Randonnée - Vallées du Jaoul et du Viaur

Route 35 from the guidebook "Between Aveyron and Viaur" (2021 edition)

Duration: 11 hours - Distance: 33 km - Total elevation gain: 1,320 m

Starting point: La Salvetat Peyralès

Parking lot at the community hall

Yellow trail markers

1 - Start by turning left with the community hall behind you at the intersection; head uphill to the right and take the first street on the left (Rue de la Cambonne). After the intersection with a large cross, turn left (signpost) onto a path that descends through the woods (beautiful cast-iron cross) to the Dardé mill. Cross the Vernhou via the wide stone slope. Head back up the road—which is sometimes paved, sometimes not—until you reach the intersection with the paved road (cast-iron cross). Turn left and enter the hamlet of Campels.

2 - At the end of the hamlet, turn right (then onto a local road) and continue straight ahead, taking the trail toward Montou. Cross the Riou-cros stream, then at the paved road (with a large wooden cross across from you), turn right and climb for 900 m (be careful—there is no shoulder).

3 - Turn left after the Prat de Montou farm and descend the charming winding road toward the lower hydroelectric plant. Once at the bottom, cross the bridge (you can take a detour to the left to see the lower hydroelectric plant). Turn right and follow the Jaoul River upstream to the upper hydroelectric plant.

4 - Just before the upper power plant, take the rocky path that climbs straight ahead toward Cadoule (you can turn back to visit it); continue up the hill through the woods, then follow a grassy path across fields and pastures. %C0 At the road, turn %E0 right for 100 m, then turn %E0 left onto the road toward Les Cayroux.%A0

5%A0 - At the top, just before the barn, turn onto a farm path that climbs across the field; at the road, turn left, and a little further on, climb up to the “King’s Horse” megalith. Return to the road on the left, pass the intersection, and turn left (Mas del Bosc) onto a wide path to descend toward Flauzins. When you reach the paved road, continue straight ahead, then turn left at the intersection in the village.

6 - %C0 the village exit, continue along a beautiful farm trail until %E0 the descent into the grove. At the sharp left-hand turn, take a 100-meter detour to the right to admire the Dior Gorges from the Point Sublime (private property). Return to the trail and continue down it for 300 m before taking the first path on the left that leads back up to the hamlet of Sauzet.

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Recommended excursion (40-minute round trip): In the center of the hamlet, take the road to the left, then to the right, and the path to the left; from there, you can climb to the bird-watching and panoramic observation tower at Puech de Flauzins.

At the intersection in the hamlet, turn right, then right again 200 meters further on to take a road that descends through the meadows. Take a trail on the left that descends into the Jaoul Valley. Continue along the forest path heading due south, passing near the Saint-Clair fountain with its monolithic cross, until you reach the paved road.

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7%A0 - Possible shortcut of 8.1 km. See the alternative route.

%A0Take the paved road to the right toward the Laroque recreation area. Continue on this road as it climbs toward Bellecombe. Before the entrance to Bellecombe, take the paved path on the right that descends toward the river. When you reach the Viaur River, take the path directly across from you—which can be muddy in winter—that runs along the Viaur upstream. Just past the “dos d’âne” (humpback section), turn left (signposted) onto the path leading up to Bibal.

Alternative Route: When you reach the paved road, take it to the left to reach the Roumégous Bridge. Cross this bridge, continue for 100 meters, and turn right at the “sunken bridge,” then follow the wide path leading to the hamlet of Muratet.

%A0Then follow the steep, winding, rocky trail to the left up to the farm with the shop and continue 500 m along a wide wooded trail to the meadow. You’ll rejoin the normal route at point 9.

8%A0 - After the hamlet of Bibal, take the road diagonally to the left to reach the church. Continue north with the church on your right, and 200 m further on, take the road to the left at the first intersection at the top of the small hill; leave the road and continue straight ahead on the farm access road. Before reaching the mountain farm, take the road on the right, then the D649 on the right, which you’ll leave 100 meters further on by turning left onto a beautiful path through the fields.

9%A0 - Turn left straight ahead, then 500 meters further on, turn left again onto a narrow trail that plunges into the woods. This trail winds through the woods, along the hillside, and crosses a small ravine—a steep, tricky section. At the Puechmontard signpost, take the path on the left.

When you reach the farmland again, turn right toward La Salvetat (signpost), first along the edge of the field, then onto the trail called “les pierres blanches,” until you reach the D649. Return to La Salvetat via the road on the left. At the intersection with a median strip, turn right to return to the parking lot at the community hall.

Hiking guides are available for purchase at the tourist office, featuring route descriptions, information on places to visit, and some historical anecdotes.

Find all our trails on your smartphone with the Cirkwi app, or with a GPX reader (e.g., GPX Viewer):

https://www.cirkwi.com/fr/circuit/947315-vallees-du-jaoul-et-du-viaur