Tour of Montagne de Rosis via the Caramaus ridge

Park in the car park (a few spaces) along the road, in the hamlet of Rosis.

(S/E) Walk up into the village through the narrow streets past the stone houses. When you reach the top at a T-junction, take the path on the right towards the Col d’Aussières. The path climbs gently and in a straight line through the pine forest until it opens out onto a large clearing with a cistern, where several tracks meet: the Col d’Aussières.

(1) Head straight along the grassy track which climbs gently towards the highest point of Mouscaillou. Reach the top of the hill.

(2) Take the opportunity to make a short detour of a few metres to the left to the Mouscaillou viewpoint. To the left, you can see the Caramaus ridge, which lies ahead. Enjoy the 360° view. Retrace your steps a few metres, then continue left along the path: the trail narrows and descends through heathland and rocky terrain, with the Col de Vente-Vieille visible below: follow the GPX track closely, as there are no cairns or markings here. You’ll be walking through a very rocky, lunar landscape, straight out of an adventure film. Join the GRP® which runs alongside and overlooks the A-road.

(3) Turn left towards the Col de Vente-Vieille; you’ll soon reach a junction where several paths meet.

(4) Turn left, following the yellow PR® markings of the Sentier des Balissous. Follow the forest track which descends straight ahead along the edge of the trees before entering the forest. You’ll reach the point where the track makes a hairpin bend and climbs up to the left.

(5) Leave the track and head right along a narrow, single-track path marked with yellow PR® signs, which leads to the stream and the Gorges d’Aussières. Cross this stream several times, then enter the terraced chestnut grove, which runs alongside and descends the left bank of the stream, until you reach the first houses of the hamlet of Cours-le-Haut. Continue straight on to reach the centre of the hamlet; enjoy the picturesque setting, its houses and stone bridges. Time seems to have stood still here.

(6) Once in the centre, continue to follow the yellow markings, heading left along a path that climbs gently up the valley at the back of the village, following the Casselouvre stream. Cross the Ruisseau de l'Adrech and head straight on across a scree slope alongside a low wall, before reaching a pass on the heights, the start of the Caramaus ridge.

(7) At this point, take care not to miss the change of direction: leave the yellow PR® trail which heads straight on, and turn left at a 90° angle into the rocks, following the blue markers from here on until the end of the ridge. After about an hour of effort, a chaotic climb and spectacular views (notably the Roquandouire gateway and the Serre de Morre on the right), you’ll reach the top of the ridge at the Col de Caramaus, a vast, windswept plateau amongst rocks and broom. Once again, you feel as though you’ve stepped onto the set of a science-fiction film.

(8) Continue to follow the Blue trail as it climbs through the beech forest, skirting round the large patch of impassable broom on the opposite hillside to the right. After a fairly steep climb, you reach the top of this hill and the start of the Serre d’Esparic.

(9) The sight of the Coume Aliausses is a desolate one following Storm Nils in February 2026, with most of the pine trees lying flat and blocking the way. Go round this devastated forest via the path branching off to the right, reach the edge of the plateau and enjoy the view of the Col de l'Ourtigas at the foot of a large cairn about 1 m high.

(10) After 100 m on this wide track, turn sharply left onto the Piste Forestière des Tourelles, then follow a path that descends along the edge of the forest. Reach a final junction before the finish, facing a low stone wall, with several possible routes.

(11) Take the path on the right, which descends and runs alongside this low wall, close to the private enclosures. Once you reach the huts (caravan, cabin), the path ends. Then head down the slope to the left into the forest, straight on for 300 m, towards the rooftops of the village houses and the car park (S/E).

No water along the route; the route is in the heart of the countryside and not heavily used => please be careful and plan ahead.
There is little mobile coverage either, so make sure you let your friends and family know your route.

(S/E) The hamlet of Rosis: its castle and the river at the foot of the village, the narrow streets and stone houses on the hillside.

(6) The very picturesque hamlet of Cours-le-Haut.

360° panoramic views from several high points along the route.