Hiking in Meyras in Ardèche to the Souilhol volcano

Opening : All year round.

A beautiful itinerary with the ascent of the Souilhol volcano and its reward: a panoramic view of the Monts d'Ardèche.
Start from the ‘Monts d'Ardèche Geopark’ totem pole in the hamlet of Souilhol, 2km after the Neyrac-ciné.

This pretty, short walk of just over 1km has recently been redeveloped. There are 181 steps up to the summit.
The climb takes 40 minutes. Things to see on the trail: one of the largest volcanic bombs in mainland France.

The walk also reveals a geological curiosity, ‘one of the largest volcanic bombs in mainland France’. This is a projected fragment of lava from the Souilhol crater, slightly tapered in shape and weighing between seven and ten tonnes.

↔ Round-trip ⚠³ Medium difficulty 🕒40″ 📏1,1km 📈+108m

Departure of the welcome panel at the bottom of the Souilhol volcano, at the geo-totem of the Parc des Monts d’Ardèche in Neyrac-les-Bains. After the thermal baths of Neyrac-les-Bains, follow the road towards “Jaujac” for 3,5km, then follow the sign towards “Souilhol/Seuzaret”. You’ll arrive at a small parking lot.

① Tackle the ascent with the stairs between the welcome panel and the Geopark totem. The trail climbs first in a rather clear moor before sinking into a chestnut grove. As you climb, you will come across volcanic bombs, sometimes only a few centimeters, sometimes several cubic meters.

② After a few tens of meters in a new wood, you approach the summit of Souilhol where an orientation table awaits you. The panorama is spectacular: the Ardèche mountain and the Chaumiène plateau to your left, the Ardèche and Lignon valley at your feet, Sainte-Marguerite, the Ventoux , The Jaujac volcano is clearly visible in the landscape to your right and finally the Tanargue massif that disappears behind the peaks of Ladenne and Courcoussat in your back.

③ Retrace your steps along the same path to the crossing of Souilhol, your starting point.

Departure/Arrival: Geo-totem of the Souilhol Volcano.

Communes crossed: Meyras/Neyrac-les-Bains.

Road access and car parks

At the crossing, the start is marked by a sign with instructions to follow and a Geopark totem.

Parking: Meyras, at the Souilhol parking lot.

🛈 Find here all the hikes of our territory and on the Application “Rando Monts d’Ardèche”