360° tour of the Roc de la Siejo via the Aiguilles and the Vires

Departure from the village square - Hamlet of Douch

(S/E) Leave from the village square in the hamlet of Douch, heading towards the Col de l'Airole, then turn left onto the GR® (white/red markings) / PR® (yellow markings) to climb up through the shade of a deciduous forest. Climb steeply before arriving at a fork on the Caroux plateau.

(1) Take the path on the right at the fork (despite the signposts). You will arrive at a fork.

(2) Continue straight ahead. You are now on a wide track along the plateau, with beautiful views in the distance of the Espinouse plateau, the wind turbines, and below, the circuit that descends to Héric. You will come to another fork.

(3) Head straight ahead. You will gradually see Roc Caroux and the peaks getting closer in the distance. The path narrows and the markings disappear. Keep heading towards Roc Caroux, and in particular a large tree (beech) at the foot of the rocks. Then climb through the rocks, following the few cairns, to the summit of Roc Caroux (1,034 m).

(4) Descend from Roc Caroux, heading left for a few dozen metres until you see large, slightly faded "dark blue" circles marked on the rocks. These mark the small ledge, named Guy Pestre after its discoverer, which winds around the peaks to the north and Roc de la Siéjo. Follow these markings, which include some steep sections, steep descents and large steps, to reach a junction.

(5) Head towards the Roc de la Siéjo passage and swing over to the Aiguilles side of the Gorges d'Héric to the west.

(6) Follow the trail and the side of the mountain, which descends via pretty balconies towards the Aiguilles trail. You will see the hamlet of Héric below. Be careful on some very vertiginous passages along the edge of cliffs, alternating with steep descents. Stay close to the cliff until you reach a fork below.

(7) At several nearby cairns, you will reach a junction perpendicular to the Aiguilles trail, marked with small red dots. Turn left towards the south and follow this trail, which is almost horizontal, to the start of the Grande Vire Rieutort.

(8) Then climb the Aiguilles trail to a small pass. Turn left and stick to the rock face, at a cairn. Get closer to the cliff until you find small light blue dots. These markings are for the Grande Vire du Rieutort, which starts off very difficult on the cliff. It looks impossible to climb, but squeeze through the gaps following the blue dots. After 10 minutes, you will reach a large open space, a sort of square covered with pebbles, at the foot of a "wall" in front of you. Continue on the left, along the cliff face. There are a few passages along the edge of the cliff and a few climbing steps (level 4), but they are not dangerous. You will arrive at the base of a chimney, a rockfall that you will need to climb up for 500 metres.

(5) Exit the Grande Vire via a small pass with a small tree in the middle. At this junction, once you have caught your breath, head right onto the small ledge (dark blue dots) and follow the path you took on the way up. Do not climb back up to Roc Caroux, but turn left towards Douch, in the Rieutor valley. Either return by the original path, or stretch your legs by going to the plateau: then descend towards the Rieu Tort stream.

(9) Climb the path through the pine forest, marked with dark blue dots, allowing yourself a detour to the edges of Plo de la Maurelle to admire the superb panoramic views of the Héric gorges and the Orb valley that open up before you. Arrive at the Font Salesse refuge on the plateau.

(10) Turn left towards Douch, heading north, following the PR® (yellow) and GR® (white/red) markings. Cross a small log bridge, then a pretty, shady deciduous forest to reach a track.

(11) At the edge of the forest, take the path on the left, then after a few metres, turn left again at a 90° angle onto a very narrow, unmarked path through the grass. Walk between ponds, streams, forests, wetlands and broom bushes to return to the original track overlooking Espinouse.

(3) Then turn right towards Douch... a few hundred metres further on, after a big bend, don't miss the turn-off on the left (marked by a cairn) onto a path that descends into the Combe de l'Airole.

(2) Descend this track among the rocks (Lucadou track), usually used by hunters, to descend towards the Col de l'Airole.

(12) Once on the Col de l'Airole meadow, follow the signs to return via the right to the hamlet of Douch (S/E).

Reminder: please comply with the regulation requiring you to park your vehicles only in the car park at the entrance to the hamlet. Parking on the small square near the bread oven and in the narrow streets is strictly reserved for permanent residents.

There is a water source in the hamlet of Douch, but the rest of the route is in the middle of nature and not very busy => be careful and plan ahead.

There is little mobile phone coverage in the Aiguilles rocks. The route is challenging, so be sure to inform your loved ones of your itinerary.

Visit to the hamlet of Douch

Sainte Marie Church in Douch

Héric Gorges