Le Saint Michel by mountain bike

Forest

Panorama

Summit and pass

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After a gradual climb up the trail and a few roller-coaster-like sections, a beautiful downhill ride on a single track awaits you below Rocher Saint-Michel. With rocks and roots all around, it’s a bumpy ride! Perfect for building upper-body strength and improving your riding skills! But before that, the view from the top of Rocher Saint-Michel is well worth a quick detour.

Follow the red MTB trail marker No. 4
Watch out for the 2 or 3 sections that are a bit more exposed to the edge and for the numerous tree roots in the second half of the descent!

Description

Take the RD 30 toward Laragne, then turn right toward “Beynaves / Le Chevalet.” At the two intersections, keep right.
Just after a bridge, at a bend, leave the paved road and follow the forest trail. This trail climbs through a fairly shaded area beneath the Chabre ridge. At the first major trail junction, go up to the right, then at the second fork, follow the more clearly marked trail to the left.
At the end of the trail, continue on the balcony-like path beneath the ridge (a roller-coaster-like trail, fun and with plenty of ups and downs).
At the intersection, head back up the forest trail to Beynaves. At the large crossroads, take the trail that descends to the right.
1 km further on, the GR turns sharply left onto a path. From here, you can continue along the trail, which narrows into a path leading to the summit of Rocher Saint-Michel (panoramic view overlooking Orpierre and the Céans Valley). Alternatively, head left toward Orpierre on the ridge trail below Saint-Michel. A few tricky and exposed sections may require you to dismount. Then, as the rocks become fewer, the roots take over! Your arms will be put to the test, but your bike handling skills will only improve as a result!
At the Paturle intersection, continue along the trail on the left, which ends at the bottom of the Ravin de Bagnols. You’ll need to cross a small stream to reach the road a little further up, which leads right back to Orpierre.
Return to Orpierre by following the road to the right.

Departure : Fountain next to the church, Orpierre
Arrival : Fountain next to the church, Orpierre
Towns crossed : Orpierre, Sainte-Colombe, and Étoile-Saint-Cyrice