Circular route between the Marne and the Canal de l'Ourcq starting from Fresnes

A short, easy walk between the N3 and the Marne.

Details

63204450
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.58 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 21 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 24 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 73 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 43 m

Description of the walk

Start at the junction of the D54 and Rue de la White Cross, on the banks of the Canal de l'Ourcq.

(S/E) Head east along a cobbled path towards the Ferme des Tillets and follow the canal on your right. Turn left with the path, move away from the canal and leave the farm on your left. Continue straight ahead along a dirt track, cross a copse, ignore a turn-off to the right and then one to the left.

(1) At the T-junction, turn right. Continue along this path to the Canal de l’Ourcq. Cross the canal and continue straight ahead for 200 m on the D54a.

(2) Turn left onto Chemin des Deux Haies. Pass the sewage treatment plant. Ignore the path branching off to the left at the bend. Cross a small wooded area to reach, at the exit, Chemin de Profundis and follow it to the next junction.

(3) At the stop sign, turn right onto Chemin des Larris and continue straight ahead. At the barrier, turn left onto Chemin du Bac. At the end of the road, take the path that runs alongside the Marne. Ignore the tarmac road branching off to the right.

(4) Turn right onto the path that cuts straight through a copse. At the barrier, turn left onto a small tarmac road that bends to the left. At this point, continue straight on along the path blocked by a barrier. Turn right onto the path heading north-west. After passing through a small copse, the path leads to Rue de Verdun.

(5) Turn left onto the path blocked by a barrier. Turn right onto the first path. Ignore a turn-off to the right, then a turn-off to the left.

(6) Carefully cross the D54A to reach the path running alongside the Ourcq Canal. Turn left onto this path. Follow the canal to reach the lock. Continue along the path to return to the starting point. (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 58 m - D54 road x Rue de la White Cross - Canal de l'Ourcq
  2. 1 : km 1.77 - alt. 67 m - T-junction
  3. 2 : km 2.99 - alt. 57 m - Junction – Chemin des Deux Haies
  4. 3 : km 3.73 - alt. 44 m - Chemin des sheep pastures
  5. 4 : km 4.48 - alt. 43 m - Allée Louis Pinot - Marne (la)
  6. 5 : km 5.19 - alt. 43 m - Junction - Barrier
  7. 6 : km 6.67 - alt. 53 m - D54A - Canal de l'Ourcq
  8. S/E : km 8.58 - alt. 58 m - Corner of the D54 and Rue de la White Cross

Notes

Italian restaurant on the banks of the canal in Fresnes-sur-Marne.
From the N3 and the D404, access via the D54.

Worth a visit

Views of the Canal de l'Ourcq and the Marne.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
3.6 / 5
BOITELRando2026
BOITELRando2026

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We did the walk on 23 March without any trouble; it’s best done in spring or autumn. A lovely walk.

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Clovis5793
Clovis5793

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The first part of the walk from Fresnes to Précy is lovely and pleasant. After Précy-sur-Marne, things go a bit downhill. The path along the sandpit is littered with fly-tipping (construction waste left behind by tradespeople). On Sundays, this section becomes a meeting place for mini-motorbike riders. The noise, the smell of petrol and the constant stream of motorbikes spoil the walk. We probably won’t be doing this walk again.

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PierreZ
PierreZ

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

This route might be more enjoyable if you follow the towpath of the Canal de l'Ourcq as far as the bridge that the route crosses before point 2. The detour to the north isn’t particularly interesting.
The Chemin des Noues is indeed littered with fly-tipping and frequented by motorcyclists who speed along without paying much heed to walkers. The path heading north at point 6 is impassable due to mud (deposits of debris and deep ruts) over the first 100 metres. It’s a real shame as there isn’t really an alternative.

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j.sylvie21@free.fr
j.sylvie21@free.fr

A pleasant walk to Precy-sur-Marne. When you take the Chemin des Noues, there is rubbish and other debris strewn all along the path; what’s more, there were lots of people on quad bikes (making a lot of noise and damaging the paths). The path that runs past the oil well is very muddy; we had great difficulty getting through.

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Godillot93
Godillot93

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A route through the lowlands; at this time of year, the country lanes are full of puddles
Route map on IGN 2413 OT map
countless wild rubbish dumps along the route between 5 and 7

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ozogiminy
ozogiminy

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Too much fly-tipping spoils the walk a bit

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Piou1203
Piou1203

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Enjoy your walk

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Tylec
Tylec

Thank you for your comment.

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GAGNEPAIN François
GAGNEPAIN François

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Have a good trip.

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