Circular route on the edge of the Pilat Regional Nature Park

This circular route starts at La Pouratte stadium in Chambon-Feugerolles and takes you to the Cotatay dam, which supplies the town with drinking water, before climbing to overlook the Ondaine valley.

Details

1507564
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.27 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 489 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 481 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 864 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 533 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the small car park on the left as you go up Rue Léo Lagrange, opposite the Pouratte park. (Other parking options are available on the other side of the stadium).

(S/E) With your back to the stadium, walk up Rue Léo Lagrange and turn left onto Rue Jean Bouin until you reach Rue Pierre de Coubertin. Turn right, then left onto Rue Paul de Vivie.

(1) At the end of the housing estate, turn right and take the path; then a few metres further on, turn left. The path climbs slightly through fields, passing under two power lines. Continue climbing until you reach the farm. Then take the tarmac road on the right.

(2) Turn left towards Feugerolles Castle. Continue climbing on the tarmac road until you reach the castle entrance.

(3) Leave the tarmac road and take the parallel path on the left that runs alongside the D22. This will take you to the hairpin bends of the RD22, better known as the "route de Saint-Romain-les-Atheux".

(4) Continue climbing and turn right; the climb is a little steep but short.

(5) At the crossroads, turn right and head towards the hamlet of Montamoger.

(6) In the hamlet, take the tarmac road on the right and then pass the equestrian centre on your left. Continue along the path that turns left. You will begin the descent to the Cotatay dam. At an altitude of 809m, continue downhill to the right.

(7) Turn left onto the path, which winds down a fairly steep descent. Then join the tarmac road coming from the valley, turn right onto the forest track and follow the Le Cotatay river to the dam (beware of vipers in hot weather!).

(8) At the foot of the dam, turn completely left onto the path that climbs up and overlooks the Cotatay valley until you reach the RD33, which you cross to take the path opposite. The slope is quite steep.

(9) At the crossroads, turn left and begin the descent. Pass close to an orientation table and arrive at a place called La Croix du Bessy. Continue straight downhill and rejoin the RD33, which you cross (be careful, visibility is poor in the bend but the road is not very busy!).
Continue along the forest track and pass under a power line towards the hamlet of Baboin, which you will leave behind as you turn left.

(10) The track turns into a path that runs alongside houses and joins a tarmac road. Turn right, then left into Rue de Cotatay.

(11) Continue along this street until you reach the intersection with the Cotatay valley.

(12) Turn right and, a few hundred metres further on, turn left onto Rue Jacqueline Maillan.

(13) At the crossroads, turn left onto Rue Charles Exbrayat until you reach Rue Paul de Vivie.

(1) Then turn right and follow the same route back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 550 m - Pouratte Stadium
  2. 1 : km 0.49 - alt. 577 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.42 - alt. 626 m - Turn left at the fork.
  4. 3 : km 1.92 - alt. 682 m - Entrance to Feugerolles Castle
  5. 4 : km 3.07 - alt. 705 m - RD22 bends
  6. 5 : km 3.63 - alt. 793 m - Crossroads
  7. 6 : km 4.74 - alt. 864 m - Hamlet of Montamoger
  8. 7 : km 6.62 - alt. 687 m - Turn left at the fork.
  9. 8 : km 8.05 - alt. 694 m - Cotatay Dam - barrage de Cotatay
  10. 9 : km 9.66 - alt. 773 m - Crossroads
  11. 10 : km 11.02 - alt. 666 m - Track on the left near Babouin
  12. 11 : km 11.88 - alt. 536 m - Rue de Cotatay. - Stade de la Pouratte
  13. 12 : km 12.29 - alt. 540 m - Street on the right
  14. 13 : km 12.64 - alt. 566 m - On the left, Rue Charles Exbrayat
  15. S/E : km 13.27 - alt. 550 m - Pouratte Stadium

Notes

Public toilets are available at the start and finish, in La Pourratte Park.

In summer, watch out for vipers on the path that leads to the dam along the river. Thesecond part of the route is no longer shaded: bring sunscreen and water.

The hike crosses a hunting reserve: dogs must be kept on a leash between 15 April and 30 June outside of forest paths. During hunting season, it is recommended that you wear fluorescent clothing to make yourself visible and keep your dogs on a leash.

Worth a visit

The feudal castle of Feugerolles (not open to visitors).
The Cotatay dam.
After the point (9), there is an orientation table.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
anne ubrig
anne ubrig

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Beautiful hike and beautiful route. I made a detour to the dam lake, and I think you could even combine the lake tour with the hike. The only downside was the route markings. The park's trail markings are very good, but for this hike, I was glad I had my GPS.

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FRAYSSE Jacques
FRAYSSE Jacques

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Good route except for a section on "private property" which we did not take, resulting in a change to the walk of a few hundred metres.

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Elizabeth
Elizabeth

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

• A superb, very varied hike in beautiful weather. Beautiful cows, horses and pigs in the woods greeted us with a friendly little grunt. Panoramic views. At times, it felt like we were in the middle of a deserted mountain far from any habitation. Fast-flowing streams and waterfalls. No difficulty. Thank you for this route!
• And thank you for the advice to wear our yellow vests: there were indeed hunters, who were friendly. It was also a 42 km trail running day (Saint-Genest-Lerpt). We stepped aside from the path to let the brave trail runners pass!

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42CECE42
42CECE42

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike
Quite a steep climb, I just did a little extra circular loop to go up to the dam, it's worth it (an extra 400 metres there and back).

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Farto
Farto
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little walk that is very accessible.
No difficulty.
The vegetation was covered in frost. It was magnificent despite the absence of sunshine.
Worth doing again in spring or autumn to see nature in a different light.
Thank you to the creator of this hike.

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slimslimslim
slimslimslim

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route

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LeDan42700
LeDan42700

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hike completed today. I was familiar with part of the route. Thank you for helping me discover the rest...
tar(star)star:

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