Tour of L'Ubac and La Buisse

This circular route allows you to discover and visit Montaulieu and Rochebrune, two villages in the Baronnies, and to cross three mountain passes, all within a reasonable time for a day's hike. The landscapes are very wild, but there are also traces of the agricultural life of yesteryear, as you cross dry stone terraces built using a technique that dates back to antiquity.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.88 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,841 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,821 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,359 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,565 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Go to Montaulieu and park on the CR 14 without obstructing traffic.

(S/E) From the car park at the entrance to the village, head towards the village. After 100 metres, take the tarmac road on the left, which then turns into a track. Continue on this track, heading south.

(1) Cross the Maratras stream and continue in the same direction to reach elevation 600.

Yellow markings

(2) Caution: in the bend, do not miss the fork in the path on the left that leads into a pine forest and where a gradual climb begins to the Col de Serriès at an elevation of 718 metres.

(3) From the pass, cross the track and follow the yellow markings on a path opposite that descends into the valley. At the end of this descent, you will reach the Rieufrais stream.

(4) Ford the stream, then climb up a path towards the hamlet of Rochebrune.

(5) Leave the most obvious path to go around a property on the right (see explanations in practical information). This path reconnects with a track that leads back to the entrance to the hamlet.

(6) From the town hall, turn left onto the main street of this long hamlet to visit the church on its rocky outcrop.

(7) Retrace your steps to the fork you passed earlier.

(6) Then take the Route Pierre-Feu, which descends. 100 metres further on, at the junction, continue left along the Chemin de Sainte-Jalle, which makes a sharp left turn towards Sainte-Jalle. Cross several pig pens until you reach a place called Le Moulin.

(8) Leave the road and head north, following the yellow-marked trail that climbs for 1 km to the Col d'Onglon.

(9) At this pass, take the yellow marked trail on the left, which winds and climbs slightly to Col de Sierry, the last pass to cross.

(10) From there, take the forest track on the left, which leads back to the Montaulieu valley.
Pass the 629-metre peak and arrive at a stream.

(11) Caution: be particularly vigilant, do not continue on the track that turns right and seems obvious, but instead take the small path on the left that leads more directly to the village of Montaulieu. The yellow markings are not visible at this point. The path runs for a while through broom and boxwood, then turns into a farm track that runs alongside apricot orchards. You will come back to a track.

(12) Turn right onto the tarmac road that descends towards the cemetery, then to the car park at the start (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,640 ft - Parking on the CR 14 in Montelieu.
  2. 1 : mi 0.75 - alt. 1,795 ft - Maratras stream
  3. 2 : mi 1.75 - alt. 1,955 ft - Start of the marked trail
  4. 3 : mi 2.39 - alt. 2,352 ft - Col de Serriès (718m)
  5. 4 : mi 3.15 - alt. 1,736 ft - Fording the Rieufrais
  6. 5 : mi 3.36 - alt. 1,841 ft - Trail diversion
  7. 6 : mi 3.98 - alt. 1,890 ft - Town hall square
  8. 7 : mi 4.16 - alt. 1,923 ft - Rochebrune Church and Cemetery
  9. 8 : mi 5.47 - alt. 1,581 ft - Col de l'Onglon trail
  10. 9 : mi 6.06 - alt. 2,100 ft - Col d'Onglon (635m)
  11. 10 : mi 6.68 - alt. 2,359 ft - Col de Sierry (712m)
  12. 11 : mi 7.26 - alt. 1,952 ft - Resumption of the trail (stream)
  13. 12 : mi 7.73 - alt. 1,742 ft - Turn-off to the cemetery
  14. S/E : mi 7.88 - alt. 1,644 ft - Parking on the CR 14 in Montelieu.

Notes

(5) The landowners no longer allow access to the original trail (municipal council minutes). There was a time when rights of way and traditional customs were respected...

Posted in the town hall on the date of the hike, we read:
"The hiking trail leading from the village to the Col de Serriès has had to be diverted at the request of the Laplace family, who no longer wish to allow the trail to pass through their private land. The mayor and the entire municipal council would like to warmly thank the Combaluzier family, who spontaneously agreed to allow the new route to cross their land. Hikers will thus be able to continue to enjoy our landscapes and a beautiful view of the village in particular."

A detour has also been set up by the Communauté de Communes des Baronnies en Drôme Provençale with the help of volunteers from the Randouvèze association.

Worth a visit

In Rochebrune, 12th-century church.

(4) Before crossing the Rieufrais, turn around to admire the terraces or restanques, magnificent stone walls that allowed locals to gain space for cultivation on these rocky and sloping lands. Interesting information is displayed in the church of Rochebrune (7).

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Manureva
Manureva

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike through unspoilt wilderness. Two villages that seem to have stepped straight out of a postcard!
No roads, just a forest track at the start of the walk (pleasant as it offers lovely views).
Do avoid the hottest part of the day, though, as it’s quite exposed to the sun.

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rabouille daniel
rabouille daniel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

No particular difficulties; stunning scenery and equally charming villages

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DJV
DJV

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent route with exceptional scenery and the chance to discover a village frozen in time. A real treasure.

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Ambois
Ambois

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route, well marked on the summary
Two beautiful villages

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Denis du Praz
Denis du Praz

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful circular route completed in early May.
A little-known hike in very wild countryside, but with no navigation issues.
The route is extremely well described.
Magnificent landscapes embellished with rich flora.
Visiting the two villages of Montaulieu and Rochebrune is a delight.
Note that a car park has now been built on the left just before you reach Montaulieu.
We highly recommend it.

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maya
maya

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Stunning scenery throughout the hike. We had a wonderful time! No issues with the trail.

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mc.biscarrat
mc.biscarrat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike. Two picturesque villages in a magnificent setting, with splendid nature and views throughout the route.
We were a group and we all fell in love with it.
Thank you

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ARISTON
ARISTON

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike on this warm winter day (18°C), two pretty villages in a magnificent setting.

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petites jambes
petites jambes

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful approaches to the villages of Montaulieu and Rochebrune. If you visit the church in Montaulieu, you can take the road on the right, which becomes a wide carriageway, and continue to the cairn.

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hautesavoie74
hautesavoie74

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting circular from Montaulieu to Rochebrune. Pretty villages. Rochebrune is charming and peaceful.

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