La Bergerie du Mas Delon +33 6 81 56 48 59
On site · Lake Salagou · Hérault

Mountain biking at Lake Salagou: trails through the ruffes and garrigue from our gîtes

The Salagou - Mourèze Grand Site is prime mountain biking country. From La Bergerie du Mas Delon, tracks lead straight to Lake Salagou, the red ruffes, the village of Celles and the ridges overlooking the lake. Routes for every level, through truly unique landscapes.

Book a gîte MTB routes Lake Salagou
Ride out from the estate 4 km to the lake Ruffes and garrigue All levels
176 haestate with rideable tracks
4 kmto Lake Salagou
Ruffestrails through the red rock formations
17 kmto the Cirque de Mourèze

MTB trails starting at the gîtes

La Bergerie du Mas Delon is perfectly placed for setting off by mountain bike without loading the bikes into the car. From the estate, farm tracks and trails lead straight to the shores of Lake Salagou (4 km), cross the red ruffes and climb towards the village of Octon (8 km) or the ridges overlooking the lake.

The Salagou terrain is wonderfully varied: flat ground along the lakeshore, moderate climbs through the ruffes, steeper ascents up to the ridges. The garrigue tracks offer constant views over the lake, the hills and the Hérault hinterland.

Start from the gîtes tracks you can reach without a car
Lake circuit 27 waymarked km around the Salagou
Red ruffes trails through the rock formations
Octon and the ridges a climb with panoramic views over the lake
Mountain bike trail through the red ruffes around Lake Salagou

The waymarked MTB circuits around the Salagou

The lake sits at the heart of the Salagou FFC mountain-bike area (site no. 51), run by the community of communes and the Roc Evasion club: 13 waymarked circuits, 198 km in total, from green to black, from Lodève to Clermont-l'Hérault via Le Puech, Celles, Octon, Liausson and Cabrières. Here are the four loops closest to the estate.

No. 1 — Le tour du lac du Salagou

27 km, 366 m of climbing. The legendary Salagou loop: red flanks, dark lava flows, the village of Celles and the dam, with the water in sight almost the whole way. Starts from the Parking des Ruffes, on the Clermont-l'Hérault shores (free parking). The Hérault tourist board rates the circuit "intermediate", but it is waymarked red on the ground: allow a good half-day. A black variant links the Octon shores to the village of Celles.

By the Mas de Riri campsite, the path can be under water when the lake level is high.

No. 12 — Les berges du Salagou

6 km, 31 m of climbing, rated very easy. This is the lake's family loop: flat, short, right at the water's edge, rideable with children who can handle a bike. Starts from the lake car park, on the Clermont-l'Hérault shores. A good first taste of the ruffes before tackling something longer.

No. 2 — Les balcons volcaniques du Salagou

14 km, 238 m of climbing, rated intermediate. The middle ground between the family loop and the full circuit: you gain height above the basalt flows and look down over the water, without spending the day on it. Starts from the lake car park, on the Clermont-l'Hérault shores.

No. 7 — Octon causse de Toucou

13 km, 317 m of climbing, rated intermediate. This is the waymarked circuit closest to the gîtes. Starts from the walkers' car park, avenue de la Molière in Octon, on the right past the wine cooperative. A climb up onto the causse, dry garrigue and viewpoints over the lake below.

Ruffes and the village of Celles (easy)

From La Bergerie, ride down to the lakeshore (4 km) then follow the ruffes to the village of Celles (5 km from the gîtes). Varied terrain, views over the lake and the red formations. Doable as a family by mountain bike.

Climb to Octon (intermediate)

From the gîtes, ride to Octon along the garrigue tracks (8 km, ~200 m of climbing). The Octon viewpoint offers one of the finest views over Lake Salagou. Descend by a different trail to make a loop.

Towards Mourèze (challenging)

From La Bergerie, ride to the Cirque de Mourèze (17 km, ~300 m of climbing) along the hinterland tracks. The dolomite cirque is even more impressive when you have earned it in the saddle. Return via the D908.

Biking and swimming combined

Combine a morning of mountain biking around the lake with an afternoon swim at the Salagou beaches. Then head back to the gîtes for the heated pool and a barbecue on the terrace. One of the classic perfect days at the Salagou.

Le Puech, our canyons in the ruffes

Away from Lake Salagou, on the estate's doorstep, the extravagant red rock never stops surprising you. Built entirely of sandstone, the colourful village of Le Puech also enjoys an underground supply of warm water, put to use by local farms.

Most of the MTB route takes you through a succession of canyons where unusual, intermittent streams flow along the bottom: the wadis. The centre of Le Puech, wild open views.

The village of Le Puech and red ruffes on the Salagou MTB trails
Chapel on the shore of Lake Salagou on the lake loop by MTB

The loop around Lake Salagou, our signature ride

A loop around the most beautiful lake in the South of France will not disappoint! Welcome to the arid, fantastically red flanks of a valley flooded over more than 700 hectares with clean, fish-filled water.

This long 27 km circuit gives you views, again and again, over dry, luminous Mediterranean landscapes that contrast with the ever-present water. Dark lava flows, an extraordinary lakeside village, the dam. From the estate, 4 km of tracks are enough to reach the shore and join the loop: no need to load the bikes into the car.

Handy to know: a water point for washing down your bike is 10 metres from the estate reception.

MTB map and bike hire

The official circuit map, with the route, the waymarking and the profile of each loop, can be downloaded from the Grand Site Salagou - Mourèze. Temporary circuit closures are announced on the Salagou FFC mountain-bike area page: take a look before you set off, as a few loops in the area are closed following storm damage.

For bike hire, RDV Cycles & Connect runs a rental base at the Baie des Vailhés, on the shore of Lake Salagou, about 5 minutes from the gîtes: summer only.

Its repair and servicing workshop is on the route d'Olmet in Lodève, about 10 minutes from the gîtes, by appointment on +33 7 88 05 57 71.

Another option is Ozone VTT Cycles, the local bike specialist: shop, repair workshop and hire of mountain bikes, e-MTBs and kids' bikes. The shop is at 1 avenue du Lac du Salagou in Clermont-l'Hérault, and a rental base opens on the lakeshore in the warmer months, right at the start of the circuits.

Book on +33 6 31 76 84 57 (hire) or +33 4 67 96 27 17 (shop) — vtt-salagou.com.

Official MTB trail map (PDF, in French) Book a gîte
Fire risk: access to the woodland massifs of the Hérault is regulated by prefectoral order. At orange alert level, access is advised against; at red alert level, it is forbidden to everyone, mountain bikers included. The map for the next day is published every day at around 5.30 pm on risque-prevention-incendie.fr. We can also look it up for you at the estate reception.
Mountain bike trail through the red ruffes around Lake Salagou

Frequently asked questions about mountain biking at the Salagou

Are there mountain bike trails around Lake Salagou?

Yes, the Salagou - Mourèze Grand Site has plenty of paths and trails suited to mountain biking. The tracks through the red ruffes, around the lake and towards the Cirque de Mourèze are all rideable by MTB. From La Bergerie du Mas Delon, you ride out straight from the gîtes.

Can you hire mountain bikes near Lake Salagou?

Yes, there are two hire outlets close by. RDV Cycles & Connect hires out mountain bikes at the Baie des Vailhés, on the lakeshore 5 minutes from the gîtes, in summer only — its repair workshop is on the route d'Olmet in Lodève, by appointment on +33 7 88 05 57 71. Ozone VTT Cycles, the bike specialist in Clermont-l'Hérault, hires mountain bikes, e-MTBs and kids' bikes and opens a base on the lakeshore in season — +33 6 31 76 84 57, vtt-salagou.com.

Is mountain biking at the Salagou suitable for beginners?

Yes, the lake area suits all levels. The paths around the lake and through the lower ruffes are accessible to beginners and families. Circuit no. 12, Les berges du Salagou, is 6 km with 31 m of climbing and can be ridden with children. The climbs towards Octon or Mont Liausson call for more fitness.

Which waymarked MTB circuits are there around Lake Salagou?

The lake sits at the heart of the Salagou FFC mountain-bike area (site no. 51), which has 13 waymarked circuits totalling 198 km, from green to black. The four loops closest to the estate are no. 1, Le tour du lac du Salagou (27 km, 366 m of climbing), no. 12, Les berges du Salagou (6 km, 31 m, very easy), no. 2, Les balcons volcaniques du Salagou (14 km, 238 m) and no. 7, Octon causse de Toucou (13 km, 317 m).

How long is the mountain-bike loop around Lake Salagou?

Circuit no. 1 of the FFC mountain-bike area, Le tour du lac du Salagou, is 27 km with 366 m of climbing. It starts from the Parking des Ruffes, on the Clermont-l'Hérault shores, where parking is free. It is rated intermediate by the Hérault tourist board but waymarked red on the ground: allow a good half-day. A black variant links the Octon shores to the village of Celles.

Can you go mountain biking at the Salagou when there is a fire risk?

Access to the woodland massifs of the Hérault is regulated by prefectoral order. At orange alert level, access is advised against; at red alert level, it is forbidden to everyone, mountain bikers included. The map for the next day is published every day at around 5.30 pm on risque-prevention-incendie.fr.

Gîtes for bikes, lake and pool at the Salagou

La Bergerie du Mas Delon: direct access to the Salagou MTB trails, a heated pool for recovery and air-conditioned gîtes for a holiday that is both active and restful.

Call +33 6 81 56 48 59 Book now