Grézieu-la-Varenne loop at the Col de la Luère

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A lovely ten-kilometre loop starting from Grézieu-la-Varenne. Mainly in the forest, it takes you up the legendary Col de la Luère.

Details

n°165130
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.64 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 380 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 387 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 779 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 381 m
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Photos

View of Lyon and the Bugey
In the forest
Climbing towards Saint Bonnet le Froid

Description of the walk

You can park on the side of the Voie Romaine or on Rue des Mésanges in Grézieu-la-Varenne, on the left of the D24 (after the 447 sign at Les Gaches).

(S/E) Follow the Voie Romaine with your back to the D24. Continue on the Voie Romaine, which then becomes Rue du Recret de Vaugneray, ignoring the first street that goes down to the left. Continue straight ahead, ignoring all streets and paths on either side. Turn left at a right angle and follow what is now the Chemin de Saint-Bonnet.

(1) After a sharp right turn, the street climbs and gradually turns into a dirt road.
Continue along this path, which climbs through woods and meadows until you reach a crossroads marked by a cross.

(2) At the cross, take the path on the left, which winds pleasantly down to Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid. Shortly before the top, ignore the path that descends to the left and continue towards the road.

(3) Opposite the old Château de Saint Bonnet le Froid, take the path on the right. At the first fork, make sure you continue on the path on the left. Follow the well-marked trail that will take you to the Col de la Luère (ignore the path that descends to the left towards the road and those that branch off to the right).

(4) At the Col de la Luère, follow the D24 road downhill to the right towards Lyon.

(5) At the bend, continue on the paved road that descends straight ahead opposite the road. The road gradually turns into a dirt track.

(6) Take the path that branches off to the right. It will take you to the rear of the Bouillon farm. The path goes around the farm and brings you to a paved road. Follow this road downhill for about 100 metres.

(7) A path branches off to the right. Take it. After crossing the small stream, it enters the forest. Stay on this path until it turns into a road and continue along it for 400 metres.

(8) At the crossroads, take the dirt track that descends slightly to your right. It will take you to the D70. Follow the departmental road to the right.

(9) Leave the road shortly after the bend and take the path that climbs up to the right. This path will take you back to your starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 452 m - Parking on the left of the D24
  2. 1 : km 1.57 - alt. 590 m - Dirt track
  3. 2 : km 3.24 - alt. 698 m - To the left of the cross
  4. 3 : km 4.12 - alt. 755 m - Path leading off the road on the right
  5. 4 : km 5.38 - alt. 715 m - Col de la Luère (714m)
  6. 5 : km 5.71 - alt. 701 m - Leave the road and take the path opposite
  7. 6 : km 6.14 - alt. 644 m - Path on the right
  8. 7 : km 7.34 - alt. 485 m - Leave the road on the right
  9. 8 : km 8.55 - alt. 408 m - Path leading down opposite
  10. 9 : km 9.17 - alt. 394 m - Leave the road and take the path on the right
  11. S/E : km 9.63 - alt. 453 m - Parking on the left of the D24

Notes

You can park on the side of the road on the left of the D24 (after point 447).

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 39 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
cavallier43
cavallier43

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with lovely views along the way. It's true that the second part is on tarmac, so you need to be careful after a picnic in the beautiful park at Pollionay Town Hall. A hike that is accessible to all.

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User 25931762
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant, very easy hike that does not require any particular fitness level (accessible for someone recovering from illness). Beautiful views, a forest with lovely mushrooms and lots of chestnut trees.
Picnic tables at the Col de la Luère.

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schelker
schelker

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike, a little challenging, as it climbs on the first part and descends steeply on a stony path on the second part, requiring good footwear.
At the Col de la Luère, the signposting is not very clear, but I had a smartwatch which helped me find my way easily.
This hike is accessible with a little physical fitness.

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Papoubrindas
Papoubrindas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2025
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 hike. Panoramic views of Lyon and the Rhône Valley.

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Simeo
Simeo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike
I recommend it

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Penthar
Penthar

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

I started from the hikers' car park in Vaugneray because it was easy to park there. Then I joined the trail at the Roman road. It was an easy trail and took me two and a half hours to complete. The Château de St Bonnet looks magnificent in the cold. There are some lovely views of the Arbresle valley and then Lyon. A really enjoyable walk

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dajac
dajac

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy-to-follow route. Relatively few paved sections and beautiful views. It was a Thursday in August, which probably explains why there were so few people around, as the path follows a GR trail and is well marked outside the GR network.

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Whylliams
Whylliams

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I have nothing to say

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TOGIRA
TOGIRA

A very beautiful walk taken in early May 2024 under beautiful sunshine and a light breeze. The route is not particularly difficult, with a steady climb to a beautiful viewpoint over Lyon and the other hills of the Lyonnais region. Once you reach the Col de la Luère, the descent is steeper, ending in a small valley and a final hill that was quite muddy at this time of year, which had been rainy. It is best to do this hike in the direction indicated. Enjoy your hike!

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philmomi
philmomi
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A beautiful hike with an initial uphill section (2 km). Shady areas are welcome on sunny days.
On the day of the hike (a Sunday), the trail was very busy (hikers and mountain bikers), no doubt due to its proximity to Lyon

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NelsonC
NelsonC

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike. With our son in his backpack, we loved it. The views of Lyon are superb and the diversity of the route is very pleasant. It's a bit steep on the first half, but that didn't bother me, my wife had more trouble. At the beginning of August, we only saw three or four people on the entire route; we were alone in the world. There are probably more people there the rest of the year.

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missdolly
missdolly

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pretty route, easy and with beautiful views. Please note that forest renovation work in Saint-Bonnet le Froid in 2023 will make the route inaccessible for approximately 500 metres. You will need to walk along the road and join the first accessible path on the right. Please take care on the road!

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Marc75020
Marc75020

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

At the Luère Pass, point 4, there is a narrow but easily passable path that runs along the road on the left for 70 m, then branches off slightly to join point 5. This avoids walking on the fairly busy D24 road.

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Krief Gilles
Krief Gilles

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I only use GPx tracking on iphigenie maps. It's practical and reliable if the route is accurate
Lots of mountain bikes and motocross bikes – on Easter Sunday, there were lots of people out and about
Nice ride with a good climb at the start up to the pass, then a fairly steep descent and finally a nice leg-burning climb
On the descent, there were donkeys, llamas and horses. No encounters with any unusual animals or birds.
A nice route to recommend during the week when there are likely to be fewer people

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Gesc
Gesc

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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