Gourdouze valley, Trail #21

Description

When only the technical difficulty of the circuit can compare with the beauty of the scenery… This expedition between the Cévennes and Mont Lozère is sheer happiness ! The first part is downhill on a pleasant path between undergrowth and wild pastures. On arrival in the magnificent hamlet of Gourdouze, you continue downhill to Vialas on a path that is open and rocky at first, then runs through the forest.A long ascent on a path with some fairly steep sections brings you to Les Tourrières. At Les Tourrières, you take the road for 1 km before climbing on a pretty path through rocky blockfields and grassy plains to the glorious Tarn bridge. You return to the departure point on a runnable track. Follow the waymarks for trail #21. 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: Starting at "Mas de La Barque", head for "Gourdouze" via : - "Les écuries de Mas de La Barque", - "Rochers de la barque" (2x), - "Les faux des Armes" and - "La Chassalde". - At "Gourdouze", go downhill to Vialas and go to: - « Rompidou », - "Maison de retraite", - then « La Vigne ». Go to: - “Plagette”, - “Lou devez”, - “La tranchée”, - “Légaou”, - "Rieutord" (2x). Head for "Les Tourrières" via : - "Les Polimies Hautes". - At "Les Tourrières", go to "L'Aubaret" via : - "La Boulade" and - "Pont de l'Aubaret". - At "L'Aubaret", head for - " Gap Francès" and "Pont du Tarn". - At "Pont du Tarn", return to "Mas de La Barque" via - "Les Nasses du Pont des eaux", - "Bois du Commandeur", - "Bouos de l'Oultre", - "La Planette", - "Sénégrières", - “Gardièze”, - "Martelet" and "Mas de La Barque". 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

• Caution: patous (livestock guard dogs) in the sectors of Les Tourrières and L’Aubaret ! 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: Mas de la Barque, 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/74851-Vallee-de-Gourdouze---Trail-n21). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 1,206 m, Parc national des Cévennes