5 gravel routes + a bivouac at the end - Complete guide May 2026

Now is the perfect time to go. The trails aren't yet crowded, the bivouac spots are free, and the nights are still cool. We've selected 5 gravel routes that are well worth the detour – each with a bivouac spot at the end.

01 — The Vercors, Drôme

Plateaus stretching as far as the eye can see and no one on the road. The Vercors in May is an immense playground where the forest tracks are still deserted and bivouacs at altitude are completely free.

Useful information

The 2 steps

Stage 1 — Die → Vercors Plateau via the Col de Rousset (32 km · +1,200 m · 4h)

Starting from Die, a small town at the foot of the Vercors mountains, accessible by train from Valence. The climb to the Col de Rousset (1,255 m) begins gradually on the road before turning onto the first forest tracks. Once over the pass, the plateau opens up abruptly—an endless horizon, no noise, just a few herds of animals. The route then climbs towards the Col de Menée (1,457 m) along limestone tracks that offer the most beautiful panoramas of the massif.

Don't miss it: The transition from the Col de Rousset—in just a few meters, you go from the Mediterranean Drôme to the alpine plateau. The contrast is striking. Bivouac at the edge of the slopes at around 1,400 m, 360° view.

Stage 2 — Plateau → Die via the Glandasse forest tracks (33 km · +600 m · 3h30)

The return journey follows the eastern slope of the plateau, skirting the Vercors cliffs that plunge dramatically down to the plain. The Glandasse forest tracks are smooth, fast, and often shaded. The final descent to Die is on a singletrack that mixes gravel and dirt paths—challenging but fun.

Don't miss it: The cliffs of Combe Laval on the descent — a classic in the Vercors, they overlook the plain by more than 600 m. Spectacular even from the plateau.

Logistics

• Access : Paris-Valence train (TGV) then TER to Die. 3h30 from Paris without a car.
• Refueling: Die at the start. No water source on the plateau — allow 3L minimum.
• Track type: Limestone forest paths, some technical sections that are wet in May. Gravel or mountain bike recommended.
• Mapping: IGN TOP25 — 3137OT Vassieux-en-Vercors / La-Chapelle-en-Vercors
• Weather report : The plateau can be exposed to wind and thunderstorms in the summer — in May, conditions are often stable in the morning.

02 — The Luberon, Provence

Ochre trails, hilltop villages, and silence. The Luberon is a mountain range often underestimated by gravel riders — which is exactly why you should go there.

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The 2 steps

Stage 1 — Apt → Luberon ridge via the Col de l'Aire Gros (35 km · +900 m · 4h)

The route starts in Apt, a market town at the foot of the Luberon. The first hour is on a dirt track through the undergrowth before the ochre limestone trails appear—a characteristic color of the massif. The Col de l'Aire Gros (727 m) is a key pass that opens onto the southern slope, drier, more Mediterranean, almost garrigue. The Grand Luberon ridge offers an exceptional panorama of the Durance River and the Alpilles mountains.

Don't miss it: Le Mourre Nègre (1,125 m), the highest point in the Luberon — barely a 30-minute walk from the main track. 360° views of Provence. Bivouacking is possible just below, sheltered from the wind.

Stage 2 — Ridge → Bonnieux via the Gorges de Régalon (35 km · +500 m · 3h30)

Descent on the more wooded, cooler northern slope of the mountain range, towards Bonnieux and Lacoste. The trails wind through cedar and oak forests before skirting the Gorges de Régalon—a narrow, wild canyon completely unknown to the general public. Return to Apt via the vineyards and ochre quarries of Roussillon, if you wish.

Don't miss it: The Régalon Gorge — a canyon that narrows until only one person can pass at a time. Bicycles stay at the edge; explore on foot. 30 minutes round trip.

Logistics

• Access : Train Paris-Avignon (TGV, 2h40) then bus or car to Apt (45 min).
• Refueling: Apt, Bonnieux, Lacoste. Fountains in most villages on the northern slope.
• Track type: Compact limestone paths, some sandy sections. 35mm minimum gravel recommended.
• Regulation : The Luberon is a Regional Natural Park. Bivouacking is permitted outside protected areas — check local restrictions in May.
• Mapping: IGN TOP25 — 3242OT Pertuis / Lourmarin

03 — The Grands Causses, Aveyron

A vast plateau, gorges below, no noise. The Causses are one of the most underrated gravel riding areas in France — dozens of kilometers of limestone tracks between sky and gorges.

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The 2 steps

Stage 1 — Millau → Causse du Larzac → Edges of the Gorges de la Jonte (40 km · +700 m · 4h)

Starting from Millau — visible from the road, the Millau Viaduct immediately sets the scale of what lies ahead. The climb onto the Causse du Larzac is along a wide, smooth military track — the plateau then opens up onto kilometers of white limestone paths winding through ragged grass. Not a sound. Nothing. We then follow the edge of the Gorges de la Jonte — the canyon that plunges down towards the Tarn — to reach the Roquefort plateau.

Don't miss it: The griffon vultures that nest in the cliffs of the Jonte Gorge—reintroduced in the 1980s, they now number over 200. They can be seen circling at track level. Bivouacking is possible on the edge of the plateau, with a direct view of the gorge.

Stage 2 — Roquefort → Edges of the Tarn Gorges → Millau (40 km · +500 m · 3h30)

The return journey takes you through the Causse de Sauveterre, on the other side of the Tarn gorges. Limestone tracks wind between dolmens and lavognes (natural pools). The final descent towards Millau offers a breathtaking view over the Tarn valley and the viaduct—a setting hard to beat in France.

Don't miss it: The Roquefort cellars are located along the way — a visit that takes less than an hour and is open year-round. A cultural and gastronomic break that perfectly complements the itinerary.

Logistics

• Access : Train from Paris to Millau via Montpellier (3h30 from Paris). Millau has a train station.
• Refueling: Millau, Roquefort. No shops on the Causses — plan everything in advance.
• Track type: Compact limestone, often white and rounded. Gravel 35mm to 40mm. Beware of military tracks in the Larzac — some areas are closed.
• Wind : The Causse is exposed — bring a windbreaker even in May.
• Mapping: IGN TOP25 — 2641OT Millau / Grands Causses

04 — La Haute Soule, Pyrenees

Forgotten mountain passes, Iraty forests, horses roaming free. Haute Soule is one of the least known valleys in the Pyrenees — and one of the most beautiful for a gravel ride with bivouac.

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The 2 steps

Stage 1 — Mauléon-Licharre → Plateau d'Iraty via the Col de Larrau (38 km · +1 400 m · 5h)

Starting from Mauléon, the capital of Basque espadrilles, the Saison River guides the first section along a well-maintained track following the river. The climb to the Col de Larrau (1,573 m) begins gradually and then becomes steep—the last few kilometers on the track are demanding, but the pass is a reward. Once over the pass, the Iraty forests appear—one of the largest beech-fir forests in Europe. The Iraty plateau (1,300 m) is home to herds of wild Basque horses (pottoks) and cows year-round.

Don't miss it: Pottok ponies roam the Iraty plateau at the end of the day — these wild Basque horses roam freely and sometimes come within a few meters. A bivouac at the edge of the forest, a peaceful night guaranteed.

Stage 2 — Iraty Plateau → Mauléon via the Haute Soule trails (37 km · +700 m · 4h)

Return via the Soule side, less frequented and more technical. The trails descend through beech forests before joining old transhumance routes that run alongside the streams. A few sections may require support if there has been recent rain. Return to Mauléon via the Saison valley.

Don't miss it: Ossau-Iraty sheep's cheese from shepherds in the summer pastures — several huts are open in May and sell directly. A chance to stock up on supplies in a different way.

Logistics

• Access : Paris-Pau train (TGV, 4h) then shuttle or car to Mauléon (45 min).
• Refueling: Mauléon at the start. Auberge d'Iraty on the plateau (open in May, check the dates).
• Track type: Basque forest paths, grassy slopes at altitude, some technical sections. Gravel bikes with a minimum 40mm tires or mountain bikes.
• In May: Check conditions at the Col de Larrau — late snow cover is possible. Contact the Mauléon Tourist Office beforehand.
• Mapping: IGN TOP25 — 1346OT Larrau / Pic d’Orhy

05 — The Massif des Maures, Var

The wild Var. Pine trees, silence, sea in the distance. The Massif des Maures is one of the few preserved natural areas on the Mediterranean coast — and in May, before the summer restrictions, its trails are still accessible.

Useful information

The 2 steps

Stage 1 — Collobrières → Crête des Maures via the Col de Babaou (30 km · +700 m · 3h30)

Starting from Collobrières, a chestnut village in the heart of the massif. The first trails wind through chestnut groves and pine forests before beginning the climb to the Col de Babaou (415 m). Once over the pass, the massif's ridges open up to a dual panorama—the sea on one side, the valley on the other. In May, the Mediterranean is still a deep blue, free of the summer haze. The ridge trails are fast, technical in places, and always spectacular.

Don't miss it: Sunset from the main ridge — the Gulf of Saint-Tropez below, the Hyères Islands in the distance. Bivouac on the ridge, altitude 600 m, no noise except the wind in the pines.

Stage 2 — Ridge → Collobrières via inland tracks (30 km · +400 m · 3h)

Return through the heart of the mountain range, following the forest fire prevention tracks (DFCI) – wide, well-maintained, and ideal for gravel riding. The route crosses cork oak forests with their distinctive red-orange bark. Return to Collobrières via a gently descending track along the Collobrier stream.

Don't miss it: The cork oaks have been stripped of their bark—removed every 10 years, revealing a luminous reddish-ochre trunk. One of the most characteristic images of inland Var.

Logistics

• Access : Paris-Toulon train (TGV, 3h30) then car or shuttle to Collobrières (40 min).
• Refueling: Collobrières only. No shops along the way — bring 2 days' worth of food.
• Regulation : The ski slopes are open in May. From July 1st, the prefecture closes access to the mountain range from July 1st to September 15th, depending on weather conditions. May is therefore the best time to go.
• Track type: Wide and compact DFCI tracks, some single tracks in the undergrowth. Gravel 35mm to 40mm.
• Mapping: IGN TOP25 — 3445OT Maures / Frayères

Recommended equipment for these 5 routes

The bare essentials

• Gravel bike (35mm to 45mm tires depending on the terrain)
• Frame and handlebar bags (bikepacking) or saddlebag
• Lightweight tent or bivouac
• Suitable sleeping bag (cool nights in May, expect temperatures down to 5°C at altitude)
• Complete repair kit (inner tube, tire levers, pump, multi-tool)
• Front and rear lights
• Water: 2L minimum + purification tablets
• Food for 2 days

Specific to May

• Lightweight windbreaker (exposed plateaus: Vercors, Causses, Iraty)
• High SPF sunscreen (UV rays are more intense at altitude)
• Thermal layer for nights (Vercors and Pyrenees: nights between 5 and 10°C)
• Lightweight gloves for morning descents

💡 LFW Tip: The right pants for these two days on the trail are the ones that weigh next to nothing, dry quickly, and go seamlessly from bike to bivouac. That's exactly what we designed in our Travel range.