Circular tour Massif Central
A loop around Mont Aigoual, through replanted forests, transhumance drove roads, the small town of Meyrueis and a wind-battered summit, in the heart of the Cévennes National Park.
A 83 km loop starting from L'Espérou.
The GR66 goes around Mont Aigoual, the massif that dominates the southern Cévennes, straddling the Gard and Lozère. Waymarked as a loop within the Cévennes National Park, the hike links L’Espérou, Dourbies and Meyrueis, then climbs back via Cabrillac and Aire de Côte to the summit of the Aigoual (1,565 m according to the National Park). Its weather observatory now houses the Climatographe, a centre devoted to climate change.
The path alternates between windswept ridges and long stretches through forest. The Aigoual forest, mainly beech, was replanted from the late 19th century onwards after a period of overgrazing. To the south, the loop passes near the Lac des Pises and the summit of Saint-Guiral before descending towards Dourbies. To the north, it reaches Meyrueis, an old town of fairs and hatmakers nestled between the Aigoual and the causses, then Cabrillac, which lies at the crossroads of the Grande Draille d’Aubrac, the old transhumance route for the flocks.
The climate on the summit is harsh: the National Park compares it to that of a 2,000 m summit elsewhere, and the wind blows hard for much of the year. On a clear day, though, the view stretches from the Alps to the Pyrenees. The GR66 crosses or shares sections with the GR6, the GR7, the GR60, the GR67 and the GR71, which lets you shorten the loop or extend it onto other routes.
With no technical sections, this tour is for hikers used to walking several days in a row in mid-altitude mountains, with villages far apart and long stretches of forest. Flocks and their livestock guardian dogs are part of the journey, particularly on the drove roads and around the summit.
L'Espérou
Without a car, you can reach L’Espérou by liO coach: line 140 from Nîmes to Le Vigan on weekdays, then line 108 from Le Vigan towards Mont Aigoual and Lanuéjols, from Monday to Saturday all year round, stop “La Serreyrède”, on the pass next to L’Espérou.
The National Park compares the summit’s climate to that of a 2,000 m summit: the loop is best walked from late spring to autumn, and the Aire de Côte gîte only opens from April to October. In summer, the Gard section may be subject to access restrictions linked to the fire risk.
Challenging
No technical sections, but repeated climbs and descents between valleys and ridges, a summit exposed to the wind and villages far apart: the loop calls for the stamina of a hiker used to mid-altitude mountains.
5 gîtes, 11 hotels and 6 campsites
Accommodation is concentrated in L’Espérou, Dourbies and Meyrueis: gîtes d’étape, hotels, B&Bs and campsites. On the northern side, the Aire de Côte gîte d’étape, redeveloped by the National Park, offers dormitories, rooms, half board and a bivouac option, normally from April to October. Book before setting off, as there is little accommodation between the villages.
The loop crosses the core zone of the Cévennes National Park. Bivouacking is allowed there for a single night, from 7 pm to 9 am, without a tent or in a light tent, no more than 50 m from a GR or GRP trail, except on sensitive sections where it is forbidden; on the GR66, these include the area from the summit of the Aigoual to Prat Peyrot, the Lac des Pises and the summit of Saint-Guiral. Fires are forbidden and dogs must be kept on a lead. On the Gard side, access to the forested massifs may be banned from mid-June to mid-September depending on the fire risk.
Between L’Espérou, Dourbies and Meyrueis, the path passes through little more than hamlets and forests: bring picnics and enough water for the day. The National Park advises carrying enough water, adapting your gear to mountain weather that changes quickly and following the waymarks on the ground.
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
| Stage | Route | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L'Espérou → Dourbies | 26.9 km | 460 m | 880 m |
| 2 | Dourbies → Meyrueis | 20 km | 690 m | 870 m |
| 3 | Meyrueis → Aire de Côte | 24.1 km | 800 m | 440 m |
| 4 | Aire de Côte → L'Espérou | 12.1 km | 510 m | 280 m |
22 places to stay near the route, from refuges to campsites.
No current alerts for this GR (checked on 12 November 2026). All live updates →
The GR66 is a loop: none of the official sources consulted gives it a set starting point. Without a car, the two most practical starts are L’Espérou, served by the liO 108 coach from Le Vigan (stop “La Serreyrède”), and Meyrueis, linked to Millau by the liO 215 coach.
None of the official sources consulted imposes a direction. Our route describes the loop clockwise: from L’Espérou towards the Lac des Pises, Saint-Guiral and Dourbies, then Meyrueis, Cabrillac, Aire de Côte and the summit of the Aigoual.
Yes, within the rules of the core zone of the Cévennes National Park: a single night, from 7 pm to 9 am, without a tent or in a light tent, no more than 50 m from the path. Bivouacking is forbidden on certain sections, including the area around the summit of the Aigoual, the Lac des Pises and the summit of Saint-Guiral. The Aire de Côte gîte also offers a bivouac option.
Yes, keeping it on a lead in the core zone of the National Park, where this is compulsory, and checking that your accommodation accepts dogs. A lead also avoids tension with the livestock guardian dogs.
The liO 140 coach line links Nîmes to Le Vigan on weekdays. In Le Vigan, line 108 climbs towards Mont Aigoual and Lanuéjols from Monday to Saturday, all year round, with a stop at La Serreyrède, on the pass next to L’Espérou. Timetables are on the website of the Occitanie region’s liO network.
Yes. The path crosses the summit, near the weather observatory that houses the Climatographe, devoted to climate change. Bivouacking is forbidden in this area, between the Font de Trépaloup and Prat Peyrot.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on 12 November 2026.
