Taillefer from Pontaix

Mainly on wide tracks, this hike—which is not difficult apart from its length—takes you up to the Taillefer, offering stunning views from the Vercors to the Trois-Becs Massif with beautiful vistas over the Drôme Valley.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 19.95 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 8h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 844 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 835 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 926 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 328 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The starting point is at the footbridge on the right bank of the Drôme (opposite the Auberge L'Eau Vive), Rue du Temple. Small car park here.

Unmarked section

(S/E) Pass under the archway of the house with blue shutters and head north along Rue du Temple. Walk alongside the Temple, leaving the bridge on your right, and continue straight on along Rue du Barry, following the signs for “Salle des Fêtes”. Turn left onto Chemin de Véronne (old sign reading “Clairette de Die, Roury Elie” on the house at the start of the lane).

(1) Turn left again (leaving Impasse de la Forge on your right), head uphill and take three hairpin bends in succession. At the fourth, less pronounced bend, a path on the left leads to the ruins of Pontaix Castle.

(2) Take a round trip to the ruins (recommended for the view of the village and the Drôme).
On your return, continue along the road. At the next junction, turn right towards Sainte-Croix, “Vachères” (iron signpost). The return route is via the road on the left.

(3) The road climbs gently through the vineyards, passes a mast on the right and then becomes a track. At a pylon, at the fork, take the path climbing to the left. Arrive at Collet des Croisières.

(4) At the signpost, turn left towards the Col de Vachères.

Section marked with yellow/green signs

(5) On reaching the Col de Vachères (signpost), continue straight on towards the Col des Blaches. The path, running along the ridge or the southern slope, switches to the northern slope before reaching the Col des Blaches.

Unmarked section

(6) A few metres before the signpost, take a well-marked path on the right which climbs gradually up the ridge to the junction with a wider path.

Section marked with yellow/red and yellow markings

(7) Head straight ahead towards the north and make your way to the summit of Taillefer (marker). Enjoy the view if the vegetation allows...

(8) Retrace your steps to the previous junction.

(7) When you reach a post with handwritten directions, turn right towards the Col de Fonteuse.

(9) Follow the path on the right, which runs along a ledge and joins a track after Bruchet (house). Turn right and head for the Col de Fonteuse.

Unmarked section

(10) At the pass, take the path on the left just before the sign for the Chemin de Véronne. After about 900 m, at the track, turn left. After another 1 km, you’ll reach a road.

(11) Then take the track on the left. This track (closed to vehicles), after a hairpin bend, passes in front of a small house resembling a shelter (Morin), then turns onto the southern slope of the hill (Côte Belle). After crossing the Ravin des Loubières, you’ll reach another track on the ridge.

(12) Continue straight on for about a hundred metres. At the fork, turn right onto the northern slope (signs indicating ‘no entry’ and ‘no entry except authorised vehicles’) and head for the Col des Loubières.

(13) Continue straight along the track. After about 1,500 m, you will reach the Col de Véronne (signpost).

(14) Take the path on the left towards Pontaix. This path, which is in poor condition in places, winds its way up a few bends, first passing a forest house (on the right), then the houses of Groslong.

(15) Turn right when you reach the access path to the houses (on the left, a few metres away, is the picturesque Fontaine des Lots, which emerges from a tree trunk). The Chemin de Véronne gradually leaves behind the somewhat austere atmosphere of Groslong and heads towards the Ravin des Lots.

(16) At the fork after the bridge, turn right. A few hundred metres further on, the path rejoins the route taken on the way out.

(3) Then head back to the village and the starting car park (S/E) via the reverse route.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 328 m - Footbridge, right bank
  2. 1 : km 0.36 - alt. 330 m - Chemin de Véronne, on the left
  3. 2 : km 0.69 - alt. 374 m - Path leading to the castle on the left
  4. 3 : km 1.23 - alt. 387 m - Common junction (out and back)
  5. 4 : km 4.29 - alt. 580 m - Turn left towards Col de Vachères
  6. 5 : km 4.71 - alt. 633 m - Straight ahead - Col de Vachères (631m)
  7. 6 : km 6.34 - alt. 883 m - Path on the right - Col des Blaches (880m)
  8. 7 : km 6.8 - alt. 904 m - Crossroads, opposite heading north
  9. 8 : km 7.19 - alt. 925 m - Summit of > - Taillefer (932m)
  10. 9 : km 7.79 - alt. 860 m - Junction, turn right
  11. 10 : km 9.19 - alt. 810 m - On the left - Col de Fonteuse (817m)
  12. 11 : km 11.14 - alt. 546 m - Road, on the left
  13. 12 : km 13.84 - alt. 691 m - A track joins from the left; continue straight ahead
  14. 13 : km 14.39 - alt. 674 m - Straight ahead - Col des Loubières (719m)
  15. 14 : km 15.87 - alt. 597 m - Heading towards Pontaix - Col de Véronne (603m)
  16. 15 : km 16.85 - alt. 478 m - Path, on the right
  17. 16 : km 18.92 - alt. 377 m - Junction, turn right
  18. S/E : km 19.95 - alt. 331 m - Footbridge, right bank

Notes

No water along the route.
Inn in Pontaix.

Worth a visit

The village of Pontaix (medieval houses, church) and its exceptional location commanding a strategic point on the River Drôme.
Ruins of Pontaix Castle.
Varied views of the Drôme, the Quint Valley, Glandasse Mountain, La Tête de la Dame, the Grand Barry and the Trois-Becs Massif.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
désapointé26
désapointé26

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We went on this magnificent hike on a lovely sunny day. We were thoroughly delighted by the spectacular scenery of the Vercors, with stunning views of the Trois Becs and the Drôme Valley, and as a bonus, the snow-capped peaks of Glandasse and Grand Veymont.
One small downside, however.
It is best not to park in the small car park on Rue du Temple. This street and the car park are reserved for residents.
Cross the bridge and follow the signs for the ‘Salle des Fêtes’ car park. This offers more space. The start of the walk is then via Rue de Barry, going in the opposite direction. The Chemin de Véronne is a few hundred metres further on to the right.

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georgespo
georgespo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I decided to start by taking the lovely path along the Drôme and then rejoin the original route further up. (Easy to spot on the map.) I didn’t take the detour via the summit of Taillefer, as I’d already been there. At the Col de Fonteuse, the signposts have disappeared from the post. You need to take the first path leading down to the left, before the signpost with no directions. The return journey follows the route description; a bit monotonous in the final section; the waterfalls can be visited at the end of the route, if you still have a bit of time and energy left...

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BARNAVON
BARNAVON

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route took 4½ hours and covered 20 km in good weather, although it started to get hot towards the end. An interesting climb up the Col des Blaches, especially towards the end.
No particular problems finding the way. Two comments:
- The section between Morin and the Col de Véronne is certainly the least interesting. However, it does allow you to avoid the Véronne road, even though it is not busy at all,
- At the end of the descent from the Col de Véronne, 500–600m past the farm, where there is a sort of fork in the road, there is a DEAD END sign with a Green Cross, and a sign for the Col de Véronne on the other side of the fork. I assume these signs are new (they weren’t there in early March) and that the signpost at the top for the Col de Véronne should be moved. To be checked.
Finally, at the start, it is possible to follow the Drôme for 1 km and climb through the vineyards to reach the plateau and rejoin the route. This avoids going through the same section twice (crossing the village and climbing to the tower).
Excellent route.

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ardechom
ardechom
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Set mainly amidst a wide variety of woodland, this lovely route offers numerous views of the Vercors, the Baronnies, the Massif de Saoû, Servelle… and the many facets and charms of the Drôme.
Excellent description and route map.
Thanks to petitspas26.

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