Drystone shelters and trails in Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d'Or

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An easy hike to discover the drystone shelters of Mont-d'Or. The cabornes are huts built of dry stone, which were used as shelters and for storing tools by farmers. They were also sometimes used as dwellings.

Details

n°1961360
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.29 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,060 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,043 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,936 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,112 ft
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Photos

Washing place in the hamlet of Mont Thou
Part one
Start of the walk
Drystone shelter

Description of the walk

Start from the car park on Rue des Gasses towards the wash house of the same name.

(S/E) Take the Chemin de l’Indiennerie, heading uphill for 100m. Turn left onto Rue de la Carca, then right onto Rue de la Jardinière. At the first junction, turn left onto Chemin de la Roche.

(1) At the end, keep right, heading north-west. You’ll reach the Chemin du Bois de Pin, where you’ll see several beautifully restored drystone shelters. At the next junction, ignore the inner loop of the Monts d’Or which branches off to the right and continue straight ahead.

(2) Turn left and follow the path that runs alongside the Route des Crêtes, which lies above. When you reach the crossroads, follow the D90 down to the right.

(3) Take the path on the left. When you reach the road, follow it to the right for 100 m and take the path on the right.

(4) Follow the signs for Mont Thou on the left and you will reach the Mont Thou orientation table. Enjoy the view.

(5) Retrace your steps.

(4) Take the path leading off to the left, ignoring the path leading off to the right. When you reach a track, turn right to join the D90. Cross the road and take the Chemin des Chalettes.

When you reach the Route du Mont Thou, follow it to the right, pass the Mont Thou wash house and keep to the right until you reach the square electricity pylon.

(6) Turn right onto the Chemin de la Chussière towards Antoine’s drystone shelter. Before reaching Antoine’s drystone shelter, you will see a drystone shelter hidden in the undergrowth on the right. When you reach a T-junction, turn right towards Antoine’s drystone shelter, then retrace your steps to continue on your way.

At the Route du Mont Thou, turn left for 140m, then right onto the Chemin de Chenevrier which runs alongside the Clos de la Rosette. Leave the path to see the Chênes Tétards drystone shelter. Return to the path and turn left towards the Clos de la Rosette drystone shelter. Retrace your steps and rejoin the Chemin de Chenevrier, which passes by the model drystone shelter structures in the Mont d’Or. There are several drystone shelters to discover along the way.

(7) Make a round trip to admire the Girard drystone shelter and return to the fork. Turn left onto the Chemin des Pierres Blanches. You will reach the Route des Crêtes. Cross the road and follow the Chemin des Pierres Blanches to the right. At the junction, keep to the right and follow the sign for all directions, Chemin de l’Indiennerie. Turn left onto Rue des Gasses, then right to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,112 ft - Les Gasses car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.28 - alt. 1,266 ft - Path to the right
  3. 2 : mi 1.09 - alt. 1,657 ft - Turn left
  4. 3 : mi 1.55 - alt. 1,709 ft - Path to the left
  5. 4 : mi 1.8 - alt. 1,841 ft - Junction at the orientation table
  6. 5 : mi 1.96 - alt. 1,936 ft - Mont-Thou orientation table
  7. 6 : mi 2.62 - alt. 1,444 ft - On the right, the Chussière path
  8. 7 : mi 3.32 - alt. 1,273 ft - Return trip to the Girard drystone shelter
  9. S/E : mi 4.29 - alt. 1,112 ft - Les Gasses car park

Worth a visit

To see along the Bois de Pin path: the Joseph drystone shelters, de la Serve, Cœur, de la Paulette with the Cabanne Rousse, as well as the Cabane des Dalles. Mont-Thou and its orientation table; on the way down, the Mont-Thou wash house and the cross, then the Cabornes d’Antoine, des Chênes Tétards, de Pierre, Berger, de l’Érable, Girard and the drystone shelter Bretton.
Not forgetting the Lavoir des Gasses.
What is a ‘carbone’?

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 38 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
JLC69340
JLC69340
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk. The first few metres are quite steep, but it levels off quickly and the climb is gentle from there.
Beautiful dry stone walls and drystone shelters – characteristic of the area – well worth seeing; a lot of maintenance and restoration work goes into keeping them in good condition. Several superb views, particularly from the summit of Mont Thou. Well-maintained paths, with a few brambles or nettles, but nothing too troublesome. Quite a few stones, so it’s best to wear sturdy shoes. Lots of walkers, runners and mountain bikers (it was a Sunday), but everyone was respectful and in good spirits.
The only difficulty: it’s very hard to park in St-Cyr: the car park by the wash house was full and we struggled to find a space not too far from the trail.

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User 10627939

What a lovely discovery these drystone shelters, stone walls and natural surroundings on the outskirts of Lyon

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alain guyennon
alain guyennon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
The route was fairly busy, but then again, it was Saturday and the weather was lovely.
HOWEVER, ONE SMALL CRITICISM: IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE THE TOTAL OF ALL THE ASCENTS, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY NOT THE SAME AS THE ELEVATION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HIGHEST AND LOWEST POINTS. IN FACT, THERE MAY ONLY BE A 100-METRE DIFFERENCE, BUT IF YOU’RE CONSTANTLY GOING UP AND DOWN ALONG THE ROUTE, IT FEELS MUCH MORE. AND YOU REALLY FEEL IT BY THE END OF THE DAY!!!!!!!
CORG

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Gguyot
Gguyot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

full of historical curiosities about how people used to work, and beautiful reconstructions

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User 22097581

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great walk, but be warned that there are regular climbs, even on the way down!

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Pinon
Pinon

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very difficult to find the trails

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GreyAnt
GreyAnt

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great hike, the route is very clear and the view from the top of Mont Thoux is really nice!

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Fifi 2B
Fifi 2B

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A wonderful discovery of a bygone agricultural activity. I was lucky enough to meet members of an association that maintains stone walls and drystone shelters.

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EloDeLu
EloDeLu

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, but honestly, the route is sometimes incomprehensible. We got lost right from the car park and several times along the way. Without my GPS, I would have lost my mind. Having to have my phone in my hand the whole time was annoying. It's a shame, because it spoiled my trip a bit...

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dbigeon
dbigeon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
I went to check out this hike on my own this morning so I can go back with some friends.
As I saw on the website, there are a few muddy paths on the ridges before and after point 2 at the moment, but it's still very passable with hiking boots and a walking stick.
It's easier to find your way with the Visorando route on your phone.
At point 7, be careful not to head towards Saint Romain via Les Combes, as I did.
Otherwise, the route is varied with beautiful views, numerous drystone shelters, drystone walls undergoing renovation, meadows and woods.
A beautiful route without too many steep sections.

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Napalmitos
Napalmitos

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice hike. Lots of drystone shelters, superb views, forest, trails and little tarmac. It's quite a climb but can be done by people who aren't used to it. Lots of forest trails and even though many sections are in the sun, it's still pleasant even in hot weather.

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randomiolande
randomiolande

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike, drystone shelters and panoramic views, alternating between villages, meadows and forests.
Some difficulty following the description, particularly in the forest, where several paths are poorly marked.

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Audeaudeaude
Audeaudeaude

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, beautiful views, beautiful forest trails, well-maintained path.

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Cécile 45
Cécile 45

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done the day before yesterday. Very nice with all the restored drystone shelters and the view from Mont Thou. Be careful in hot weather, as there are many sunny stretches. We enjoyed a snack of wild blueberries and blackberries along the way. Thank you to the author for sharing!

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VINCENT Simone
VINCENT Simone

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I used a GPS with GPX tracking. It's probably more difficult to find your way around with just a map because there are lots of trails in the Monts d'Or.
An interesting loop for the view of Mont Thou and to discover as many drystone shelters as possible.
There weren't many people out at the end of the year, but that will probably change when the warmer weather returns. The trails were very muddy and slippery. Best done in dry weather.

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An easy loop starting from Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d'Or to reach the heights of the Monts d'Or towards Mont Thou. The return route passes via Mont Cindre. There are some lovely views and several drystone shelters to discover along the way.

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