Climbing the Rocher de la Clé

A difficult-to-access rock, reserved for agile individuals. The view of the Mas Valley and the surrounding mountains is breathtaking.

It's a rather narrow rock face (barely wide enough to accommodate four people) which will require you to scramble over rocks in the last few meters. Nothing insurmountable or particularly vertigo-inducing, but it's essential to be in good physical condition, cautious, and relatively comfortable on (large) rocks.

At the summit, a panoramic view of this sublime Mas Valley which starts from Mazoyer and joins the village of Antraigues. To the left and right, the majestic peaks of the mountains which plunge towards the south to transform into the reliefs of the Cévennes.
Wow effect guaranteed!

How to climb to the Clé rock:

The easiest way to get there is from the hamlet of Mazoyer. And if that's the option you choose, know that driving to this (almost) isolated hamlet is already a great adventure.
So if you're not a fan of (very narrow) roads where potentially crossing paths with another vehicle requires a good kilometer of reversing, another solution is to do this route [Antraigues > Le Mazoyer] by bike or on foot. If it's on foot, it makes the hike much longer.

From Mazoyer, take this small path that begins with a metal gate, near the hiking information panel. Be sure to close the gate properly.
Follow this path which climbs among the chestnut trees and stones for a good 1 km.
When you reach the intersection with a wider path, turn right (north). You will soon reach a wide forest track that will allow you to bypass the Rocher de la Clé.
Stay on the forest track (uphill) for 1,3km until you reach this large hairpin bend that turns left.
In this large bend, a small, barely visible trace is located on the outside of the bend, and descends towards the Rocher de la Clé (South direction)
Follow this trail (which sometimes gets lost in the vegetation) which descends towards a wooded area. You must go around this area on the right (the rock is on your left).
The trail continues down through the vegetation, sometimes hidden by broom, to a sort of chaos of rocks.
Carefully climb towards the summit, paying attention to the stability of the rocks and stones.

Start Point: The Mazoyer
Distance One Way: 3km
Positive elevation: 300m
Ascent: Difficult

GPX track

see in 3D

Climbing the Key Rock — Ascent of the Rocher de la Clé, © Steph Tripot

Little personal advice

"For me, the best solution is to park in the Antraigues square, then cycle to Mazoyer. Firstly, because it avoids a long reverse if I encounter another vehicle. And above all, because cycling along this little road that runs alongside one of the prettiest rivers in the Ardèche is wonderful."

Stéphane, a hiker from Ardèche