The cliffs of Roche Colombe

The west summit of Saou forest, which marks the beginning (or end) of this forest.

Technical sheet

n°25705

Creation:
6 May 2013

Last update:
7 Apr 2025

Last review:
2 Jun 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 9.36 km
Average duration: 4h 25
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 606 m
Vertical drop: - 600 m
Highest point: 871 m
Lowest point: 329 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Diois, Dauphiné
District: Saou (26400)
Start/End: N 44.646385° / E 5.060708°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3037SB, 3038SB, 3137OT, 3138OT
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Photos

Very nice view from the top on the other side of the rock

Description of the walk

Start out from the village of Saou at the signpost for Roche Colombe above the church (S).

Take the road following the yellow PR waymarks (Petite Randonnée – Short Hike) and the white signs for the climbing sites (1). Further on, join the wide path that winds along the edge of the tall boxwood and oak trees.

Keep going until you reach a mountain pass (2) opposite the summit of La Poupoune, a rock-climbing Mecca, and then continue along the flat before making a last climb up to the summit of Roche Colombe (3).

Follow the path down a gentle slope before beginning a steeper descent that ends at Pas de l’Echelette (4).

Ignore the path off to the right and instead take the path to the left. Gently make your way across the more difficult passage that follows, and then continue through the forest.

Join a wide forest track and then follow the PR waymarks (5), which are clearly marked, to get back to Saou and the car park.

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 329 m - Parking des Clos
1 : km 0.14 - alt. 339 m - Climbing trail
2 : km 1.78 - alt. 654 m - Col face à Poupoune
3 : km 2.91 - alt. 869 m - Roche Colombe
4 : km 4.05 - alt. 705 m - Pas de l'Échelette
5 : km 5.94 - alt. 526 m - PR return
S/E : km 9.36 - alt. 329 m - Parking des Clos

Practical information

There is no water source along the way, so make sure you take enough water with you.

In the nearby area

Saou forest.
You can visit Trianon pavilion at the end of the car park in the forest.
For information on this building, see the Pommerolle hike.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5

Based on 167 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5

Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5

Route interest
4.8 / 5

User 26004797

Jun 02, 2025 at 07:25 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Well-shaded trail for most of the way.

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GM2S

Apr 07, 2025 at 07:19 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very beautiful hike ... the climb is steep but the view from the top is worth it ...
very pleasant undergrowth sections ... beware of a downhill section in the rocks ...
hiking boots obligatory ...
there were quite a few people on this beautiful spring Sunday...
do it again and again!

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crob42

Nov 18, 2024 at 04:11 EST

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful autumn hike with a superb panorama at the top. It's well worth the climb to admire it.
The November wind is very cold but many parts are sheltered from it, and the sun warms you up.
however, it was a real pain to park in Saou because it was the day of the winter fruit fair...

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Chavezdominguez

Oct 23, 2024 at 12:22 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very nice hike, a beautiful view, lots of people, an easy hike, just the rocky passage, a little technical, slippery, and the ladder, we had a good laugh, it is made for dwarfs. lol, and the returns super. thank you and bravo to the author.

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Benji091207

Oct 07, 2024 at 02:57 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Super, not very complicated but a short climb at the start to wake up the legs.

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Hepatic

Aug 12, 2024 at 12:16 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice hike. Great views from the summit. Not many people but it was warm. The return after Echelette is very well shaded. A great day out.

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barnab26

Aug 12, 2024 at 05:52 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice hike, leaving at 8am, arriving without hurrying at 10am (77 year olds). Lovely views from the first summit, overlooking the syncline of the Saou forest. The fact that you did it early in the morning meant that you could better appreciate the relief, with the play of shadows. The view from the actual summit (a little further on) is not as good, as the vegetation prevents a 360° view. There was no problem on the way back, except that it took almost twice as long to get back. Otherwise, a superb hike that we recommend.

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mimouche

Aug 12, 2024 at 03:14 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Having done this loop many times, I still find it just as interesting. What's more, in these hot weather conditions, you're always in the shade!

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Emmanuel26

Jul 22, 2024 at 03:23 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very fine and fairly ambitious hike on the first part (be careful, it is due south although most of it is shaded). You are rewarded by the view from the summit. The return is gentler on the north and then west sides of the mountain.

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Gemainisada

Jul 15, 2024 at 12:54 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Arriving from Crest, park in the car park on the left as you enter Saou. The path starts at the top of the car park on the right, just beside the sign with a map. The climb is quite steep, but once you reach the top it's nice to take some time to look at the view over the valley, the Saou forest, the three beaks on the other side...
After the summit, the descent is almost always through undergrowth.
On the other hand, when I did the hike on 14 July in the early afternoon, the climb was rather difficult in the heat and you really need to bring water. It's true, I'm not much of a walker.
I'd happily do it again in dry weather, but not as hot.

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terrence raptor

May 08, 2024 at 05:26 EDT

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : Yes

Enjoy the walk. Walked on 07 April 2024 with 4 adults and 4 children (2 girls, 2 boys) (10, 9, 8 and 7 years old), who are not necessarily used to walking. We preferred to do it in the opposite direction, so as to have a gradual gradient.
It's a fairly strenuous route, particularly on the way back down, towards the climbing site and afterwards, where there are several places where it would be a good idea to make it safer, given the amount of foot traffic. There's also the passage with a ledge secured by a steel cable handrail and sealed rungs, which still requires special attention. If I'd known the route was like this, I wouldn't have taken on the novice children, but everything went well. For the record, the 4 kids were in front.
From the Les Clos car park, it took us 4 hours 20 minutes to complete the route, with regular breaks and one of more than 30 minutes for a packed lunch at the top of the ridges.

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BéaAllan

Apr 15, 2024 at 05:45 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

No need to worry about this fairly strenuous hike

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bernardino

Apr 15, 2024 at 05:03 EDT

Hello, thank you for your comment and above all congratulations for your children, because this hike has to be earned. I'm not at all surprised that your children enjoyed the ladder climb, it's great fun and makes a great end to the outing.

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CélineF.

Apr 15, 2024 at 04:48 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

It took us 4.5 hours, including breaks, with 3 children aged 10, 8 and 6. The climb is steep and mostly sunny, so avoid doing it in hot weather. The view is magnificent, and you can have a picnic at the top with a beautiful panorama (after 1? hours of climbing). The descent is tricky at first, with ladders that are a little technical but not dangerous and fun for children. Then a beautiful descent through undergrowth.

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gb26100

Mar 26, 2024 at 12:01 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A slightly strenuous walk. The steep ascent is on a stone path.
The view from the top is a great reward.
A few tricky sections on the way down, but lovely views at the end.
On Saturday, we met around a dozen hikers.

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