if you follow the signs.
This is probably one of my best hikes in the Ardèche because of the superb views from the summit.
Thanks for sharing!

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Kwiss07
Kwiss07

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The climb through the undergrowth was great, and the view over the ridge magnificent. On the other hand, the descent, which was almost entirely on a large, slippery track on which we were overtaken by cars and mountain bikes, was disappointing, especially as the start of the circuit on a small path looked promising.
It took us 4 hours 15 minutes to complete without the lunch break, so I'd classify it as medium difficulty.
But thanks to the person who suggested the route, we have absolutely no regrets about the start or the view!

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Yankélée
Yankélée

Good evening
Thank you for your comment. It's important for us to know that you liked the tour.
See you soon
Yankélée
https://www.gite-randonnee-ardeche.com/

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anais.rando10
anais.rando10

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hi, we did the walk in May in bright sunshine. It's a very nice walk with beautiful scenery.
The start of the hike is in the undergrowth for 3/4 of the climb, then the rest of the hike is out in the open! ☀️
Otherwise the trail is super well signposted, I 100% recommend it 😁

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DALLIERE CHRISTIAN
DALLIERE CHRISTIAN

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hello, I hiked the sentier des granges from the village of Laboule with some friends. The signposting was correct on the first part of the circuit, but taking the gr back towards Cros de L'Aygues was more complicated. 08/09/2022 hike.

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Yankélée
Yankélée

Thank you for your comments

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L.M GREGOIRE
L.M GREGOIRE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice circuit, nicely completed by the upper part of the Ferjasses circuit.

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Yankélée
Yankélée

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This tour was done in the middle of winter, at the beginning of December to be exact, so it's quite pleasant even in the cold season.
You just have to be aware of the rainfall that preceded it: the small streams can easily overflow and prevent you from crossing them on foot.
Otherwise, this route is just as enjoyable as ever, and you never tire of it because of the variety and nuance of its scenery, colours and itinerary.

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Yankélée
Yankélée

Hello Jean Marie,
Thank you very much for your message.
We're delighted that you enjoyed this itinerary and that you had a good time.
In fact, this walk is particularly beautiful in spring when the broom is in flower: the photographers enjoy creating colour effects with the relief of the rocky bars and the grey-blue sky.
The many barns are more visible before the dense foliage of the fayards appears.
For the pleasure of your eyes, long live sport and long live the mountains!
Sincerely
Yankélée

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jeanmarie.chopin
jeanmarie.chopin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A really lovely walk, on a sunny day too.
I climbed on a good, steady path through a wide variety of forests, with some lovely views. And all the way to the top of the Tanargue range: an absolutely splendid 360°C panorama over the whole of the Ardèche, Mont Ventoux and even a little of the Alps (but it was the afternoon, with the sun shining down on us). Admittedly, the descent on the way back is a bit monotonous, but there's still a lovely unobstructed view to the south, and the path (which cuts the bends in the middle of the descent) provides a relaxing alternative....
And this hike must be even prettier in May/June when the junipers, which cover much of the top of the climb, are in flower !!!!:
There's absolutely no problem finding your way around with the route shown on the Viso map (and also the little comment about finding the start of the path in the village: fortunately it's given....)

Thank you very much for this route

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shapiro
shapiro

Quite a challenging walk, but the "Difficult" rating is exaggerated. Interesting ascent on a fairly steep path; monotonous descent (on a forest fire-fighting road) with, nonetheless, beautiful views over the valley and wild forests. No comment on the views from the ridge, as we were there in the fog. We did see some golden eagles, 10m from us, on the way down, which makes up for it!

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ELYANE
ELYANE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

parish specific to Brittany with some lovely views...
some rivers to cross with a lot of water as there had been heavy rain on 20 October...
thank you for this beautiful route!

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vonvonfan
vonvonfan

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Tres belle randonnéé malgré la pluie paysages magnifique en crete
done on 9 june

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