Circular walk around Mont Thou

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A circular route featuring sections through woodland and meadows, with a magnificent view of Lyon.

Details

n°649080
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 1.22 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 0h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 371 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 371 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,946 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,575 ft
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Photos

Mont Thou orientation table

Description of the walk

Start from the car park at the Mont Thou orientation table.

(S/E) Take the path leading down to the left of the orientation table. After a fairly narrow section through the undergrowth, you’ll reach a small meadow.

(1) Take in the view, then head right to join the path below. Continue left along this path, which runs parallel to the one you left earlier; after crossing a small wooded area, it turns downhill. Cut diagonally across a grassy field and join the signposted Mont Thou path.

(2) Take the path on the right which follows the edge of the woodland and then enters the woods.

At the crossroads, leave the signposted Mont Thou path and take the small path that climbs quite steeply to the right. Follow this until you reach the orientation table (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,946 ft - Mont Thou Orientation Table
  2. 1 : mi 0.25 - alt. 1,814 ft - Viewpoint, on the right
  3. 2 : mi 0.56 - alt. 1,624 ft - Marked Mont Thou trail, on the right
  4. S/E : mi 1.22 - alt. 1,946 ft - Mont Thou orientation table

Notes

Make sure you wear suitable footwear in wet weather, as the ground may be muddy.
In early summer, brambles can be quite dense, so wear long trousers.

There are numerous paths that allow you to extend this walk.
You can ride a horse along the edges of the woods through the meadows, though you may need to dismount and walk through the sections of woodland.

Reviews and comments

3.7 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
3.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.6 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
User 15616272

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Instructions too vague to follow the route without deviating

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GildO
GildO

9 June 2025
When we reached the orientation table at Mont Thou, we changed our route and decided not to do the circular route (too many people)
We followed the track leading to Poleymieux – much longer and with a steeper climb – but were very pleased with this forest walk. On the way back, we didn’t take the same route but instead took the path that goes past the riding centre and circles round to the ridge leading to the Mont Thou tower, stopping for a picnic in the forest near the wooden huts. The route was 8 km long. Very good.

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ddlyonnais
ddlyonnais

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The route starts from the orientation table, although the access road is closed and there is a steep climb to get there.
The description needs to be amended.

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-J-
-J-
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello.
A walk near Lyon with a lovely view of the city.
It’s quite busy around Mont Thou, but it gets quieter after that.
The walk alternates between open paths and forest trails.
A pleasant walk that I’d recommend to show visitors the views of Lyon.
There are also meadows where you can have a picnic or sunbathe.

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Christian Basse
Christian Basse

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

lack of dedicated signage

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Def69480
Def69480

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A nice little warm-up to do with young children

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