Source of the Loue via the GR® 595 variant

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We followed the directions in some of the comments to start from the car park at the spring and also to turn left at the red field to avoid the road.
However, we were unable to avoid it completely (perhaps we should have pushed further into the bushes to stay to the left of the road?).
In this case, the remaining section of road (on either side of the point marked Start/Finish on the map), although short, was quite stressful, as there is no pedestrian area on the side and motorbikes and cars drive fast and without seeing us (bends). In short, it was a short section that was not at all pleasant.
It's also best not to be too afraid of heights or have young children with you, as the section going up the river along the cliff edge is not secure.
Otherwise, it's a pleasant walk and the spring is absolutely magnificent.

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Date of your route : Jun 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Circuit starting from the car park at the spring, as suggested in a review. At Pré Rouge, the road is closed, so there is no choice but to take the alternative route. The various facilities have been refurbished. Nice walk.

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Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We did this route in the opposite direction. But it was also very good, except for a mistake at point 4 which made the route longer

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Date of your route : Sep 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

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Date of your route : Aug 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

I recommend starting at the car park by the spring and finishing at the spring.
At Pré Rouge, don't join the dangerous road, but turn left and take the short detour, which is so much nicer! Then head to point 5.
We were lucky enough to see some ibex less than 10 metres away on the path.
New picnic tables have been installed where the road leaves the memorial stone (after the starting point you have chosen - there are not enough parking spaces)

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Date of your route : Apr 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I agree with JEFF's comments, who recommends changing to Pré Rouge and reaching point 5 via the path that runs closer to the gorges. The first 300 metres may be a little daunting as it is very muddy following tree clearing, but after that the path is pleasant.

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Date of your route : Sep 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Great hike, magnificent. Oh so picturesque and not difficult, which can be done with children. Be careful though to stay alert, as there are many precipices along the route. We started from point 2, at the source. We turned left between markers 3 and 4 at the red meadow. This adds 500 metres to the route, but it's not difficult and makes it much more picturesque. It allows you to rejoin the original path at point 5. With a bit of luck, you'll also be able to see some chamois. And finally, it avoids walking along the D67, where visibility is poor due to the bends. And, more importantly, you'll avoid encountering lots of motorbikes speeding along this road.

I think the author would improve safety by modifying this beautiful hike. When you reach point 5, which leads to the D67, you can still visit the eco-museum by going back up the road for about a hundred metres.

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Date of your route : Oct 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

an impressive start, but the descent into the gorges is fantastic! A wonderful discovery of the Loue River.

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Date of your route : Jun 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice route, passing through the gorges, and a beautiful finish opposite the source of the Loue river

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Date of your route : May 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very good trail for a short hike. Lots of interesting things to see and viewpoints. Wear good shoes, as the ground can be muddy in places.
The surrounding area is also interesting.

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Date of your route : Feb 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

very pleasant hike
Nothing to report

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Date of your route : Aug 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant way to approach the source of the Loue. The route at the beginning is perfect and safe. It sets the mood. The return is more tricky. We encountered several barbed wire fences from the red meadow to point 4, and walking on the road became dangerous. Our recommendation is to follow the new signs: turn left at the entrance to the red meadow rather than trying to go around the wall of vegetation blocking the path.

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Date of your route : Jul 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk for the family with three children aged 10 to 13. We were a little unsure about where to start and should have parked near the bee museum. In the end, we found a small spot near the rock with a commemorative plaque, which is where we started from.
There were no particular dangers on the way down to the spring, but our children are no longer small.
The spring is a magnificent place.
The climb back up the other side was a bit steep and we had a little trouble finding our way after the Pré Rouge as the signs didn't match (I hadn't read the comments, unfortunately!), but logic got us back on track (instead of turning left and going back down...!)

In the end, I would recommend starting at the car park at the springs, even if it means starting with the steep climb! That way, you save the best for last (the descent to the spring).

Thank you for this lovely little hike.

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Date of your route : Jan 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant route that can be easily modified.

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Date of your route : Sep 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely afternoon outing for a first taste of this mountain range. And the Loue river is quite something!

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