Col d'Elze

Description

The ascent is a little challenging, but once at the pass you will be rewarded by magnificent views over the Hérault valley and the Pic de Barette, which has some handsome holm oaks. Signposts will guide you all along this route. In the description below, the signposted place names and/or directions are given in bold italics between quotation marks: Start at the "Valleraugue-Office de Tourisme", head towards - "Cagnel", - "Les Caralouzes" and then towards - "Col d'Elze" (GR62c). At the Col d'Elze pass, go back down via the same route to - "Les Caralouzes", where you take the other way down, towards "Valleraugue-Office du tourisme". This walk is taken from the guidebook Massif de l’Aigoual, published by the communauté de communes Causses Aigoual Cévennes as part of the collection Espaces naturels gardois and the label Gard Pleine Nature.

Difficulty

Official rating: easy, by Parc national des Cévennes.

Before you go

• Make sure your equipment is appropriate for the day’s weather conditions. Remember that the weather changes quickly in the mountains. Take enough water, wear sturdy shoes and put on a hat. Please close all gates and barriers behind you.

Getting there

Start: Office du tourisme de Valleraugue, Val-d'Aigoual (30).

Sources

• Track: Parc national des Cévennes, Licence Ouverte 1.0, Licence Ouverte 1.0 (Etalab) (destination.cevennes-parcnational.fr/trek/41482-Le-Col-de-l-Elze). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 361 m, Parc national des Cévennes