The roof of the Rhône: Mont Saint-Rigaud

Park your car at Col de Crie.

(S/F) Follow the D23 towards Chénelette (south). After a few hundred metres, take a path on the right heading up through the forest (GR76).

(1) At the crow's foot above the place called Verrière, keep heading straight.

(2) At the Croix des Oncins crossroads, take a left onto a carriage road and keep going until a fork.

(3) Go right over roughly 600 m.

(4) Leave the GR76 and go left onto a trail heading up through Bois de la Verrière.

(5) After a passage run-down by logging vehicles you'll reach Cabane de Soleilhavoup. The path then heads down a slight slope reaching a road. Head right on the road.

(6) After 300 to 400 m, leave the road taking an uphill trail to the right. Keep to the left at both junctions arriving at a crossroads meeting up with "la Croix d'Amanzé".

(7) Don't take it, instead go right, up a trail heading north-east through undergrowth, then turn left towards Mont Saint-Rigaud and its summit.

(8) Head down a small road leading to a fountain (source du Mont Saint-Rigaud).

(9) Once you get to the fountain, go right due north. Reach the GR7 on a section of road that you'll leave to go left near high point 899 m.

(10) At the crossing, head downhill to the right then head due north crossing Ajoux communes until a crossroads, hardly noticeable.

(11) Head uphill to the right reaching a small road. Follow the road and the GR7 to the left reaching a crossing (high point 820 m). Leave the GR7 and take a path on the right heading down through the woods due east (do not take the large path on the right). Keep going straight, ignoring trailheads to the right and left reaching a large track.

(12) Turn right and follow the track reaching Châtelard pedestrian viaduct.

(13) Keep heading straight on the path through the undergrowth leading to open meadows.

(14) At the crossroads, take the path on the right and head off to the right, due south at high point 584. Keep to the right at the next junction and head up towards Brete crossroads.

(15)Turn off to the left. First flat, the path then heads downhill towards Monsols Village and reaches a small road. Take a hairpin short cut to the left.

(16) At the first sight of houses, head right on a trail along the D43 reaching Col de Crie (S/F).

A well waymarked trail (SR1) until Croix des Oncins (2). Then SR2. Back to SR1 at Brete Crossroads (15). (See photos).

According to legend, the Mont Saint Rigaud source (9) has miraculous qualities, particularly that of restoring female fertility.