Above the Gorges du Fier 1

A short, easy hike to complement your visit to the Gorges du Fier and/or Montrottier Castle.

Details

148683
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.71 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 150 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 152 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 505 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 365 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area:
  • ⚐ District: Lovagny (74330)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 45.896906° / E 6.044949°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3331OT, 3431OT, 3431OTR
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

This route starts from the coach car park to the east of the gorges in the commune of Lovagny.
To reach it, go via Chavanod or Poisy.

Walk up the car park (towards the west) to the start of the path leading to the entrance to the Fier Gorges.

(S) Cross the level crossing on the left and take the path at the back of the restaurant car park. Follow this rural path to the three-way junction.

(1) Turn right towards "Chavanod" and then right again after the bridge over the Miracle stream. Follow the signs: double green and yellow arrows.

(2) After the bridge over the Miracle stream, turn right (green and yellow double arrows).

(3) Turn right onto the forest path, then left onto the road, which you take to the right.

(4) Opposite, continue towards "Chavanod Chef lieu", then turn left onto Route de l'Étang. Turn right onto Route de Belleville until you reach "l'Impasse des Cotes" (signposted "Chavanod 30"). Continue to a place called Les Moulins.

(5) Turn right onto the forest path, then right again onto the path running alongside the gorges until you reach the western car park of the Gorges du Fier.

(6) Take the stairs to reach the entrance to the gorge visitor site, where there is a picnic area with tables and benches.

(7) Return to the starting car park via the Pont des Liasses path.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 387 m - Car park to the east of the gorges in Lovagny - Towards - Fier (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 1.3 - alt. 415 m - On the right, head towards "Chavanod"
  3. 2 : km 2.01 - alt. 467 m - On the left after the bridge
  4. 3 : km 2.26 - alt. 471 m - Forest path on the right
  5. 4 : km 3.59 - alt. 503 m - Chavanod route de l'étang
  6. 5 : km 5.13 - alt. 395 m - Les Moulins
  7. 6 : km 5.98 - alt. 398 m - Pont Vert car park
  8. 7 : km 6.17 - alt. 383 m - Entrance to the gorges
  9. S/E : km 6.71 - alt. 387 m

Notes

You can spend a whole day here, combining your hike with a visit to the Gorges du Fier, equipped with 250 metres of footbridges (entrance fee applies), and the Château de Montrottier, which houses some interesting collections.

A slightly longer walk is also available: Above the Fier Gorges 2

Worth a visit

This hike starts and ends at the Gorges du Fier site.
The gorges are equipped with approximately 250 metres of footbridges 25 to 30 metres above the Fier: entrance fee, souvenir shop, terrace serving drinks and sandwiches.
Picnic area with benches and tables.
Restaurant near the west car park.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 29 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Rccil
Rccil

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The ban imposed by prefectural decree is still in force. A barrier has been erected on the left side of the path and the order is displayed on it. The prohibited section is located between points 5 and 6 on the map. The hiking trail is in perfect condition, but on the right side, a high earth wall is damaged and hollowed out, with stones and trees hanging precariously, which seem likely to fall onto the path at any moment.
On the rest of the hike, there are many trees lying across the path.
A very nice hike if the trail is made passable one day.

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eltofe
eltofe

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, very pleasant hike, there were no restricted areas, everything went smoothly (I followed the GPX). Note that there is a section on small, quiet roads (about a kilometre, I would say), and access to the Fier river at the end of the hike (at your own risk, the signs do not recommend swimming at all)

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Kamout
Kamout

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

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

A route to be enjoyed with the family. There are no signs, particularly on the road. However, there is no risk of getting lost, as the road surrounds us and we follow a railway track.

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Christophe M 74
Christophe M 74

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please note that from point 7 onwards, the path is closed by a municipal decree of 2024.
The path is damaged over a distance of about 50 metres.
You must therefore exercise caution. At your own risk.

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karyo
karyo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Good hike, moderately easy due to mud on sloping terrain caused by heavy rain. I regretted not bringing my walking sticks.
Perfect route.
However, as mentioned in the previous comment, the end of the route is interrupted due to a prefectural decree stating that the passage is closed following a landslide, forcing us to turn back.
Perhaps I didn't look carefully enough, but would it be possible to add an alert or event button to the hikes to highlight the fact that it is not possible to complete the entire route?

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Manuthellier74210
Manuthellier74210

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

It's a shame that the path is blocked one kilometre from the finish line
So we had to turn back and go up by the road

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aline gereys
aline gereys

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike done with a group of 10 people; the 140m elevation gain is practically done right from the start, which may have surprised some who are not used to really walking! Everyone was delighted with this hike, in the woods and shaded except for a short stretch of road. at the end of the morning, we had time to visit the Gorges du Fier, which are impressive even when there is little water.

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Hélène33440
Hélène33440

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, done in hot weather, with plenty of shade. Visit to the Gorges du Fier on the way back (not very busy at 5pm), and very accessible for someone who is afraid of heights!
Highly recommended

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Minoumatou
Minoumatou

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

This hike is classified as easy, but at the start of the gorges, although the path is well maintained and well constructed, there are numerous steps, and they are very high😬. The path is not very well marked, but the app enabled us to reach Chavanod, and we then walked back to the car park along the road, which was a good journey

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ARIAJOE
ARIAJOE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

This hike is very pleasant without too many difficulties, and not too crowded except when we arrive at the entrance to the Gorges du Fier. It is worth taking the time to visit them at this time of year when there are fewer people. At the exit, after climbing the steps, turn right towards the Chemin des Châteaux before following the route. The Château de Montrottier is 500 metres away and well worth a visit. Very interesting. You can then continue your hike (the only downside was that a sign was lying on the ground at a three-way junction and I took the wrong turn, which happens, but you should have continued straight ahead). It was a slight detour but the weather was perfect.

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legolfeur
legolfeur

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
A pleasant hike with quite a bit of undergrowth. However, if you want to take advantage of the beautiful gorge tour (€5.80 per adult), it's worth it, but BEWARE! It's extremely crowded. As for us, we turned back to come back this morning when it opened, knowing that we were staying 15 minutes away. When we left, there must have been about a 2-hour queue

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BAMX
BAMX

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, well suited to four young walkers, with the added attraction of visiting the remarkable gorge and seeing Montrottier Castle afterwards.

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Andrée A.
Andrée A.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful walk, shaded and therefore ideal in hot weather. A magnificent return journey along the Fier Gorges.

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JeanJo68
JeanJo68

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An error in the text forced us to make a 3 km round trip.
Point 4 of the description: "Opposite, continue towards 'Chavanod Chef lieu'" should read "follow 'Belleville'" (in the opposite direction).
The description is correct from this point onwards.
We went as far as Chavanod Chef lieu before finding someone who could point us in the right direction.

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brigitteguyot
brigitteguyot

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

This route would be better done in the opposite direction because of the view and some steep climbs. Most of it is in the forest, so there are no panoramic views. I only liked the part in the Fier Gorge.

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