Country:
City:
Starting point: Place de la Gare, on the site of the old railway station.
(S/E) Head west and cross the small bridge over the stream. Cross Rue des Moulins and follow the old tram line.
(1) Leave the path on the left and continue along the old tram track. Stay on this path, heading north-west, which offers several views of the Rhône valley and the Creys-Malville nuclear power plant. Pass between the rocks that were specially cut to allow the tram to pass through. Pass the entrance to a quarry on the right.
(2) Do not miss the path on the right leading towards Millieu. It is steep and quite difficult if the ground is wet. At a grassy clearing, veer right uphill (do not go straight on).
(3) At the next junction, take the wide path to the right at an acute angle. Stay on this path for about 1 km, heading south-southeast then east-southeast.
(4) Take a path on the left (east) marked in yellow (markings which will continue all the way to the end). The start of the path is not very visible, so you need to look out for it. The path descends slightly and turns left. Continue downhill and pass the viewpoint overlooking Mount Tentanet, the hamlet of Millieu and its pond. Join a wide path and turn right. The path then turns left.
(5) At the junction with the D79, continue straight on up the Montée du Ponton, following the stream (notable wash house). After about 50 metres, leave the road and take the path straight ahead which runs alongside the stream for 200 m (remarkable and peaceful scenery). After 200 m, leave the banks of the stream, leave the path on your left and take the yellow-marked trail in the centre. Join a path which you take to the right, crossing the stream, then keep to the right until you reach the D41. Follow the road to the left for 50 m.
(6) Take the path on the right towards Saint-Martin. Then, keeping in the same direction, cross the meadow, keeping to the left.
(7) A small stream crosses your path: if you follow the stream upstream for a few metres, you can see the hole in the mountain from which it springs. Continue along the main path and, a little further on, cross a scree slope.
(8) Pass an arboretum (where you can take shelter and have a snack). At the next junction, turn left uphill. Then join a path and follow it to the right downhill to Saint-Martin. Turn left in front of a pottery shop and continue along the path (Sentier de la Chèvre) which climbs and passes behind a water tower. Continue on level ground.
(9) Turn right (south) as you go downhill. At the next junction, turn right again towards Lhuis, then immediately left. Take a very steep path downhill towards Ansolin. Take the road to Ansolin on the left (east).
(10) At the cross, take the road leading down to the right. Pass through the hamlet of Le Golet, following the wall on your right. At the end of the wall, take the path on the right. Continue to the road leading to the Groslée bridge.
(11) At the crossroads, go straight across onto the dirt track and, after about twenty metres, take the path on the right towards Lhuis. At the next crossroads, take the path on the left. Then turn left again 400 m further on and finally right towards Lhuis (north-west).
(12) The path is on the left, barely visible at first, marked by a large oak tree to the left of the road. Cross the grassy clearing; further on, a very visible yellow marker helps you find your way. Reach the Rix road and take it to the left (south-west). The road curves in an S-shape. At the end of the bend, leave the road and take the wide path on the right heading west. After 700 m along an easy path, and after passing a large house on the left, you’ll reach a crossroads with a cross and a fountain.
(13) Then follow the road on the left. Pass through the hamlet of Le Connand. At the end of the road, first turn right then left. Shortly afterwards, turn left again to reach Place de la Gare (S/E).
A beautiful hike with some steep climbs. Most of the route is under trees, but we got very hot because we set off a little late. I'm not sure about the length of the route. We stopped at St-Martin to get some water from a beautiful fountain with very fresh water. My altimeter showed that we had covered 12 km, so we decided to take the road back to Lhuis. It was too hot and a little late to do the circular route. In my opinion, it must be at least 17 km.
Visorando Member
Very difficult 
Easy 
