Walk around the volcano at St Cirgues de Prades in Ardèche

Opening : All year round.

Starting from the village of St Cirgues de Prades, take a tour of the Coupe de Jaujac, but not via the ridges! Discover a volcano, its natural panoramas and the hamlets that benefit from its riches.

Loop / Level: Medium / Duration: 2 h / 5.2 km

This walk has lots of surprises for you : The hills of the gardens, the spot of the hamlets for their amount of sunshine, the the flow of numerous sources, the remains of Laulagnet castle, the children screams from the forest and the gooses one.

🔁Loop ⚠³ Moderate 🕒2H30 📏6.8km 📈+214m 📉-214m   PR

Starting point: “INFO RANDO” sign, on the parking lot of the beach, Place du 13 Juillet in Pont de Labeaume.

① Follow the sign 🚩 “Col de Sétias 3.5 km / Chirols 7.6 km”. Join the RN102, turn right, and follow it carefully for about 100m. Turn right to cross the bridge over the Ardèche.

② At the end of the bridge, turn left at the sign 🚩 direction “Chirols”, until you reach Pourtalou.

③ You are in Pourtalou, follow the sign 🚩 “Col de Sétias, 2.9 km / Chirols, 7 km”. Follow the road for about 200m and take the small stairs on the left. Walk along the woods of green oaks, a characteristic species of the southern slopes.

④ You are in Le Goux, follow the sign 🚩”Col de Sétias, 2.1 km / Chirols, 6.2 km”. Continue on the path while observing the terraces or faïsses once used for cultivation. Very beautiful panoramic view of the basaltic flows.

⑤ When you reach the paved road, go up to the hamlet of Bidet. Take the path on the right, pass under the farm, and continue on the chemin des plantades.

⑥ You are at the Col de Sétias, follow the sign 🚩 “Pont-de-Labeaume, 4.3 km / Lalevade, 5.1km”. Follow the path to the hamlet of Sétias.

⑦ You are in Sétias, follow the sign 🚩”Pont-de-Labeaume, 3.9 km”. Continue along the road and at the first intersection, turn left then take the path on the right that leads to the hamlet of Leyronnac.

⑧ You are in Leyronnac: follow the sign 🚩 “Pont-de-Labeaume, 3.2 km”. Follow the road for 30m and take the descending path on the left. Cross the very pretty hamlet of Nieigles, overlooking the Ardèche valley. Go to the Romanesque church which you can visit.

⑨ Carefully descend the path to join the road then follow the path below to return to your starting point.

Start/End: Parking of the beach, Place du 13 Juillet in Pont de Labeaume.

Towns crossed: Pont de Labeaume and Vals-les-Bains

Road access and parking

Aubenas, take the N102 towards Thueyts.
Thueyts, take the N102 towards Aubenas.
In the center of Pont-de-Labeaume, you will find the parking lot by the river, the starting point of the walk.

Parking: Parking of the beach (opposite the Post Office, below)

🛈 Find here all the hikes in our area and on the Rando Monts d’Ardèche app