Randonnée - De la Roque au cheval du Roi
A beautiful hike in the heart of the green Viaur valley! Route 20 in the "entre Viaur et Aveyron" guidebook for the Rieupeyrousain region (2021 edition).
Distance: 14.7 km - Elevation gain: 530 m - Duration: 4 hours 15 minutes
Leave La Salvetat Peyralès via the D 649 toward Bellecombe.
La Roque Recreation Area parking lot
1 From the La Roque Recreation Area, take the D649 to the left toward the Moulin de la Roque and continue to the Coulet farm.
2. Opposite the farm, at the cross with the finger symbol, take the path on the left and climb the switchbacks. Partway up the hill, at a level section, turn right for 100 m and continue on a trail; at the secondhairpin turn, turn left onto a dirt path, go around a small field, and at the road, turn left to continue on to Sauzet.
Recommended excursion: (40-minute round trip) from the center of the hamlet, you can climb to the bird-watching and panoramic observation tower at Puech de Flauzins.
3 Once on the road, turn left and follow a service road to a well-restored farmhouse, then continue on. You’ll come out onto a forest trail; follow it to the right and continue straight ahead on a sunken path. Before reaching the plateau, take a 100-meter detour to the left to admire the Aveyron Gorges from the Point Sublime (private property). In Flauzins, take the road on the right, then turn right at the intersection to take the path straight ahead for 500 m before reaching a paved road that branches off to the right.
4. Go straight through a large intersection toward Fournols. Head up to the right along a grassy trail to Cheval du Roi. Return to the road on the right for 100 m, then turn right onto a path, passing Les Cayroux and continuing on to La Montarnie. At the bottom of the hamlet, follow the farm road to the right, continuing along the “carrals” (forest paths) and descending toward theJaoul Valley, following a 400-meter section of the path taken on the way up before continuing to the left.
5 Pass to the right of the pre-Romanesque chapel of Murat and continue along the forest trail, then take the road to the right toward the ravine and continue to the Roque clearing.
Hiking guides are available for purchase at the tourist office, featuring route stages, 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/68780-de-la-roque-au-cheval-du-roi
