From Ballon d'Alsace to Porteille Blanche, over 1,461 km.
0 m500 m1,000 m1,500 m2,000 m2,500 m0 km200 km400 km600 km800 km1,000 km1,200 km1,400 km110203040506070High point 2,408 m
Elevation profile: from 133 m to 2,376 m over 1,461.2 km.
The GR7 at a glance
The GR7 is a very long crossing: it traces a diagonal across France, from the Ballon d’Alsace, at the southern end of the Vosges massif, to Andorra. Along the way, it crosses four regions (Grand Est, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Occitanie) and eighteen departments, according to the FFRandonnée. Its route roughly follows the watershed between the rivers that flow into the Mediterranean and those that head for the Atlantic or the Channel.
In the Vosges, the trail passes through Remiremont, Épinal and Vittel, reaches Bourbonne-les-Bains and then Burgundy, Dijon and the Hautes Côtes de Beaune. It then enters the Massif Central via the Mâconnais, the Beaujolais and the Monts du Lyonnais, crosses the Pilat, then the volcanic Mézenc massif and Mont Gerbier-de-Jonc. Further south come Mont Lozère, Mont Aigoual and its observatory, the Cirque de Navacelles, the Caroux plateau, the Montagne Noire and the Canal du Midi at Castelnaudary, before Cathar Country and the Pyrenees.
The GR7 thus links several protected areas: the Ballons des Vosges, Pilat, Monts d’Ardèche, Haut-Languedoc and Pyrénées Catalanes regional nature parks, as well as the Cévennes National Park.
Still little known according to the FFRandonnée, the GR7 requires thorough preparation, in terms of both stamina and logistics. Its division into sections, such as the crossing of the Massif Central through the parks, also lets you discover it region by region, over the seasons and the years.
Highlights
Crossing France diagonally, from the Vosges to the Pyrenees, on one and the same trail.
Following the watershed between the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the Channel.
Taking in six protected areas, from the Ballons des Vosges park to the Pyrénées Catalanes park.
Passing iconic summits: Ballon d’Alsace, Mézenc, Gerbier-de-Jonc, Mont Lozère, Aigoual.
Discovering very varied landscapes, from the vineyards of Burgundy to the Cirque de Navacelles and the Montagne Noire.
Walking it in sections, each of which can make a hike of a few days.
Practical information
Start
Ballon d'Alsace
The Ballon d’Alsace is not served by train: ask the Belfort bus network (Optymo) or the tourist office about any seasonal services, or plan on a taxi.
Finish
Porteille Blanche
Andorra has no railway. Coaches link the country to Toulouse; on the French side, L’Hospitalet-près-l’Andorre station is served by TER trains from Toulouse.
When to go
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No single season suits the whole crossing: the massifs (Vosges, Mézenc, Mont Lozère, Aigoual, Pyrenees) are walked from late spring to fall, while the Languedoc sections are more pleasant outside the intense heat of summer.
Difficulty
Challenging
Most sections stay in the mid-mountains or hills, within reach of a fit hiker; the challenge lies mainly in the extraordinary length of the route and in its Pyrenean section, which is more mountainous.
Accommodation
10 refuges, 22 gîtes, 12 unstaffed huts, and 58 B&Bs
Gîtes, hotels, B&Bs, campgrounds and a few refuges line the route, unevenly depending on the region. Outside the towns, it is wise to book each stage and to check that gîtes are open, as some may close temporarily.
Rules to know
In the core zone of the Cévennes National Park (Mont Lozère, Aigoual), bivouacking is only allowed along GR and GRP trails, no more than 50 m from the path, for a single night, from 7 pm to 9 am and without a tent or in a light tent; it is forbidden on a dozen sensitive sections. Fires are forbidden there and dogs must be kept on a leash. Elsewhere, the rules vary from park to park and from one municipality to another.
Water and supplies
The route alternates between towns (Épinal, Dijon, Mâcon, Mazamet, Castelnaudary) and more remote mountain areas, such as the Mézenc, Mont Lozère and the Aigoual, where you need to plan your supplies in advance. TER stations and departmental coach lines let you join or leave many sections.
The GR7 on the map
The 73 stages
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
No current alerts for this GR (checked on November 12, 2026). All live updates →
Our advice
Plan the crossing section by section, with the topoguide for each region.
Look at the Cévennes National Park’s interactive map before planning a bivouac on Mont Lozère or the Aigoual.
On ridges and summits (Mézenc, Lozère, Aigoual, Pyrenees), set off early and head down if a storm threatens.
Book gîtes in advance, especially in the mountain areas, and confirm they are open before setting off.
Carry a valid identity document for the arrival in Andorra.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the GR7 start and finish?
The GR7 starts from the Ballon d’Alsace, at the southern end of the Vosges massif, and ends in Andorra; MonGR gives Andorra la Vella as the finishing point.
Can you walk the whole GR7?
Yes, but it is one of the longest walking routes in France, to be planned as a genuine project. It can also be discovered in sections of a few days to a few weeks, region by region.
Which massifs does the GR7 cross?
The Vosges, the Burgundy Côte, the Beaujolais and the Monts du Lyonnais, the Pilat, the Mézenc and Gerbier-de-Jonc, Mont Lozère, the Aigoual, the Caroux and the Montagne Noire, then the Pyrenees as far as Andorra.
Does the GR7 follow the watershed?
Yes, roughly: according to MonGR, the rivers on one side of the trail flow to the Mediterranean, those on the other side to the Channel or the Atlantic.
Can you bivouac on the GR7?
It depends on the area. In the core zone of the Cévennes National Park, bivouacking is allowed for one night, from 7 pm to 9 am, no more than 50 m from the GR and in a light tent, except on certain sensitive sections. Elsewhere, you need to check with the parks and municipalities.
Which topoguides cover the GR7?
The FFRandonnée publishes the GR7 in several topoguides by region, including “La traversée du Massif central par les parcs”, from Mâcon to La Bastide-Puylaurent, and a volume from La Bastide-Puylaurent to Castelnaudary.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on November 10, 2026.
