Finiels and Pont du Tarn, Trail #25

Description

Follow in the footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson to reach the Col de Finiels pass, then take the old Roman road to the hamlet of L'Hôpital, and make a brief visit to the famous Pont du Tarn to wrap up this beautiful large circuit. The trail starts with a gradual climb totalling 900 metres of elevation gain in about 10 kilometres. Nothing complicated, but it’s best to be mentally prepared… This takes you to the summit of Finiels. You continue to the Col de Finiels pass, then fork onto the GR®7 long-distance hiking path which descends gently to Salarial. From there, go downhill for 3 km to L’Hôpital on a track that levels out to reach the Pont du Tarn. The trail continues with a pleasant path alongside the Tarn and then a fairly steep descent to Frutgères, via Le Merlet. Short steep section with a beautiful final descent. Follow waymarks for trail #25. Signposts will guide you all along this route, as well as yellow painted waymarks. In the description below, the signposted place names and/or directions are given in bold italics between quotation marks: From "Pont de Montvert" go to "Finiels" via : - "Rieumal". - At "Finiels", climb to "Sommet de Finiels" via : - "Les Clapiers", - "Travers de l'Homme", - "Abri forestier de Mallevrière", - "Valat de la Mouline", - "Route Forestière des crêtes". - At "Sommet de Finiels", head to "Col de Finiels" via : - "Col de la Draille" and - "Sous le col de Finiels". - At "Col de Finiels" go to "L'Hôpital" via : - "Ancienne voie romaine", - "Salarial", - "Croix de Malte", "L'Hôpital". - At "L'Hôpital", go to "Pont du Tarn" via : - "Prat Redoun". - From "Pont du Tarn", return to "Pont de Montvert" via : - "Gap Francès", - "La plaine du Tarn", - "Bois de la Mouline" (2x), - "Le Merlet", - "Lou Mouly", - "L'Avès", - "Prat del Lach", - "La Barte", - "Quartier de la Barte", - "Temple". This trail is taken from the guidebook Mont Lozère, Pays des sources, published by the Pôle de pleine nature du mont Lozère.

Difficulty

Official rating: difficult, by Parc national des Cévennes.

Before you go

• In high season, parking is difficult in the village: prioritise the suggested car park at the edge of the village. Caution: patous (livestock guard dogs) in the Finiels sector! Seek advice on how to behave near these dogs from tourist offices and National Park information centres. Before committing yourself to a circuit, ensure that it is suitable for your activity level and ability. Remember that the weather changes quickly in the mountains. Please close all gates and barriers behind you. Stay on the marked path.

Getting there

Start: Pont-de-Montvert - Sud-Mont-Lozère, Pont de Montvert - Sud Mont Lozère (48).

Sources

• Track: Parc national des Cévennes, Licence Ouverte 1.0, Licence Ouverte 1.0 (Etalab) (destination.cevennes-parcnational.fr/trek/74857-Finiels-et-Pont-du-Tarn---Trail-n25). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 1,078 m, Parc national des Cévennes