Do you live near Montpellier or are you on vacation in the area? Would you like to discover the hinterland? Then discover the best hiking trails in Pic Saint Loup!
Montpellier and theHérault department form a lovely blend of seaside resorts, historic towns, small villages and a sublime hinterland.
Just a 45-minute drive from Montpellier, the Pic Saint Loup can be seen from a large part of the Hérault department and even the Gard. You can see its peaked silhouette from the buildings, and all you want to do is discover its riches!
Pic Saint Loup may not be big in terms of size, but its panorama is. It offers a number of sublime hiking trails that will delight young and old alike.
Generation Voyage has put together a guide to the four best hiking trails in Pic Saint Loup. Whatever your level, you’re bound to find a trail that’s just right for you. Just follow the guide!
1. Pic Saint Loup and Château de Montferrand
Photo credit : Alltrails
- Running time: 5h45
- Distance: 15.8 km
- Ascent: 817 m
- Difficulty: Difficult
- See the route
This is THE hike at Pic Saint Loup! Following the GR60 long-distance hiking trail, it is the best-known and most famous of the area. Its length and difference in altitude make it a difficult hike.
The main advantage of this Pic Saint Loup hike is that you can admire the garrigue surrounding the pointed summit of the Hérault. The route begins at Château de Montferrand. Dating back to the 12th century, the castle ruins are perched on a cliff, giving you a great view of the surrounding area. You then continue along pretty, well-marked paths, with occasional strenuous sections.
The high point of the hike is the summit of Pic Saint Loup and its cross. After so much effort, the reward is an exceptional view over the garrigue and a breathtaking panorama. Take your time to enjoy this unforgettable trip, and soak up the fresh air of this small mountain in the Hérault region.
For this hike in Pic Saint Loup, here are two tips from Generation Voyage. This hiking trail can be very busy, especially in summer and at weekends. If you can, do it during the week, avoiding July and August. Finally, even if waking up to the sunrise from the summit of Pic Saint Loup is a bit of a chore, it’s a magical moment that we recommend to everyone!
2. Pic Saint Loup
Photo credit : Alltrails
- Running time: 1h20
- Distance: 5.5 km
- Difference in altitude: 333 m
- Difficulty: Medium
- See the route
This hike in Pic Saint Loup is the short version of the previous trail. It follows similar paths, including an old church.
The trail starts at around 300 m altitude and is very well signposted, with no traps or particular difficulties. The most difficult part is on the ridges, due to the steepness of the slope.
As always, difficulty is rewarded on arrival! Indeed, it’s when the trail reaches the crests that the panorama is at its most sublime.
The hike ends at the summit of Pic Saint Loup, where the view is exceptional and never tiresome. On a clear day, you can even see the Cévennes mountains and the Mediterranean Sea!
3. Pic Saint Loup par les Crêtes
Photo credit : Alltrails
- Duration: 3h30
- Distance: 9.2 km
- Difference in altitude: 583 m
- Difficulty: Difficult
- See the route
If the previous Pic Saint Loup hike was a rough sketch of the ridges, this one is all about them! For this walk, you’ll take in the ridges around the famous pointed summit, on a more challenging route than the others.
The difficulty lies in these famous passages on the crests, which are particularly challenging due to the steepness of the slope. Nevertheless, these passages offer the best views of the garrigue. In the distance, the panorama is sublime and you can see some small villages.
Of course, this hike goes all the way to the summit of Pic Saint Loup, dominated by the new cross installed in July 2020. At the top, you’ll have a well-deserved rest, before heading back down to finish off your wonderful day and get a good night’s rest before setting off on new adventures!
4. Around the Pic Saint Loup
Photo credit : Alltrails
- Duration: about 3 hours
- Distance: 9 km
- Difference in altitude: 471 m
- Difficulty: Medium
- See the route
We end our selection with this hike around the Pic Saint Loup where, as the name suggests, the aim is to go all the way round. This trail is a loop, with the village of Cazevieille as the starting and finishing point.
Unlike the other three hikes, you won’t be going to the summit of Pic Saint Loup. Without matching the exceptional panorama from the summit, the views over the garrigue are superb in fine weather, even a few hundred meters below, and the trail is very pleasant.
This hike is particularly recommended for families and people who think they might have difficulty climbing to the summit of Pic Saint Loup.