Elze

Key facts

Distance: 14.7 km
Ascent: +565 m
Descent: −443 m
Estimated time: 4 hr 15; hiking
Difficulty: Moderate; official rating
Route: Loop; back to the start

Profile and gradient

under 10%
10 to 20%
over 20%

Description

Almost in the Ardèche department, this long hike alternates ridge paths and immersion in shady pine forests. Signposts will guide you all along this route. In the description below, the signposted place names and/or directions are given in bold italics between quotation marks : From “MALÔNS ET ELZE” walk to “ELZE” via : - “Malôns-Eglise”, - “Croix de la Rousse”, - “La Tranchée de Malons”, - “Le Bécassin”. At “Le Bécassin”, turn right to “ELZE”. - At “ELZE”, turn left to “MAS DE L'AYRE” via : - “L'Ayre”, - “Col du Mas de l'Ayre”, - “MAS DE L'AYRE”. At “MAS DE L'AYRE” return to “MALÔNS ET ELZE” via : - “Le Bécassin”, - “La Tranchée de Malons”. At “La Tranchée de Malons”, turn right to “MALÔNS ET ELZE”. This hike is taken from the guidebook Mont Lozère - Pays des sources de la Margeride au lac de Villefort en Cévennes published by the Pôle de pleine nature du Mont Lozère.

Difficulty

Official rating: moderate, by Parc national des Cévennes.

Before you go

Make sure your equipment is appropriate for the day’s weather conditions. Remember that the weather changes quickly in the mountains. Take enough water, wear sturdy shoes and put on a hat.

Getting there

Start: Malons-et-Elze, Malons-et-Elze (30).

Sources

Track: Parc national des Cévennes, Licence Ouverte 1.0, Licence Ouverte 1.0 (Etalab) (destination.cevennes-parcnational.fr/trek/95259-Elze). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
Official elevation gain: 565 m, Parc national des Cévennes