Sumène walks

This circular hike takes you through the Combe Chaude Nature Reserve, a nesting area for birds of prey and bats in the numerous caves. This limestone barrier overlooks the Rieutord valley and offers a beautiful view of much of the Cévennes in the Gard department. Don't miss the unusual crossing of the Baume Clauside, the climb up the Ranc de Banes offering a 360° panorama from Pic Saint-Loup to Mont Aigoual, and a short tour to discover the village at the end of the circuit.

The hamlet of Cézas, in the commune of Sumène, clings to an altitude of 650 m between the Cagnasses and Fage mountains, in the heart of a national forest. This short mid-mountain route alternates between numerous shaded passages and views of the Cévennes and beyond. On the way, a visit to the 12th-century Priory of Saint-Martin is a must, offering a peaceful spot for a picnic.

This moderately difficult hike offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and Saint-Roman de Codières from the ridge of the Montagne de la Fage.

These paths lead to terraces that were once cultivated and offer views of the surrounding hamlets. Most of this hike is in the shade of holm oaks and chestnut trees. You'll feel like you've stepped back in time in these typical Cévennes landscapes.

From the village of Laroque, take a tour of the Thaurac plateau and its many karstic caves.

A beautiful autumn walk. Moderator's addition: For a slightly tricky section on the descent, it is advisable to do this hike in the opposite direction to the description

The route follows part of the drovers' road from Colognac to Mont Aigoual.

Le Vigan is not a particularly pretty or touristy town. However, if you stop off there, here's a walk to discover a few aspects of the historic centre and the banks of the river Arre.

Located at an altitude of 600 m, in the foothills of the Cévennes, Colognac is a typical Cévennes village. The lush vegetation of the meadows, chestnut and oak trees contrasts with the arid heath. You are in the mountains. From the Col des Fosses (900 m), the views stretch north over the Borgne valley to the Barre des Cévennes, and south-west over the Viganais and beyond. At the start, the Mouleyrette mill is a little gem.

From Molières-Calaillac (greenway car park), climb towards Esparon, then descend towards Bez, then Lasfons and along the greenway.

For experienced hikers, here is a 40 km loop starting from Valleraugue and reaching Aigoual via the famous 4,000 steps. It descends to Lac du Bonheur near Camprieu, then climbs back up to Espérou and ends along the ridges facing Mont Aigoual, which you will have discovered a few hours earlier. This hike is not technically difficult but is very long with some steep sections and requires good stamina.

This hike will take you to the highest point of the Séranne mountain, the Roc Blanc. Throughout the hike, you will enjoy wide panoramic views of the Buèges and Hérault valleys, the Gorges de la Vis, the Pic Saint-Loup and the Hortus.

From Valleraugue, take the famous 4000-step trail that climbs up to the Mont-Aigoual observatory. To complete the loop, follow theGR®6for a long descent through the forest towards Aire de Côte, before finishing with a crossing of the chestnut grove above the hamlet of Berthezène.

A beautiful walk for the whole family that leads to a spring through the heath.

Loop starting from the car park at the spinning mill in Lasalle towards Sainte-Croix-de-Caldere and its magnificent chapel via the Col de l'Oursine. Return via Calviac and Saint-Bonnet-de-Salendrinque. Mainly in the woods, but you will still have plenty of magnificent views. Places to visit: Le Sollier and Le Castellas castles, the chapel of Sainte-Croix-de-Caldere, the Menhir à la Borie, the Salendrinque river and the spinning mills of Lasalle.

This magnificent hike is featured on the beautiful Massif de l'Aigoual map published by the Mont Aigoual Causses Tourist Office. Enjoy the diversity of the forests you will pass through, where you will constantly switch between beech, oak, fir and spruce trees. The panoramic views at (3) and at the André Chamson Monument are sublime.

Set amid pastures and wooded hills covered with chestnut trees, this Cévennes getaway offers splendid views of the surrounding peaks and valleys.

In the Cardonille massif, south of Ganges, this lovely hike offers beautiful panoramic views of the Cévennes, Mont Aigoual and the Thaurac plateau with its Grotte des Demoiselles. It then approaches the banks of the Hérault via shaded paths and trails, offering a real haven of coolness in the summer. The circuit, which sometimes runs along a balcony, offers beautiful views of the river and its meanders before reaching the picturesque Moulin de Clauzel.

Departure from Mas Baume, where the Asphodèles trail begins.

A circuit on the southern slopes of the Aigoual massif around the Lac des Pises, which can be done in winter on snowshoes (average altitude 1250 m) or on foot.

This is a magnificent hike in the hills above Saint-Jean-de-Buèges and its valley. The village is worth exploring on the way back. The Buèges valley is well worth a visit. We enjoyed repeating this hike in January 2025. Cold weather but bright sunshine. No notable changes except for a new muddy patch at point 6 and the absence of the pierced rock at point 5. The hike is almost entirely on a balcony, so you'll be in the sun.

This hike will take you to the shores of Lake Matane and allow you to discover varied landscapes and beautiful panoramic views. You will appreciate the orientation table at Rocher du Causse, which offers a splendid view.

From the summit of Mont Aigoual, discover l'Hort de Dieu, the Garden of God, a favorite spot for botanists since the Renaissance, and a testing ground for today's botanists."Remembering the good advice of the fabulist, we wanted to plant without delay; in the spring and especially in the autumn of 1903, we planted more than 1,200 plants, including 773 trees at the Hort de Dieu... As of now, we have 219 species of trees and shrubs in cultivation or under study at the Aigoual". Charles Flahault, 1904.

A short, easy hike, provided you're not prone to vertigo, from the summit of Mont Aigoual, offering breathtaking views of the Cévennes and the Hérault valley.

Circuit on the eastern slopes of the Causse de l'Hortus visiting its sites of interest: Lafous mill, Embruscalles lake, Mas Neuf, the archaeological site of the Causse rock with a view of the entire Gard plains and the pre-Alps beyond, Mont Lozère, Aigoual and more...