The path of Ranc de Banes
Key facts
- Distance
- 7.3 km
- Ascent
- +588 m
- Descent
- −515 m
- Estimated time
- 3 hr
- hiking
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- official rating
- Route
- Loop
- back to the start
Profile and gradient
- under 10%
- 10 to 20%
- over 20%
Gradient along the route: 2.9 km under 10%, 2.2 km at 10 to 20% and 2.2 km over 20%. Elevation from 199 m to 673 m over 7.3 km.
Surface and path types
- Surface
- Paved 12%
- Dirt & gravel 85%
- Unknown 3%
- Path types
- Trail 74%
- Track 11%
- Road 12%
- Off-network 3%
Description
A sporty hike among cliffs, caves and limestone pavements to Ranc de Banes, above the Rieutord valley. 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 : Starting at "Sumène, Av. de la Gare", walk to “Ranc de Banes”, via - “Sumène, Ancienne Gare”, - “Les Pialades”. - At “Ranc de Banes”, optional detour (there-and-back) to the belvedere. Return to “Sumène, Av. de la Gare” via: - “Camp Flouret”, - “Col de l’Agas”, “L’Ubac” and “Sumène, Av. de la gare”. This walk is taken from the guidebook Autour de Ganges et Sumène published by the Communauté de Communes des Cévennes Gangeoises et Suménoises as part of the collection Espaces Naturels Gardois et Héraultais.
Difficulty
Official rating: moderate, by Parc national des Cévennes.
Before you go
- Make sure your equipment is appropriate for the day’s weather conditions. Take enough water, wear sturdy shoes and put on a hat.
Getting there
Start: Sumène - avenue de la gare, Sumène (30).
Sources
- Track: Parc national des Cévennes, Licence Ouverte 1.0, Licence Ouverte 1.0 (Etalab) (destination.cevennes-parcnational.fr/trek/98506-Le-chemin-du-Ranc-de-Banes). 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: 588 m, Parc national des Cévennes
Nearby tracks
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Plan IGN © IGN 2026Le Ranc de BanesCévennes, Sumène (30) · LoopOfficial rating by Parc national des Cévennes
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