Loop around Saint-Éloi

This easy circuit around the commune of Saint-Éloi in the Ain department will give you a glimpse of the Dombes region.
It also offers plenty of geocaching opportunities for enthusiasts.

Details

2032992
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.74 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 302 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 292 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 997 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 817 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

You will easily find the car park at the playground at the entrance to Saint-Éloi when arriving from Pérouges.

(S/E) From the car park, head towards the church and take the path on the right that goes down alongside the church.

(1) At the bottom of the path, turn left and walk along the woods on your right. This path, although clearly marked, does not appear on the IGN map. You will then cross a small stream and walk uphill to a pond.

(2) Turn left in front of the pond and, on the north bank, take the time to admire the view. About 150 metres after the pond, turn left onto the path heading north.

(3) At the crossroads, turn left twice to return to the stream after a short descent.

(4) Cross the stream on a small bridge made of a single post, which allows you to cross without getting your feet wet. Enjoy the small wild pond by the stream, with its frogs. Continue along the path to the crossroads at elevation 291.

(5) Turn left at the "western" reservoir, which you can't miss. From Les Martins, the path is paved. Turn left at the next intersection.

(6) At the Croix crossroads, cross the D4d and follow the wide path opposite that runs alongside the greenhouses. Look out for several hundred-year-old trees along the way. Cross the road you come to next, then climb up to elevation 302.

(7) Take the first road on the left, then stay on this grassy road until you return to the D4d.

(8) Follow the D4d on the left. Pass the cemetery. The departmental road will then take you back to the car park (S/E). You have arrived! Congratulations, you have covered 7.6 km.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 948 ft - Parking is available at the playground
  2. 1 : mi 0.42 - alt. 817 ft - Path along the woods
  3. 2 : mi 0.95 - alt. 883 ft - Pond
  4. 3 : mi 1.58 - alt. 932 ft - Crossroads
  5. 4 : mi 1.95 - alt. 843 ft - Stream
  6. 5 : mi 2.29 - alt. 951 ft - Western-style reservoir
  7. 6 : mi 2.86 - alt. 971 ft - Crossroads
  8. 7 : mi 3.64 - alt. 988 ft - Path on the left at elevation 302
  9. 8 : mi 4.36 - alt. 971 ft - D4d on the left
  10. S/E : mi 4.74 - alt. 948 ft - Parking is available at the playground

Notes

No heavy equipment is required for this short hike. However, please bring water with you as there are no refreshments available along the way.

Worth a visit

This hike, which takes less than 2½ hours, can be nicely rounded off with a visit to the medieval town of Pérouges.
For geocaching enthusiasts, allow for an additional 1 to 1.5 hours.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 37 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
Evereine
Evereine
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hello,

The route is very well described. As indicated, there are long stretches on paved roads; reading about it in the description and actually doing it are two different things! And it's very, very long, especially in the residential areas. There are also some monotonous stretches along cornfields.

There is a beautiful view at the top, on the Dombes plateau, but as you descend immediately, you don't really get to enjoy it.

A somewhat disappointing hike.

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Patrixdemex
Patrixdemex

Curious? I'll go and take a look...

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CHARPIGNY Pascal et bRIGITTE
CHARPIGNY Pascal et bRIGITTE

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Problem on the route: between points 7 and 8, there is no path, so you have to walk through the fields.

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Mado42
Mado42

Not searching, but not hiking either!

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balladesetrandonnees
balladesetrandonnees

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

In case of heavy rain, the stream can be crossed via a concrete footbridge, which may be challenging for those with a fear of heights

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Mado42
Mado42

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

easy, pleasant, not very shaded, don't forget water and a hat when it's hot!

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Selligus
Selligus

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A short morning walk in the sunshine without any difficulty

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Rippert
Rippert
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, easy walk through the fields. We were lucky enough to see a beautiful fox

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Waitukubuli
Waitukubuli
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely short hike. Thelast quarter of the hike is a bit monotonous (farmland). It should be possible to extend the route, which would be interesting, especially along the river. Thank you for this walk.

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Jetiris
Jetiris

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

first hike, good start but nothing special about the route

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gridou de  mex
gridou de mex

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A short loop for families or for getting back into cycling.
The wooded section is pleasant, while the section in the middle of the fields is less bucolic.

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Jobb
Jobb

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great walk for a sunny winter afternoon.
No difficulties, very pleasant cultivated countryside

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Laloute
Laloute

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

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

We got lost. Luckily, we met some people who had already done the route. We joined them.

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Patrixdemex
Patrixdemex

Hello.
May I ask what you were looking for?
Kind regards,
Patrixdemex

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Laloute
Laloute

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

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

We got lost. Luckily, we met some people who had already done the route. We joined them.

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