On the traces of the mouflon

Key facts

Distance: 2.4 km
Ascent: +92 m
Descent: −58 m
Estimated time: 40 min; hiking
Difficulty: Very easy; official rating
Route: Loop; back to the start

Profile and gradient

under 10%
10 to 20%
over 20%

Surface and path types

Surface: Paved 4%
Dirt & gravel 92%
Unknown 4%
Path types: Trail 54%
Track 39%
Road 4%
Off-network 3%

Description

The mouflon was introduced for hunting in the 1950s and yet remains little-known or unknown to visitors to the Aigoual mountain range. “7 June 2005. Evening is falling on the Aigoual massif. The air is cooling down after this hot spring day. I'm sitting on a small rock overlooking the heath above the Taleyrac valley. I've been at my post for only a few minutes when a triangular head with two small horns emerges out of the broom a few metres away. There can be no doubt: it's a young mouflon!” Nicolas Pagès, Fédération des chasseurs du Gard

Difficulty

Official rating: very easy, by Parc national des Cévennes.

Before you go

In February 2020, a forest fire affected the path. Please respect the trail markings. You are strongly advised to bring binoculars if you hope to spot mouflons. Horse-riding or mountain-biking are not allowed on or adapted to discovery trails.

Getting there

Start: Parking, Val-d'Aigoual (30).

Sources

Track: Parc national des Cévennes, Licence Ouverte 1.0, Licence Ouverte 1.0 (Etalab) (destination.cevennes-parcnational.fr/trek/38006-Sur-les-traces-du-mouflon). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
Surface and path types: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL, extract of 28 October 2026, matched to the track every 10 m (openstreetmap.org/copyright)
Official elevation gain: 92 m, Parc national des Cévennes