Ravin des Échos – L'Arête · Gorges de la Jonte · France
Bail with caveatsBolting confidence: high
Probably the most approachable multipitch in the Jonte: four pitches of grade 3 and 4 on excellent, juggy rock up the right side of a pillar, with solid chained belays where leader and second stay in sight. Vultures circle past by late morning. The walk-off needs a little care.
The route
Zébulon runs parallel to the route called L'Arête, on the right-hand side of a pillar in the Ravin des Échos sector above Le Rozier. It gives four pitches, the last very short, with a single steep but juggy move on the first pitch. The rock is very good and well featured, and recent parties say it shows little polish despite heavy use by clubs and first-timers. It was equipped by Jean-Luc Maury. Allow one to two hours of climbing.
The climbing
| Pitch | Grade | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | 4c | 30 m | Straight up, then traverse right to pass a small overhang, steep but on big holds. Belay just above. Pass well to the right of the overhang. One party found this crux a little harder than it looks, and another found the bolts spaced here. |
| P2 | 4a | 30 m | Straight up. |
| P3 | 4a | 30 m | Trend right, then straight up to a very comfortable platform. |
| P4 | 3c | 10 m | The little ridge on the right, a level section and a short step to a tree with a chain. A fine wall on the left gives an alternative at about 5a (one party says 5b/5c). Go past the unchained belay to the chained one a few metres higher. |
Getting there
From Millau drive to Le Rozier. Either take the small road up through Le Rozier towards Capluc to its end at a telecom mast (small car park, park nose-in), or continue a few kilometres along the D996 towards Meyrueis to the main Cirque des Vases car park at the gorge entrance, marked by an SOS post. Le Rozier and Peyreleau have shops and accommodation.
About 30 min by either way. From the Cirque des Vases car park, spot the Pégase rock tower above the road, take the path that leads to the foot of the Cathédrale sector, then climb further towards the ravine to the foot of the ridge, where 'Arête' is painted in red. From the Capluc car park follow the GR past the foot of the Révérend to a fork with a broken old sign; take the path that descends right, then at a wooden post without a sign go left and uphill to the foot of the Cathédrale. The way is signposted ('petite Arête'). Zébulon starts right of L'Arête in a kind of dead end.
Loading map
The point marks the crag, not the exact start of the route.
Parking
D996 Cirque des Vases car park (camptocamp waypoint 187443)
Point from camptocamp waypoint 188274
Contains the route point and parking. Opens in most mapping apps and GPS watches.
Points are compiled from published sources, with the precision stated above. They were not surveyed on the ground: check them against a current topo.
Coordinates: 44.19639, 3.22639 (crag) · Parking: 44.19222, 3.22556
Getting down
On foot. From the summit terrace walk 5 m north, then go right to a short, exposed but easy down-climb of 2 m, a second easy one of 2 m, and a third of about 4 m that is harder; a short abseil from a bush is possible, and parties in 2026 found fixed ropes on the down-climbs. You land in the ravine. From there either go up north to join the GR in 3 min, or, to return to the foot of the route, cross the small combe for 30 m to a steep path with fixed ropes that descends a big cleft behind the Cathédrale sector. Abseiling the route itself is described as not recommended; parties also abseil the neighbouring L'Arête in two abseils when nobody is on it.
Retreat
Bail with caveats
The belays have chains and maillons, and at least one 2026 party abseiled the route in three abseils. Camptocamp and another party advise against abseiling the line because of its shape, without giving more detail. With only four pitches and nothing harder than 4c, finishing is usually simpler.
Partly inferred from the route facts
Safety
Sun and weather
South-facing at about 700 to 800 m. In August a party starting at 8:30 had the sun arrive at about 10:00; a September party found it very hot. In late December the first two pitches were in shade and cold. The route is popular with groups.
Sun on the wall · S-facing
Working out the sunlit hours for this month.
Sun on the wallDaylight, wall in shade● Usual season
Estimated from the wall's aspect only. Ignores surrounding terrain, gullies and the wall's exact shape. Clock times are local to the wall (Central European time), for the 15th of each month.
Climate figures for Gorges de la Jonte are not available yet
What to carry
No source lists the rope or number of quickdraws. Pitches are 30 m, so a party abseiling would need to cover that. Helmet.
Derived from the route data; check it against a current topo
From climbers
Reader reports are not being collected yet. Until they are, check a current topo and the local club or guidebook publisher for recent changes to Zébulon.
Worth knowing
Open questions
Provenance
Around 4c · about 4 pitches
Germany · Ammergauer Alpen
A short, easy alpine route of UIAA 4+ on the Schlössel above the Kenzenhütte: a water runnel, a corner and slabs, then a compact pillar to finish. Bolted where it matters but not closely. Pitch 3 has some unreliable rock and grass.
4c4 pitches140 m
Read the cautions
Austria · Salzkammergut
Five easy pitches up an edge above the Wolfgangsee, mostly UIAA 4 with a few moves of 5-. A slab low down and an exposed step across a cleft on pitch 4 are the memorable bits. A popular first multipitch.
4c5 pitches150 m
Spain · Riglos & Agüero (Mallos)
The easiest way up a real Riglos summit: five short pitches of 4c on a ramp, a crack and a chimney, steep enough to feel like proper climbing. It is the standard beginners' route and the descent for the whole needle, so expect queues and people abseiling past you. In shade most of the day.
4c5 pitches100 m
France · Chamonix valley
A short, friendly slab route on the sunny gneiss of the Chéserys, facing the Mont Blanc range. Five pitches with one vertical step of 4c, chain belays and an abseil descent make it a standard introduction to multipitch climbing.
4c5 pitches150 m
Compiled from published sources and last verified October 2026. Bolts, anchors and access change. Climbing is dangerous and you are responsible for your own decisions: check a current topo and read the disclaimer.