Tour of Mont Aigoual via Hort de Dieu

A complete hike to discover Mont Aigoual, its panoramic views and forests, passing through the Hort de Dieu arboretum. Partially shaded route alternating between large and small paths in the forest and open trails.
A few kilometres on a DFCI track that quickly joins a more shaded area.

Details

11476639
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.35 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 406 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 403 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,560 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,288 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from Col de la Serreyrède - Maison du Parc des Cévennes

Red and white markings

(S/E) Passing behind the Maison du Parc, head north, following the GR® 7 - GR® 60 - GR® 66 towards Col de Prat Peyrot.

(1) Cross the

(2) When you reach the pass, cross the road, head left, take the path behind the buildings and continue on theGR®®.
Cross the next road and take the path on the right to pass under the arch (artwork). Continue along this path, leaving the newGR®® route that branches off to the left, and continue straight ahead until you reach a DFCI track.

(3) Cross the DFCI track and continue on theGR®®. Climb this path until you reach the Mont Aigoual road.

(4) At the road, turn right towards the observatory. Follow the hiking signs and descend on theGR®® to a large crossroads of roads, tracks and paths at an altitude of 1500 metres.

Yellow markings

(5) Pass the menhir, take the main path heading south and immediately descend onto a narrow path towards Valleraugue. At the next intersection, leave the path towards Valleraugue and continue on the marked path on the right. Cut across a track and join a fork in the paths.

(6) When you see the educational signs about botany, take the path on the left. Make a short detour to the viewpoint and continue down the path. Continue along this Chemin du Laboratoire and cross a footbridge.

(7) At the Laboratoire sign (building with picnic table), take the path on the right to go behind the building. Continue along this uphill path, pass the stele and return to the car park.

(8) At the junction with the DFCI track, turn left onto it and continue for 800 m until you reach the next fork with a path on the left.

No markings

(9) Continue along this path, following the ridge on your left for over 1 km until you reach a crossroads at an elevation of 1348 metres.

Yellow markings

(10) At this point, continue along the marked path on the left. Continue along this wide, shaded path, which is easy to walk on. Pass several water troughs.
Leave the marked trails on the right and continue on the main path until you reach another crossroads at an elevation of 1316 metres.

(11) Leave the DFCI track on the right and continue on the dirt track, which descends to the left.

(12) At the closed path to the Cascades de l'Hérault, continue to the right. Join the D 269.

(13) Cross it carefully (bend) and follow it to the right until you reach a steep path forming steps on the left and take it. Continue along this path, following the markings, which will climb and then descend in an open area.
Pass the Renecofor station and continue downhill to the right to reach the Maison du Parc and the Col de la Serreyrède at (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,300 m - Col de la Serreyrède
  2. 1 : km 1.38 - alt. 1,402 m - Hérault (fleuve)
  3. 2 : km 1.88 - alt. 1,411 m - Col de Prat Peyrot (1411)
  4. 3 : km 3.4 - alt. 1,451 m - Crossing a firebreak
  5. 4 : km 4.55 - alt. 1,560 m - Mont Aigoual
  6. 5 : km 5.4 - alt. 1,501 m - Menhir and Panorama
  7. 6 : km 6.22 - alt. 1,340 m - Hort de Dieu Botanical Trail
  8. 7 : km 6.72 - alt. 1,301 m - Botanist's laboratory
  9. 8 : km 7.32 - alt. 1,375 m - DFCI junction / Car park
  10. 9 : km 8.12 - alt. 1,380 m - Crossroads
  11. 10 : km 9.36 - alt. 1,348 m - Path
  12. 11 : km 11.69 - alt. 1,317 m - Crossroads, continue straight ahead.
  13. 12 : km 12.25 - alt. 1,291 m - Path closed.
  14. 13 : km 12.62 - alt. 1,325 m - Crossing the D269
  15. S/E : km 13.35 - alt. 1,300 m - Col de la Serreyrède (1299m)

Notes

Wear sturdy shoes, especially in wet weather (the path downhill can sometimes be slippery).
Strong winds between (8) and (9).

Picnic tables at Mont-Aigoual (4) and Hort de Dieu (7).

Worth a visit

Hort de Dieu Arboretum.
Numerous viewpoints.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 27 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Denis26
Denis26 ★

Thank you, nb48210, for pointing that out. I have just amended the description accordingly.

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nb48210
nb48210
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with snow on the ground. You never tire of the view from the observatory when you're lucky enough to be there in good weather.
The final trail in the forest is a bit long, but that's just my opinion. Watch out for any forestry work.
I have a comment on point 11, which says: leave the DFCI track on the right and continue on the dirt track, which goes uphill.
Unless I'm mistaken or I've misunderstood, for me it's: Leave the DFCI track on the right and continue on the dirt track, which goes downhill.

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User 9974050

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful views, forest trails and open spaces! Hike completed in 3 hours + 1 hour break

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Adryan
Adryan

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this beautiful hike with lovely views

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User 18188967

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
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 with no major difficulties and varied terrain. At this time of year, with the autumn colours, the views are magnificent.
For your information, the route took 3 hours and 8 minutes to complete.

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paravisini G
paravisini G

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike, magnificent scenery, passing through multiple trees, spruce, chain, etc. Viewpoints, superbly listed on the route with a few short sections on national roads (fortunately). Perfect view at the summit, but not for me that day!! Because of fog, wind and rain. 7* the word Aigoual!!!otherwise well signposted, short visit to the garden house, well-maintained and informative botanical garden, a few climbs that are a bit steep, but overall perfect

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Cactus parisien
Cactus parisien

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent route.
I came across some wild boar piglets, who were just as surprised as I was. The detour to the Hérault waterfall was really worth it!

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Péio06
Péio06
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent views throughout the route. A fairly steep start, but very quickly the gradient becomes more manageable and enjoyable. The start of the route is open and in full sun, but from halfway along the route you walk in the shade of beautiful conifers, which provide some welcome coolness. We completed the route without a break in about three and a half hours. But my son has long legs 😏 and with my 65-year-old legs, I struggled to keep up. In short, there's no need to run as the cirque and the surrounding area are so beautiful.

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Selmt
Selmt

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very good hike

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Christian de la HV
Christian de la HV

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Discovery tour of the arboretum starting from Mont Aigoual, a marvel for those who love trees, plants and vegetation in general

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Maogirl
Maogirl

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike.
The route is well marked. Beautiful views!
We did the hike early in the morning, so it was quiet and not too crowded.
A must-do hike. The arboretum is magnificent and the laboratory is fantastic.
The path from point 10 is a bit monotonous. But I highly recommend making the round trip to the magnificent Hérault waterfall with its viewpoint (max. 8 people on the pontoon) at point 12.
I highly recommend it, it's cool and very pleasant.

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User 17617052

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route, peaceful and fairly easy.

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stafan
stafan

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route combining forest and open spaces at altitude. I highly recommend it!

Don't forget to look up, as depending on the time of year, you may see magnificent eagles and vultures!

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Corhar
Corhar

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with beautiful views stretching all the way to the sea.
Contrary to what one of the comments says in point 2, yes, you do have to go under a wooden arch. You can take another route (GR), but it's not the same trail.
The Hort de Dieu trail is a wonderful discovery, with an interesting botanical history!
The only slight downside is the number of tracks, but the beauty of the forest and the landscapes more than make up for it!

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etienne92.d
etienne92.d

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Thank you for the lovely walk we took on 25 July 2024.
A beautiful route.

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