A watershed at Chabouret Pass (1 363m), Mont Pilat rises between the Loire and the Rhône Valleys. The Regional Park created in 1974 covers some 160 000 acres of varied landscapes. Towards the Rhône, the orchards and vineyards (such as the famous Côte-Rôtie) give way to pastures on the plateaux, and to forests as the altitude increases. The cool forests of fir trees, fast-flowing streams and vast meadows make it very popular with walkers.