July, 2026

KmM = Kilometer Marker

Aubenas is a town of about 12,000 people in the south of the Ardèche region. The Ardèche, to quote a website, is “a largely wild, car-only region known for deep gorges, prehistoric caves, chestnut traditions, spa towns, and outdoor activities.” It’s hilly and has some great cycling, often with a lovely feeling of remoteness.

We stayed in Aubenas for a few days and I rode two loops: one that I got from OpenRunner and one that I created from looking at maps. For the OpenRunner ride, rather than drive to the start I rode from where we were staying, a mile outside Aubenas. For the ride starting in Val les Bains I drove to the start.

I’d planned to do more rides but there was a horrendous hailstorm while we were there and our car was badly damaged and undriveable. So we spent the rest of our time dealing with car companies.

North Loop

This is a good introduction to cycling in the wild Ardèche to the North of Aubenas. I found the first part a bit boring as it tediously followed the D578, a somewhat busy road, for about 12 km up a low gradient valley. Fortunately it left this road at the little village of Antraigues-sur-Volane and worked it was way up some long hills and through some lovely countryside. After leaving Antraigues-sur-Volane the road soon becomes a pretty single lane road, then a one-way single lane road where you are riding the wrong way. But no worries! The whole loop was about 84 km with 4,850 feet of climbing.

Here’s the ride on Ride with GPS.

Northwest Figure of Eight

I created this route after we drove down the pretty road from Juvinas to Le Libonès and decided it would be fun to ride up it. Which it was, although it would have been prettier riding down. I tried to create the route with minimal cycling on roads with center lines, but wasn’t altogether successful. Still, overall it was a good ride. The ride is about 74 km with 4,340 feet of climbing.

The ride starts in Val les Bains and I drove there, parking at 44.65434929826173, 4.3661373704422966. You could also go a bit further and park around 44.65687169708753, 4.366012847014274

Here’s the ride on Ride with GPS.