Crêt de la Perdrix Summit Walk (Pilat)

The Cret de la Perdrix summit walk climbs to the highest point of the Pilat massif, at 1,432 m, within the Parc naturel regional du Pilat in the Loire department, in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region of France. The nearest listed starting point is the Col de l'Oeillon car park, near Saint-Pierre-de-Boeuf. The trailhead is best reached by car from Lyon in about 1 hour 15 minutes, as bus service from Saint-Etienne or Vienne is limited. Parking is available at the col, and no permit is needed to hike. The round trip is about 6 to 8 km and takes 2 to 3 hours, with a climb of about 250 to 350 m depending on the start point. By distance and elevation it falls in the moderate class, with sustained but not technical ascent. The surface is a mix of forest track, rocky path and open ridge, with the upper section exposed to wind and weather. Shade is available in the wooded lower sections, but the summit area is open. Landmarks include the ridge views and the summit itself, from which the Alps and, on a clear day, Mont Blanc can be seen. The summit is the natural turn-around point, and shorter walks can turn back earlier at any viewpoint on the ridge. Water sources are not reliable on the route, so about 1.5 l per person should be carried. There are no staffed refuge huts on this short route, although the Pilat area has villages and farm-inns in the valleys. Weather in the Pilat can change quickly, and cloud, wind and cold at the summit are common even when the plain is warm, so a warm layer and rain jacket are advised. Paths are waymarked by the park, and a map is useful at junctions. The best conditions are from May to October, while winter snow can make the ridge difficult.