Towards the Rochers de Trenze via Gourdouse to Vialas

A magnificent hike amid broom and granite boulders.
Beautiful descent between the ridge and the village of Vialas.
Superb ridge trail along the impressive Trenze rock face.

Details

n°2348574

Creation:
01 Aug 2019

Last update:
03 Mar 2025

Last review:
15 Oct 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 13.48 km
Average duration: 6h 10
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 819 m
Descent: - 815 m
Highest point: 1,416 m
Lowest point: 604 m

Country: France
Areas: Cévennes, Massif central
District: Vialas (48220)
Start/End: N 44.333504° / E 3.895617°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2739OT
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Description of the walk

The hike starts from the village of Vialas on the D998, about ten kilometres from Génolhac towards Pont de Montvert

(S/E) Start on the marked Gourdouze trail to the left of the church on the main street. Follow Rue du Mas Galibert, then the trail that crosses a chestnut grove and cuts across a road twice, heading north. Join Route des Plos.

(1) Follow it to the right for about 300 metres.

(2) Take the granite slab path on the left that climbs up through broom and magnificent granite boulders.

(3) At the hamlet of Gourdouse, take the^GR® on the right, which follows the stream of the same name on the left.

(4) After about 200 metres, at a junction, leave the path straight ahead and turn right, crossing the Gourdouse stream. The path is not easy to spot at this point. Look carefully at the rocks for the red and white^GR® markings. Once you have found the path, it climbs through the broom.

(5) Shortly before the summit, leave the^GR® and take the path that branches off to the right. Follow the ridge line and the rocky outcrop of the Rochers de Trenze.

(6) A steep descent then begins on a very stony path towards the Col de Montclar.

(7) When you reach a junction, take the path on the right towards Vialas. This joins the road, which you follow to Vialas (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 616 m - Parking in Vialas
1 : km 1.79 - alt. 868 m - Route des Plos
2 : km 2.04 - alt. 893 m - Path up to Gourdouse
3 : km 5.08 - alt. 1,246 m - Gourdouse hamlet
4 : km 5.65 - alt. 1,268 m - Fording the Gourdouse river
5 : km 6.63 - alt. 1,385 m - Rochers de Trenze ridge trail
6 : km 9.25 - alt. 1,123 m - Downhill trail to Vialas. At the edge of the - Homol (ruisseau) - Affluent de la Cèze
7 : km 10.42 - alt. 846 m - Return to Vialas
S/E : km 13.48 - alt. 617 m - Parking in Vialas

Notes

At the ford on the Gourdouse, the path is difficult or impossible to see. Follow both the white and red markings, keeping a close eye on the rocks, and use your GPS to find the path if you have trouble following it.
There is no water during the hike.
No particular difficulties other than a cumulative elevation gain of approximately 900 metres and a steep descent on a very stony path.

Worth a visit

Visit to the village of Vialas.

Reviews and comments

5 / 5

Based on 19 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5

Ease of following the route
5 / 5

Route interest
4.9 / 5

jocelyne.sp

15 Oct 2025 at 21:43 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 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 a steady climb and sections of a paved slanting street.
We heard the deer bellowing.
It was windy when we reached the plateau near the stream.
The descent is quite steep and rocky (caution advised).

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MarionCln

03 Mar 2025 at 14:26 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

What a treat! Varied landscapes, magnificent views, technical sections too (especially in winter when there's a lot of water coming out of the ground and in the streams... You have to take your shoes off! And a fairly steep descent, as mentioned in the description). I was delighted to find myself at the top of this big rock that I've seen since I was a child 😁

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monange

14 Oct 2024 at 10:45 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a magnificent loop. The descent is long, which is what I find tiring. Otherwise, no major difficulties.
splendid views. You may encounter cows and horses.

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pantonelli

16 Sep 2024 at 19:10 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A superb hike, you can access the stream at the farmhouse. The descent is quite technical and not easy. You can also swim at the Gourdouze bridge before Vialas.

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Dominique BEX

04 Jun 2024 at 10:43 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on Friday 31 May in mixed weather with some cloudy spells. Significant temperature difference between the windy heights and lower ground. A beautiful, well-marked hike starting in chestnut trees, arriving on the plateau at Gourdouze and returning through fields of flowering broom. No particular difficulty, but there is a short, steep descent. Don't miss a stop at the Gourdouze lodge, where you will receive a warm welcome with explanations about the history of Gourdouze, a permanent exhibition and inexpensive drinks.

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picofi

09 Oct 2023 at 08:58 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, encapsulating everything there is to discover in the Cévennes.

Chestnut forests, magnificent views of the mountains and sumptuous landscapes.

Very well marked (yellow line), varied landscapes and a clearly visible descent.

As for the descent, it's normal that it's a bit long after a 800-metre drop

but it is never difficult and always attractive in terms of scenery.

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Arnaud Chevillard

10 Jul 2023 at 12:16 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, very nice walk. However, the end is very difficult because the descent is rocky and dangerous when you are tired.

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GMGALD

21 Mar 2023 at 21:29 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty route, done in overcast weather with a bit of fog, which was a shame because the view must be magnificent

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ethee

19 Sep 2022 at 09:33 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent... Absolute bliss when you reach the top...
A bit of a steep climb... Avoid in hot weather... But what a reward!!!!!!

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sylvinedusud

23 May 2022 at 19:45 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A challenging loop for the climb to the hamlet of Gourdouze, but with magnificent views. We suffered a lot from the heat, with little shade along the route, except for the final descent where there are some wooded areas. I highly recommend this hike. It was a real feast for the eyes.

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badassiere

01 Nov 2021 at 09:03 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A must-have for hiking in the Cévennes

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Geoffrey D

23 Aug 2021 at 18:33 7200 • Edited: 23 Aug 2021 at 18:34 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike offering magnificent landscapes, both during the climb and once at the top. Crossing pastures. The two bridges crossing the Gourdouse stream were occupied by cows, so I had to cross the stream a few metres before, but it was fine.
On the way back, the comments didn't make me want to do the rocky descent, so I continued on the GR68 at point 5, which I followed for about 6 km on flat ground and then downhill until the direction to Vialas was indicated on the right at a pass.
This alternative route offers an easy, relatively smooth descent and adds about 2 km to the total walk. It is marked on the tourist office's hiking maps. The route is well signposted.
I did this on a Sunday in the late afternoon and only came across two people in five hours of walking.

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Rowin

03 Aug 2021 at 18:59 7200 • Edited: 03 Aug 2021 at 18:59 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty hike with beautiful scenery. The descent at point 6 is not as steep as the description might suggest; in fact, we didn't even notice we had reached it!

Note that at point 4, two small wooden bridges have been installed, allowing you to cross the stream easily without getting wet or losing your way

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cthieblemont

26 May 2021 at 21:43 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike (yellow markings) on a lovely paved slanting street (full of flowers at this time of year) on the way up and a more challenging trail on the way down along the Trenze rocks, with a very pleasant break along the Homol. Very little traffic on the road at the end of the route, which is quick to complete.

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Marc LB

05 Apr 2021 at 13:27 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This was my second time and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. I plan to return in May or June to see the beautiful broom in bloom.
I recommend it for the beauty of the landscapes and the peace and quiet.