The 7 most beautiful walks around the Gorges de l’Ardèche
1 - The historic Ardèche Gorges trail
Looking for the great outdoors? Then you’re in for a treat! With the historic Ardèche Gorges trail, we promise you a real immersion in the heart of nature. A wild and spectacular canyon. Cliffs 250 m high, covered in scrubland. The river meandering through rapids. A rich, varied and rare fauna. A protected National Nature Reserve.
The adventure begins at the start of the historic Ardèche Gorges trail (signposted in yellow and white), in the hamlet of Châmes, after the Pont d’Arc. Equipped with good shoes and the necessary bivouac gear, it’s off for 2 days of self-sufficiency! The terrain isn’t particularly difficult, and the gradient isn’t too steep, but this hike does require some experience of walking. You’ll have to complete the 12km on the first day, the 10km on the 2nd, and negotiate the 2 river fords, handrails and chimney crossings! But the breathtaking panoramas from the top of the cliffs over the meandering Ardèche, the immense and grandiose natural surroundings, the rich and varied fauna and flora, the magical experience of a night in a bivouac… It’s all well worth the effort!
Duration: 2 days
Distance: 24 km
Difficulty: medium
Period: spring / summer / autumn (check water level for river fording: 00 33 4 75 88 00 41)
Public: From 10 years old. Suitable for walking.
2 - The Chanet dolmen, or the Ardèche Gorges in a lighter version
Tempted by the scenery described above, but not really keen on the 24 km hike? Here’s a lighter alternative to the Ardèche Gorges hike, but I promise you, you’re in for a treat!
A shady descent under the oak trees will take you first to the perfectly preserved Dolmen du Chanet, overlooking the Gorges de l’Ardèche. From here, it’s worth getting a little closer (with the utmost caution, of course) and enjoying the magnificent view over the river. Then you continue on a narrow balcony path above the Ardèche. The view is simply splendid. A little further on, you reach the river bank, before arriving at the bivouac area at Gournier. It’s not impossible that this will make you want to sleep there for your next hike or canoe trip 😉 All that’s left is to tackle the ascent (a little tough, I must admit) from the bivouac to the car park. It’s a great loop, allowing more modest hikers to immerse themselves in the Gorges de l’Ardèche.
Duration: 2h30
Distance: 6 km
Difficulty: easy (apart from the slightly strenuous climb from the bivouac to the road, expect a good climb on a tarmac path)
Period: all year round
3 - The Dent de Rez
This 3.5-hour, 12km hike will take you up to the highest peak in the southern Ardèche, the Dent de Rez, at 719m. You’ll be passing through a remarkable natural area, protected by its Natura 2000 status. When you reach the summit, you’ll enjoy a beautiful panorama from the Cévennes to the Alps, with a view of the start of the Ardèche Gorges!
4 - The Labeaume gorges
It’s a lovely walk that takes in the Gorges de Labeaume, the village and the unusual Récatadou hanging gardens. If you do it in fine weather, don’t forget to pack your swimming costume!
You need to park in the car park of the Récatadou multi-purpose hall on the heights of the village of Labeaume. Before starting the walk, don’t miss the view of Labeaume‘s famous hanging gardens. These are tiny plots of land, laid out in terraces (or “faïsses” as the locals say) suspended above the Gorges de Labeaume, some of them still cultivated, and bordered by low dry stone walls. The views from here are truly breathtaking. On leaving the car park, turn left and follow the yellow and white signposted path 1.2km to the village of Labeaume. A short descent brings you closer to the River Beaume. You walk alongside the river on wide rocky slabs, and you can bet that the pretty waterholes below will catch your eye… After about a 20-minute walk, you arrive at the village of Labeaume, a must-see for any holiday in the Ardèche. Here, it’s up to you: take an ice-cream break on the terrace, stroll along the calades (cobbled streets) to climb to the very top of the village and admire the view over the rooftops and the river, or take a detour to the belvedere clinging to the cliff above the river (the climb is a bit strenuous, but well worth it!) Then take the tarmac road back towards Ruoms, leaving it as soon as you leave Labeaume for a yellow-and-white signposted road leading to Le Récatadou. One last (very) short climb, a few hundred metres on the small road, and you arrive at the car park.
Duration: 1h30
Distance: 3 km
Difficulty: none
Period: all year round
5 - The Cirque de Gens
Un peu en amont des Gorges de l’Ardèche, au niveau du village de Chauzon, la rivière Ardèche a sculpté depuis des millions d’années un cirque naturel dans les falaises calcaires. Ça s’appelle le Cirque de Gens, et c’est un endroit fantastique. On peut aller admirer le point de vue sur le site en suivant les indications à Chauzon et en stationnant au parking. Mais ce qu’on vous recommande, c’est de faire la boucle à pieds depuis Ruoms.
A little upstream from the Gorges de l’Ardèche, near the village of Chauzon, the river Ardèche has carved a natural cirque into the limestone cliffs over millions of years. It’s called the Cirque de Gens, and it’s a fantastic place. You can admire the view from the site by following the signs to Chauzon and parking at the car park. But we recommend that you do the loop on foot from Ruoms.
It’s a short walk (around 2 hours), but a rather challenging one, including a section at height on cliffs, which can be a little difficult for those prone to vertigo. The good news is that it really doesn’t last long 🙂 But you should also bear in mind that the descent is a little steep and slippery, and you’ll have to deal with a few steep passages in the rocks and pebbles. But frankly, the view of one of the most beautiful natural sites in the area, and the snack break on the little sandy beach facing the cliffs are well worth the effort!
Duration: 2 hours
Distance: 7 km
Difficulty: medium
Period: all year round. Please note! During periods of high water, the route is impassable as it runs alongside the bed of the River Ardèche.
6 - The Hermitage of Sainte-Beaume at Saint-Montan
This 3-hour loop takes you between Saint-Montan and Larnas, above the Gorges de la Sainte-Beaume, and is best reserved for experienced hikers because of its steep sections. Among the highlights of this walk are the exceptional views over the picturesque village of Saint-Montan, its historic centre and castle, the Grotte de l’Ermite Montanus, after which the village was named, and the view over the Rhône valley and Mont Ventoux.
Duration: 3 hours
Distance: 6.2 km
Difficulty: difficult
Period: all year round
7 - The Rochecolombe tour
Rochecolombe. The name immediately conjures up something bucolic. It’s a tiny medieval village, clinging to a hill, surrounded by garrigue and cliffs, topped by a canyon from which, only after heavy rain, a powerful waterfall gushes forth. Tempting, isn’t it? 🙂 And with a loop of just 6 km, you’ll be able to enjoy a whole host of different views over the village.
So watch out! It’s a hard attack! A steep climb up a scree slope with your back to the village. But when you turn round at the top of the climb, look out! It’s magical! The walk continues along a small path sometimes under the trees, sometimes in the open, from where you can admire the view of the Tanargue mountains, the Col de la Cize and the Balazuc cliffs. A return trip takes you to a lookout point where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the village from the top of a cliff. After a long, stony descent, the path takes you through the canyon (which is mostly dry), before passing behind the old village and enjoying a superb view. We recommend that you go back down through the cobbled streets of the old village to return to the car park, and make a detour to the chapel of St Bartélémy and the remains of the castle. The view from the top of the village is breathtaking, especially at sunset. If you’re lucky enough to come after heavy rain, you won’t want to miss the waterfall, signposted from the foot of the village. As it flows, its powerful jet splashes against a huge boulder just below, and crystal-clear water rushes from basin to basin.
Duration: 1h30
Distance: 6 km
Difficulty: none, apart from the first climb, which is a little steep over rocks.
Period: all year round.
Quelques conseils pour votre randonnée
🧭 Préparez votre sortie et votre itinéraire: prenez bien en compte la difficulté du terrain et, considérez votre niveau d’expérience. Etudiez votre itinéraire avant de partir. Repérez le sur une carte ou téléchargez le sur une application de rando sur votre Smartphone. Assurez vous d’emporter dans votre sac le matériel nécessaire: un téléphone, de l’eau et de la nourriture en quantité suffisante, des vêtements et chaussures adaptés, et une trousse de premiers secours. Vérifiez la météo avant le départ et adaptez votre équipement en conséquence. Et informez toujours quelqu’un de votre itinéraire et de votre heure prévue de retour.
🌿 Marchez sur les sentiers: restez bien sur les sentiers balisés. Ils ont été spécialement conçus pour votre sécurité et pour minimiser l’impact sur la nature. N’empruntez pas de raccourci pour éviter le piétinement de la faune et de la flore sauvages et l’érosion 🙏 Chaque pas peut laisser une empreinte durable sur l’écosystème local.
🦅 Respectez la faune: Les animaux peuvent être sensibles aux perturbations sonores, et un environnement calme permet une expérience plus authentique. Alors soyez discret, et essayez de ne pas faire de bruit. Dans la nature, on doit se comporter comme un invité 😉 Ne nourrissez pas les animaux sauvages, même si les chèvres des Gorges de l’Ardèche sont trop mignonnes 😍 Ca peut altérer leur comportement naturel et nuire à leur santé. Observez les animaux de loin, et utilisez des jumelles si vous voulez les voir de plus près. C’est d’autant plus important pendant certaines périodes : accouplement, nidification, éducation des petits…
🪻 Respectez la flore: Ne cueillez pas les plantes ou les fleurs sauvages sur votre chemin. Certaines espèces sont rares et protégées, et la flore joue un rôle essentiel dans l’équilibre des écosystèmes.
♻️ Ramenez vos déchets et ne laissez aucune trace de votre passage: ne jettez évidemment rien dans la nature, même pas les déchets biodégradables. Les animaux ont déjà tout ce qu’il faut pour subvenir à leurs besoins. Ca vaut aussi pour le papier toilette 😉 Prenez avec vous un petit sac poubelle, et ramenez vos déchets, et ceux que vous pourriez trouver sur votre chemin. Choisissez des emballages réutilisables plutôt que jetables, et réduisez autant que possible l’utilisation de plastique.
🐶 Si vous randonnez avec votre chien: assurez vous de toujours le maintenir en laisse afin d’éviter tout stress ou confrontation avec d’autres animaux ou d’autres randonneurs.
⚠️ Respectez la règlementation: le bivouac n’est pas autorisé, sauf zone dédiée dans les Gorges de l’Ardèche, et le feu est strictement interdit, le risque d’incendie est bien trop important. Si vous êtes fumeur, prenez garde a bien ramasser vos mégots.
🫶 Et bien sûr, soyons sympa et respectueux avec les autres randonneurs, vététistes et autres pratiquants d’activités en nature. La vie est toujours plus belle quand on y met un peu de sourire et de bonne humeur 🥰
A few tips for your hike
🧭 Prepare your outing and your route: take careful account of the difficulty of the terrain and, consider your level of experience. Study your route before setting off. Locate it on a map or download it to a hiking app on your smartphone. Make sure you pack all the necessary equipment: a telephone, sufficient food and water, suitable clothing and footwear, and a first-aid kit. Check the weather forecast before setting off and adapt your equipment accordingly. And always let someone know your itinerary and expected time of return.
🌿 Walk the trails: stick to the marked paths. They have been specially designed for your safety and to minimise the impact on nature. Don’t take shortcuts to avoid trampling wildlife and erosion 🙏 Every step can leave a lasting imprint on the local ecosystem.
🦅 Respect wildlife: Animals can be sensitive to noise disturbance, and a quiet environment allows for a more authentic experience. So be discreet, and try not to make any noise. In the wild, you should behave like a guest 😉 Don’t feed wild animals, even if the goats in the Gorges de l’Ardèche are too cute 😍 It can alter their natural behaviour and damage their health. Observe the animals from a distance, and use binoculars if you want to see them up close. This is especially important during certain periods: mating, nesting, raising young, etc.
🪻 Respect the flora: Don’t pick wild plants or flowers along the way. Some species are rare and protected, and flora plays an essential role in the balance of ecosystems.
♻️ Take your rubbish with you and leave no trace of your passage: don’t throw anything away in nature, not even biodegradable waste. Animals already have everything they need to support themselves. The same goes for toilet paper 😉 Take a small rubbish bag with you, and bring back your rubbish, and any you find along the way. Choose reusable rather than disposable packaging, and reduce the use of plastic as much as possible.
🐶 If you’re hiking with your dog: make sure you always keep it on a lead to avoid any stress or confrontation with other animals or other hikers.
⚠️ Respect the regulations: bivouacking is not permitted, except in a dedicated area in the Gorges de l’Ardèche, and fires are strictly forbidden, as the risk of fire is far too great. If you are a smoker, be sure to pick up your cigarette butts.
🫶 And of course, be friendly and respectful of other hikers, mountain bikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Life is always more beautiful when you put a little smile and good humour into it 🥰