In the Bois de Clamart and Bois de Meudon

Sung about by Georges Brassens, the Bois de Clamart and Meudon woods offer many attractions for walkers, in addition to "little flowers" and "friends". The numerous ponds dotted along the route are particularly enjoyable. A few paths winding through the undergrowth, some remarkable trees and a little heritage add to the pleasure of this half-day walk.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Over hill and dale in the Hauts-de-Seine

Details

108282
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.50 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 99 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 103 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 167 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 109 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking is available at the Carrefour de la Queue de l'Étang car park, at the western tip of the Étang de Villebon and at the junction of the Route Royale and the Route des Six Frères, near the N118.

There are numerous signposts in these woods. In the following description, some sections where there are signposts without any continuity have been indicated as "no signposts" and isolated signposts have only been mentioned in the text where necessary.

Yellow markings (except for the first 200 metres)

(S) Take the wide path that starts after the forest gate that encloses the car park and climb slightly in a north-easterly direction. Ignore the fitness trail on the right. At the crossroads with a yellow sign with two sides, turn right and head east (tree marked with forest plot number 24). When you reach the corner of a wall, turn right and continue until you reach a crossroads with several paths. Among them, a wide path descends steeply, heading south: do not take this path, but take the first path on the left, which passes just above an information sign. The path is narrow and winding, descending between trees, some of which are marked "chemin cavalier" (horse path), which will help you find your way. When you reach the Étang de Meudon, turn right, continue downhill and you will come out onto a wide path along the edge of the pond.

Red and yellow markings

(1) Turn left at a right angle and follow the north bank of the pond. Cross a car park (restaurant) and continue east, passing through a forest gate. At the corner of a cemetery wall, turn right towards a road junction (do not follow the wall). At the junction, note a large brick and metal building on your left (Hangar Y). Go around the crossroads on the left (information sign for Hangar Y) and take Route d'Aubervilliers (2nd lane on the left from the arrival road, sign "no vehicles over 3.5t"). Follow the Étang de Chalais, which can be seen behind a wall on the left.

No signposts

At the end of the road, leave the red and yellow signs on your right and turn left into a small car park. Go through a forest gate and follow the wall on your left. At a fork, take the right-hand lane towards the Étang de la Garenne (sign).

(2) Ignore the yellow sign that tells you to turn right and turn left to follow the north bank of the pond on a small paved road (no cars).

Yellow signpost + "chemin cavalier" signs

At the crossroads at the end of the pond, you will see a wide path in front of you that climbs steeply and starts between two trees marked with plot numbers 12 and 11, respectively. Take the less marked path that starts diagonally a few metres to the left of the wide path and climbs less steeply in a northerly direction (red marker after a few metres). Pass a small memorial stone on the right off the path and ignore a path coming from the right. At a crossroads (wall and house in the distance on the left), turn right (do not take the path on the right at a right angle slightly set back from the crossroads). Cross a wider path (Route du Carré aux Pièges on the map) and, at the fork immediately after, take the right-hand path uphill. Cross another wider path (Route du Vertugadin on the map), also marked in yellow: ignore this perpendicular path and continue straight ahead (north). Ignore a path on the right and descend briefly to come out onto a wider path (wall covered with ivy).

(3) Turn right at a two-sided yellow sign and climb up to a crossroads with a large building on the left (Village éducatif Saint-Philippe on the map) and a large cistern in the woods on the right. Cross a stream that is often dry (masonry on the sides of the path).

No signposts

(4) At a double-trunked oak tree and a yellow sign with two sides, the yellow-marked path continues north-east downhill. Then head east on a path that starts at the foot of a tree marked with the plot number 5 and a red dot (this tree is on the right-hand side of the path). At a fork with a large oak tree in the middle, take the right-hand path (follow a large arrow). At the next junction, a T-junction with a smaller oak tree than the previous one, do not follow the large yellow arrow but turn right. You will reach a road (forest barrier).

Yellow signpost

(5) Turn right onto the path that runs alongside the road, without going past the forest barrier. You will reach the Carrefour de l'Anémomètre (with a wind gauge perched high in the centre). Ignore the yellow sign that tells you to turn right and go around the crossroads on the left, starting by crossing the Route de la Mare (open to cars, caution advised). Take the second path on the left (south-east) after the Route de la Mare, before another paved road (Route de la Justice). You will see a large clearing on the right. Shortly before the D2 road, turn right at a right angle onto a wide path that leads to the Carrefour de la Justice.

No signposts

(6) Reach the small car park on the other side of the road. Take a wide forest lane that starts on the right after a forest barrier, between two trees bearing the plot numbers 11 (on the left) and 10 (on the right). After a few metres, at the tree marked with the number 10, leave the wide lane and take a path on the left that zigzags downhill (large yellow arrows). At a fork, take the left-hand path (follow the large yellow arrow). At a T-junction, turn right (east; sign for "chemin cavalier"). At the next intersection, ignore the large yellow arrow pointing to the right and continue straight ahead. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead. At a red and yellow marker, turn left to reach the Pierre aux Moines (small menhir). Continue towards the sign indicating this menhir and you will come out onto the Route de la Fontaine aux Lynx.

Yellow signpost

(7) Turn left onto the road. Immediately after, turn right: do not take the path that climbs uphill, but take the wider path (red dot) that follows the southern bank of the Étang de la Garenne. After a wide bend to the left, you will reach a T-junction: turn right, cross a stream and head towards the forest barrier at the western tip of the Étang de la Garenne. After the barrier, turn left and you will immediately come out onto the Route de la Garenne.

(2) Turn left onto the paved road (no cars; do not take the path opposite that you took on the way there). Pass the bottom of the Tapis Vert (a large grassy slope) and you will reach the Étang de Trivaux (car park).

No signposts

(8) Continue in the same direction, on the pond's embankment. Ignore a red and yellow sign indicating to turn left. Cross the D406 road (be careful) and go up the path opposite. After a descent, you will reach the Carrefour d'Aubervilliers and the Étang de Meudon. Follow the lake as close as possible to its southern shore (do not continue along the tarmac road). At the end of the lake, ignore the yellow sign indicating a right turn and do not cross the bridge. Turn left onto the path which initially runs alongside the masonry spillway of the Étang de Villebon on your right, then veers away from it. After a short, steep climb, you will reach the dyke of the Étang de Villebon. Follow the southern bank of the lake along a tarmac road (no cars) and return to the starting point.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 158 m - Carrefour de la Queue de l'Étang
  2. 1 : km 0.73 - alt. 131 m - Etang de Meudon
  3. 2 : km 1.88 - alt. 115 m - Etang de la Garenne
  4. 3 : km 2.99 - alt. 145 m - Intersection with a wide path
  5. 4 : km 3.29 - alt. 156 m - Crossroads at Village St-Philippe
  6. 5 : km 3.77 - alt. 162 m - Route de la Mare
  7. 6 : km 4.64 - alt. 166 m - Carrefour de la Justice
  8. 7 : km 5.25 - alt. 117 m - Route de la Fontaine aux Lynx
  9. 8 : km 6.21 - alt. 115 m - Etang de Trivaux
  10. S/E : km 7.5 - alt. 158 m - Carrefour de la Queue de l'Étang

Notes

Due to heavy use, many paths have appeared simply through use and do not appear on the IGN map. This route takes some of these unmarked paths, between (2) and (3), and just after (6).

Like all green spaces near Paris, the Bois de Clamart and Meudon are very busy at weekends. You will therefore encounter many other users of the paths and lanes: other walkers, joggers, cyclists, etc. A minimum of courtesy and a little vigilance are required.

There are several parking options: Étang de Meudon, Étang de Trivaux, Carrefour de l'Anémomètre, Carrefour de la Justice.

Hike completed by the author on 22 March 2015.

Worth a visit

The lakes: Meudon (1); Chalais between (1) and (2); La Garenne (2); Trivaux (8).

The Hangar Y, at the crossroads at the entrance to Meudon, between (1) and (2): a hangar for dirigible balloons built in 1878 and listed as a historic monument in 1981.

La Pierre aux Moines, a menhir located in Clamart, just before (7). Approximately 4,000 years old, it was listed as a historic monument in 1895.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 62 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 12842949

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

perfect

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PicBob
PicBob
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in the woods just a stone's throw from the capital in August. Ponds, water birds, very pleasant.
However, given the number of paths and tracks, it's almost necessary to follow a pre-recorded route.
This has the disadvantage of having to keep your smartphone in your hand, as the map is not enough!
We're a long way from the Club Vosgiens signposting in the east!
Thank you to everyone for contributing to the variety of walks.

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GTania
GTania

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with lovely ponds and magnificent trees
We followed the route mainly with GPX
The climb with the arrows was not easy to find without GPX and afterwards there was no way to find a path on the right, but this was not a problem given the multitude of parallel paths.
Thanks to the contributors to Visiorando

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daboloz
daboloz

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route on this hot day.
Perfect, using the GPX track.

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VIGNANE
VIGNANE
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and varied hike. Done in August, so very few people, but perhaps busier at other times of year.

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kartavan
kartavan
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a lovely walk in the forest with numerous lakes.
The routes were very difficult to follow, with lots of backtracking.
In some places, even the GPS wasn't enough.
A shame, because it was a beautiful walk.
The directions could be improved.

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Pepejeje
Pepejeje

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lots of traffic and sometimes difficult to find. In 4, the oak tree has two trunks and has been felled

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mdre
mdre

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike that I will do again with a group of friends and dogs, but after reading the other comments, I can only confirm the difficulties... At times, I even had the impression that the paths had disappeared!

i had to follow the trail constantly to avoid getting lost, even though I'm a fairly experienced hiker!

There were some beautiful views of the ponds and the varied autumn scenery... a bit muddy too, but that added to the charm and made it even more fun for our dog!

It was very busy, but that's normal for a Sunday and not too annoying

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Léocadie
Léocadie
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pretty walk in the forest with some steep paths and others that are flatter, wider and popular with families. The different ponds are very pleasant to come across. We didn't use the description but followed the map, which was much easier to follow than having to stop and miss out on the scenery. We'll definitely do this walk again!

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Rose-Marie F.
Rose-Marie F.

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The route is very pleasant and not technically difficult for average walkers. However, it is difficult to follow, especially the first half, even when following the route on the app. I had to retrace my steps several times, even though I am used to using Visorando routes and had the route on my phone and Garmin watch.

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rando082020
rando082020

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The instructions are complicated to follow. There are few signposts and the directions are vague: without the app, we would have got lost several times (I agree with Pierrissy's comment: the directions given in point 1 are much clearer than those in the walk description)
The area is nice with children and the walk is easy.

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Pierrissy
Pierrissy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A hike that allows you to discover four beautiful ponds and a magnificent "industrial" site currently undergoing renovation: the Y hangar. Well done and thank you for the detailed description, without unnecessary details. Just one reservation: it was difficult to find the right signpost at point (1). Rather than "Cross a car park (restaurant) and continue eastwards, passing a forest barrier", it might be useful (if you don't have a compass) to mention "Pass the restaurant entrance and continue straight ahead to take a path 50 m further on, after a forest barrier".

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Akaki
Akaki

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The mileage indicated is not accurate. The circuit is only 4 kilometres long. A pleasant walk around the ponds, but the path is very busy.

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Silvere
Silvere

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Good evening,
I went hiking this afternoon.
I can confirm some of the comments:
- lots of people on the main paths... but it is Sunday...
- many paths and tracks have appeared since this hike was created, so in some places the path has been overgrown or is difficult to find.
Obviously, this is all due to the high number of visitors to this forest in particular since Covid and the travel restrictions.
PS: we did this hike to test the GPS function on a smartphone (+ external battery).

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Mirna
Mirna

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant short hike around the various ponds.

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