Coyron, Moirans-en-Montagne, Maisod circular loop

A pleasant, quiet route with a few technical sections, suitable for mountain bikers in good physical condition!
It is definitely preferable to complete this route in the suggested direction, as some slopes are more difficult when ridden in the opposite direction.

Details

10883719
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Mountain biking
    Activity: Mountain biking
  • ↔
    Distance: 36.32 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 4 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 726 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 725 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 823 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 428 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
  • ⚐ City: Coyron (39260)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.511406° / E 5.706266°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3327OT

  • ◶
    Type of surface:
  •  
     
     
     7% Road  46% Byway  47% Path
  • ⇧
    Bike carrying: Not specified
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the route

Start from Place des Tilleuls and the Coyron fountain near Coyron Town Hall.

(S/E) Head towards the north-eastern exit of Coyron via Rue de la Fraite (D83E1). At the signpost for “Grosse Pierre”, follow the signs for Près Vuillerme/Fraite/Meussia. Continue along the forest track (marked with black mountain bike signs). At the crossroads, keep right until you reach the signpost for “Près Vuilerme”, indicating the direction of Meussia.

(1) Head north-east for 50 m, then at the signpost for “Roche Brison”, turn right towards the south-east. At the T-junction, keep right to reach Meussia.

(2) In Meussia, go to the right of the fountain and continue straight on along Rue de la Côte, following the signs for Coulouvre. Cross Rue de Champagne to continue along Route Forestière du Molard (black mountain bike trail). Follow this path south-east for 3.6 km and pass through the hamlet of Coulouvre.

(3) A few metres past the last house in the hamlet, at the signpost for “En Chaspereille”, take the path heading south towards Puit de Fyète. At the Y-junction, take the right-hand path and continue in this direction until you reach the forest road. Then turn left onto Rue de la Forêt and head north-east for approximately 900 m.

(4) At the bends, leave the forest road and take the forest track heading south. Stay on this track for about 1 km.

(5) When the forest track splits into two paths, continue on the one on the right heading south. At the T-junction, turn left, then right at the next T-junction. Continue until you reach a stony forest track at Grange de Troile.

(6) At the signpost for “En Troile”, turn left towards the south-west onto the stony path, which then becomes concrete (watch out for the gravel as the descent is steep). At the Y-junction, continue along the concrete path on the right, which climbs steeply.

(7) At the signpost for “Tongea”, turn right and take the path on the left towards Moirans-en-Montagne. Stay on this path for around 400 metres, then turn left towards the east into a vast meadow (be careful, there are no signs here and although the path is clearly marked on the ground, it may be obscured by tall grass depending on the season). Follow the path through the meadow to En Tyre.

(8) At the En Tyre viewpoint, continue to the right after the bench heading north-west (caution: technical descent, especially in wet weather). At the bottom of the descent, head left then right until you reach the houses

(9) At the junction with Rue de Franche Comté, continue straight ahead into Rue du Collège, pass the fire station and turn right to go past the stadium and the sports hall.

(10) Opposite the sports hall car park, turn left onto the path blocked by a blue barrier and continue south-west.

(11) At the T-junction, turn left towards the south and continue along the right-hand edge of the meadow running alongside the D470 (please note: depending on the season, the grass may be tall). Continue to the southern end of the meadow and reach the junction between the edge of the woods and the safety fence along the main road.

(12) Enter the woods on the left and find a path through the undergrowth. Continue southwards (please note: in wet weather, this path can be very slippery) until you reach a fork after passing under a power line and then a wide left-hand bend.

(13) Continue to the right to pass to the left of the garden centre “Les Jardins de la Fontaine” and find yourself on Avenue de Saint-Claude. Then head towards the roundabout, take thesecond exit and follow the signs for Martigna on the D299 for approximately 200 m.

(14) Leave the D299 and follow the path to the right which runs alongside the D470, arriving next to the roundabout at the Vernoire West Industrial Estate.

(15) Cross Route de la Grange au Guy and continue along the path running alongside the D470. At the signpost marked “Sous le Pont”, follow the signs for Regadoir/Charchilla.

(16) At the end of the path, take a short detour to the left to the Belvédère du Regardoir to take a moment to admire the view of Lake Vouglans. Then continue across the car park to the left to find the signpost for “Le Regardoir”, and follow the signs for Voie Romaine/Charchilla (yellow markings) along a narrow, technical path which can be slippery in wet weather.

(17) At the end of the path, alongside the D470, continue to the left.

(18) Take the small path on the left before the D470; this is the Ancienne Voie Romaine. Walk past the Auberge Jurassienne, cross the road and continue along the Chemin À la Mercantine opposite, which runs parallel to the D301.

(19) On the Route du Lac, at Charchilla, continue westwards for about 100 m then turn onto the path heading due south until you reach the D301.

(20) Cross the D301 to join the Chemin Forestier du Chenet opposite. At the signpost for “sur Mairey”, take the path heading north-west towards the Pierre Fendu/Belvédère sur la Frate/Maisod (GRP® Tour du Lac Vouglan, yellow and red markings).
Continue following the markings to Plage de la Mercantine.

(21) In front of the entrance to Plage de la Mercantine, continue northwards and follow the path along the lake, passing in front of the car park, which joins the path leading to the port of La Mercantine.
At the end of the path, go under the refreshment bar on the left and head towards the harbour master’s office (white building overlooking the jetties).

(22) At the harbour master’s office, continue along the small road leading up to the Maisod holiday village. Enter the village by passing through the barrier and follow the signs for Maisod/Pont de la Pile on theGR®® Tour du Lac Vouglans. Go round the holiday village on the left as if heading for the reception. Cross the car park and head up the steep path heading north, passing behind the holiday village.

(23) At the three-way junction, continue westwards on the GRP® Tour du Lac Vouglans, following the red mountain bike markings.

(24) At the signpost for “Sur la Frate”, follow the direction of the Belvédère de la Frate/Le Parchet. Take the path on the left and stop at the viewpoint to admire the scenery and the lake (picnic table). Then continue north-east along the narrow path.

(25) Turn left to head down the steeply descending path (caution: this fairly technical path can be very slippery). Descend to the lake , then turn right at the junction to reach, several hundred metres further on, the Route Forestière de la Frate.
Continue north-west, then take the first steeply descending track on the left and head to the small, unspoilt beach bordering the lake. After enjoying the spot, return to the Route Forestière de la Frate and continue left towards Maisod until you reach the D301.

(26) Continue along the road, following the path for about 100 m, then just after the Maisod sign, take the small grassy path that climbs to the left. Walk past the houses on the left to rejoin the path through the woodland, which takes you back to the D301.

(27) Back on the D301, head north and follow the GRP® Tour du Lac Vouglan immediately to the right towards Pont de la Pyle and Coyron. Cycle for about 2.2 km to the Belvédère de la Braise.

(28) Take in the view of the lake here, then continue in the same direction until you reach the junction of the GRP® with the Ancienne Voie Romaine.

(29) At the junction, cross the Roman Road and, at the signpost for “Le Citernon”, follow the signs for Coyron/Meussia to the north-east. Cross the D470 with care and head for the Fontaine de Coyron and the Place des Tilleuls (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 533 m - Place des Tilleuls, Coyron fountain
  2. 1 : km 1.49 - alt. 539 m - Near Vuillerme
  3. 2 : km 3.48 - alt. 581 m - Meussia Fountain
  4. 3 : km 8.01 - alt. 705 m - In Chaspereille
  5. 4 : km 9.93 - alt. 775 m - Bends, to the right
  6. 5 : km 10.86 - alt. 808 m - Y-junction
  7. 6 : km 12.13 - alt. 807 m - In Troile
  8. 7 : km 13.35 - alt. 757 m - In Tongea
  9. 8 : km 14.04 - alt. 750 m - Belvédère En Tyre
  10. 9 : km 14.84 - alt. 613 m - Rue de Franche Comté
  11. 10 : km 15.46 - alt. 607 m - Sports hall car park
  12. 11 : km 16.82 - alt. 646 m - T-junction
  13. 12 : km 17.29 - alt. 656 m - Edge of the woods
  14. 13 : km 18.07 - alt. 669 m - Junction, turn right
  15. 14 : km 18.94 - alt. 660 m - D299, path on the right
  16. 15 : km 20.69 - alt. 601 m - Roundabout at the Vernoi West Industrial Estate
  17. 16 : km 22.85 - alt. 611 m - Regardoir viewpoint - Lac de Vouglans
  18. 17 : km 23.65 - alt. 602 m - End of the trail
  19. 18 : km 24.2 - alt. 595 m - Ancient Roman road
  20. 19 : km 25.51 - alt. 563 m - Route du Lac - Église Saint-Pierre (Charchilla)
  21. 20 : km 25.88 - alt. 525 m - D301
  22. 21 : km 26.77 - alt. 433 m - La Mercantine beach - Lac de Vouglans
  23. 22 : km 27.37 - alt. 430 m - Harbour Master’s Office
  24. 23 : km 28.02 - alt. 477 m - Three-Way Junction
  25. 24 : km 29.25 - alt. 496 m - On the Frate - Ain (rivière)
  26. 25 : km 29.62 - alt. 466 m - Steep downhill trail
  27. 26 : km 31.16 - alt. 502 m - D301
  28. 27 : km 31.72 - alt. 496 m - GRP Tour du Lac Vouglan
  29. 28 : km 34.63 - alt. 527 m - Belvédère de la Braise
  30. 29 : km 34.88 - alt. 521 m - The Citernon
  31. S/E : km 36.32 - alt. 533 m - Place des Tilleuls, Coyron fountain

Notes

To view the car park and starting point: click here
No water points along the route. Picnic tables at the Port de la Mercantine and the Belvédère de la Frate.
Video of the route profile: click here

Worth a visit

Regardoir viewpoint.
La Frate viewpoint.
La Braise viewpoint.
La Mercantine beach and harbour.
Moirans-en-Montagne and its toy museum.
Other nearby mountain bike trails: no. 4232530, 3652404, 3576280, 3356362

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 / 5
Based on 1 review

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
1 / 5
alainc5939
alainc5939

Good evening, jmp21.
I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy this route.
If you’d read the introduction and the detailed description, you’d have seen that all the difficulties you encountered are mentioned there.
Kind regards
Alain

Machine-translated

jmp21
jmp21

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

A very challenging route. Suitable for highly experienced mountain bikers.
To sum up, if you want to push yourself to the limit, go for it. As for me, I didn’t enjoy this route at all.
The paths are sometimes narrow and poorly maintained. Often designed for hikers.
The few kilometres along the busy D470 road are easy, but the noise from the constant stream of cars is absolutely dreadful!!
The only two highlights of the day were the view from the Regardoir viewpoint and the stop for a swim at Mercantine beach.
In a nutshell: NEVER AGAIN for me.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.