Bois d'Arche and Grand Bois in Bellegarde-Poussieu

A very pleasant hike in the woods and on the plateau with an orientation table and a panoramic view stretching from the Pilat massif to the Savoy Alps, via the Vercors and the Rhône valley. Please note that as almost half of the route is on a path in the woods, it is best not to do it in rainy weather or even a few days after.

Details

3951635
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.24 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 102 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 97 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 404 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 318 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure point for parking
Via the D134A when arriving from the north (route du haut de Poussieu) or from the south via the D46 (rue du Bourg or rue de l'école) on the grassy area in the only hairpin bend in the commune.
To help you, it is about 150 m from the church. Or use the QR CODE.

(S/E) Take the path that starts just south-west of the hairpin bend (impasse des Colombes).
After about 100 metres, at the first crossroads, take the road opposite. This will take you to the hamlet of Les Gallerands on the road of the same name.
Continue straight ahead and pass behind a farm to reach a junction with a road that descends into the plain.

(1). Cross it and take the path opposite, slightly to the right. Pass behind another house and follow the main path until the next junction with Chemin des Carrières. Turn

(2) to the right. Climb for about 60 metres and take the path on the left. At the next junction, turn right. Continue across the clearing. Be careful, just at the edge of the woods, there is a very small stream to cross to enter the woods. Continue on the main path, heading west, then south-west, ignoring the junction and the paths that branch off to the left. The path leaves the forest and arrives at Chemin des Routes.

(3) Turn right and go up towards the workshop shed. Immediately afterwards, turn left twice and go down towards the orientation table. On a clear day, you can see the Pilat massif on the right, the Rhône valley further south, the Drôme des Collines and, to the east, the Vercors massif and the Alps.

(4) Retrace your steps towards the building and take the path that leads north-east. At the three-way junction, take the middle path opposite. Continue straight ahead at the next three-way junction.

(5) Turn right onto theGR®65. Continue straight ahead through the woods, cross the first junction and pass the water reservoir on your right.

(6) Continue to the right, then straight ahead. Join the Mouillat path (Route de Sonnay) and continue straight ahead, passing the hamlet of La Feytaz. Pass the last building on the left.

(7) Take the second path on the left and leave theGR® which continues straight ahead. Continue along the path through the woods, then along the edge. The path turns twice to the right in the forest. Continue straight ahead, ignoring the two paths that lead back to the right. Reach the next crossroads (Freyduras).

(8) Turn right. Continue straight ahead for about 600 metres. Continue on the road opposite, at the junction with Route de la Feytaz.
Continue along Chemin du Merle to reach your vehicles (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 352 m - Impasse des Combes, then Chemin des Gallerands
  2. 1 : km 1.46 - alt. 368 m - Cross the road opposite Chemin les Marnières.
  3. 2 : km 2.43 - alt. 363 m - On the right, Chemin des Carrières
  4. 3 : km 4.11 - alt. 385 m - On the right on the Chemin des Routes
  5. 4 : km 4.45 - alt. 396 m - Orientation table
  6. 5 : km 5.48 - alt. 399 m - On the right with the (GR65)
  7. 6 : km 6.15 - alt. 403 m - Take the path on the right.
  8. 7 : km 7.41 - alt. 393 m - On the left, leave the GR
  9. 8 : km 9.03 - alt. 373 m - On the right, in the Freyduras neighbourhood, the path climbs.
  10. S/E : km 10.24 - alt. 352 m - Chemin du Merle

Notes

(4) Toilets, water and tables with benches next to the orientation table.
This hike should be avoided a few days after rain.

TO ALL HIKERS WHO TRAVEL MY TRAILS, you can post photos indicating the location on the route.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

3.9 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Klaudius33
Klaudius33

Hello,
Thank you for your comments. I am currently unable to see if a solution can be found by changing the route. However, if I am able to do so at a later date, I will be happy to do so.
Kind regards
Klaudius

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taravas
taravas

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

An interesting route, but as stated in the description, best avoided on rainy days.
The most disappointing thing is that the paths are damaged by the machinery used by forestry operators, as it is now possible to leave the forest in any weather.
However, thank you to those who continue to recognise the routes.

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Patrick BERTHON
Patrick BERTHON

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb walk despite the very cloudy sky, making it impossible to see Pilat, Vercors and the Alps. It is easier to follow the GPS route than the description as many paths cross each other. Thank you to all those who work to help us discover wonderful moments of relaxation and discovery close to home👍👍👍
Patrick

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Tomatine
Tomatine

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We had a lot of trouble finding the start of the route. The explanations were unclear to us, especially since the names of the roads and paths indicated did not match the signs. We got a little lost along the way and had to ask for directions to find the route. Explanations need to be reviewed! It's a shame because the landscape is pleasant and varied!

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ggmp
ggmp

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Please note that you will need suitable footwear as some areas can become very muddy in wet weather.
First part in the sun on the western slope.
I use the IGN map on the Visorando app and haven't had any problems with the GPS. The advantage of this app is that you can improvise at any time.
Thanks to those who prepare these hikes for us.
Gérard

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Koguis!26
Koguis!26

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The description of the first part is not easy to follow, often because of countless paths crossing the route, especially in the woods (fallen trees and branches, etc.). The area is nice and the view from the orientation table is interesting—all the mountain ranges in the region are there!

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Klaudius33
Klaudius33

I have corrected the description.

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Klaudius33
Klaudius33

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I recognise that this hike should not be attempted on rainy days or even a few days afterwards.
The appeal is also to go "off the beaten track", as the saying goes.
I have completely rewritten the description, which is now much clearer. I will wait for feedback to see if any further corrections are needed.

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VaninaMJ
VaninaMJ
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A little disappointed by this hike, which is unclear from the outset. The indicated path does not lead to the place where you are asked to park. And nothing in the description clearly tells you which direction to take.
In my opinion, there were too many uninteresting sections in the woods.
There are a few nice views, though, and a very beautiful panorama from the Sonnay orientation table. Lots of bikes, motorbikes and hikers. Lots of mud in wet weather.
In my opinion, this hike is not difficult. My daughters, aged 4.5 and 7, did it without any problems.
Be aware that the route is clearly lacking in precision in the woods at crossroads and there is no network coverage in several places, so you will not be able to use geolocation everywhere.

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Klaudius33
Klaudius33

I recognise that this hike is not to be done on rainy days or even a few days after. But the appeal is also to go "off the beaten track", as the saying goes.

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jake38
jake38

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice pleasant walk

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Gerard.REYNAUD
Gerard.REYNAUD

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Difficult in wet weather, in the Arche woods, I turned back, the path blocked by puddles filled to the brim and overgrown riverside forest, so faced with a choice between brambles and acacia trees and wet, muddy shoes, I decided, thanks to the map, to rejoin the GR for the return journey.

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jake38
jake38

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

good hiking,
perhaps more precise information about the starting point and car park

I recommend it

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