La Viale irrigation channel

Key facts

Distance: 7.6 km
Ascent: +450 m
Descent: −348 m
Estimated time: 2 hr 25; hiking
Difficulty: Moderate; official rating
Route: Loop; back to the start

Profile and gradient

under 10%
10 to 20%
over 20%

Description

Note the many irrigation channels built by locals to bring water onto the former faïsses (crop terraces). Signposts will guide you all along this route, as well as yellow painted waymarks. In the description below, the signposted place names and/or directions are given in bold italics between quotation marks : From “Le Mont”, walk to : - “Le Couderc”, At “Le Couderc”, go left to : - “La Viale”, At “La Viale”, return to “Le Mont” via - “L'Estrechet”. 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

The path is steep and on the side of the mountain. Be careful in hunting season. 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: Le Mont, Prévenchères (48).

Sources

Track: Parc national des Cévennes, Licence Ouverte 1.0, Licence Ouverte 1.0 (Etalab) (destination.cevennes-parcnational.fr/trek/95070-Canal-de-la-Viale). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
Official elevation gain: 450 m, Parc national des Cévennes