ITINERARY ON GR®7 CAROUX-ESPINOUSE

1

The Caroux is a mountainous massif with steep, uneven slopes. This first stage immediately gets to the heart of the matter, with a trip along the "Chemin des légendes" (or "1000 steps", a historic path) that quickly takes you to the Vezoles lake (km 8) and its mountain atmosphere. The remainder of the route crosses the Somail and Espinouse plateaus, and takes on a less rugged profile, with forests, moorlands and balconies offering incredible views of the valleys below and the other peaks of the Haut-Languedoc. Other accommodation on the way: (Km11) Refuge de campblanc au lac de Vesoles https://refuge-campblanc-hautlanguedoc.com/ (Km19 - 1.5km off GR) Gîte Le Jougnier https://www.equipagesdujougnier.fr/

2

The route quickly leaves the plateaus to return to the steep valleys on technical, challenging trails. The Col de Bardou pass (km 33) marks the entrance to the Gorges d'Héric, the heart of the Caroux massif and a popular spot for traditional climbing. After the hamlet of Héric, the slope rises again to reach the hamlet of Douch (km 37) and then the Caroux plateau at over 1000m altitude. The orientation table (km 40) offers a breathtaking view, with glimpses of the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees. A few kilometers more on this high-altitude plateau, before descending into the upper reaches of the Colombières gorges and gradually losing altitude to reach Lamalou-les-Bains, renowned for its thermal cures (km 55). Accommodation on the route: (Km 25) Les Bourdils 06.15.97.90.28 (Km 37) Gîtes Marcel Cèbe et René Magnaldi in Douch (Rosis) https://rosis-languedoc.fr/ (Km 42)Gîte Hameau de La Fage (Rosis) https://hameau-la-fage.fr/ (Km48) Gîte Le Serpent d'Etoile (Combes) 06.27.15.46.55

Beware, you may come across Patous on your way. They guard the herds, are very wary and can be aggressive: stay on your path and don't try to pet them!
GR® and GR® de Pays are registered trademarks of the FFRandonnée, and designate the itineraries identified under the name "GR®", marked with white-red markings; and under the name "GR® de Pays", marked with yellow-red markings. These routes are the creations of FFRandonnée. Their unauthorized reproduction, as well as the GR® and GR® de Pays trademarks, constitutes an infringement liable to prosecution. Find all GR® routes on mongr.fr

White and red GR

https://www.parc-haut-languedoc.fr/

Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park

GR - FFR