Cellieu walks

A walk that takes you around Cellieu via the geographical centre of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, whilst discovering magnificent landscapes, and even Mont Blanc on a very clear day. Please note: there is a significant elevation gain, making this route unsuitable for pushchairs.

A beautiful hike through orchards and forests in the hills above Rive de Gier. The very hilly area offers beautiful panoramic views. Chagnon and Saint-Romain-en-Jarez are interesting for those who love old buildings.

A lovely walk in the countryside with stunning views.

This circuit starts in Valfleury, a charming village nestled at the bottom of a valley, and mainly follows ridges offering numerous views towards Saint-Chamond, Saint-Étienne, Pilat and, further afield, Forez and Auvergne. Don't miss a visit to Valfleury church.

A very varied hike in the Loire, alternating between open landscapes with meadows, valleys, deciduous forests and numerous apple and cherry orchards. The walk also allows you to discover a curious underground aqueduct. In good weather, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Mont Blanc and the entire Alpine range. This hike can be enjoyed in all seasons, but it must be magnificent in spring when the fruit trees are in bloom.

On the heights of Saint-Martin-la-Plaine, a lovely walk through the fields. The last part takes you past a zoo where you can see a few animals (ostriches, wolves, goats).

The route passes through different areas in the countryside around Saint-Christo-en-Jarez (wetlands, forest and meadows). Along the way, themed information boards provide details about the local wildlife. On a clear day, two-thirds of the way along the route, you will be treated to a magnificent view of the Alps.

A circuit primarily on small paved and sunny roads.

An easy hike (reasonable distance and elevation gain) offering views of the northern slope of the Pilat Regional Nature Park, the hillsides of Jarez and the Monts du Lyonnais. Alternating meadows and groves, with a few sections on very quiet roads.

A circular loop offering views of the Pilat Regional Nature Park, the Monts du Lyonnais and the Couzon Dam. Alternates between paths and very quiet roads. Best enjoyed in mid-season to make the most of the sunshine.

A pleasant circular walk starting from Farnay. Fully marked in white and yellow as Farnay 3 route. Two other walks start from behind the town hall and are signposted. This is the longest, but it is possible to shorten it by 3 km.

A short walk to do with children (but not with a pushchair!). The start is quite steep for little ones, but the rest is fairly easy.

A hike with no major climbs and beautiful views of the Col de l'Oeillon and Saint-Chamond.

Short circular or long circular above Saint-Chamond. A pleasant walk or bike ride for the whole family. This path is quite busy, especially on Sunday mornings when the weather is good. Be careful if there is snow, as there may be snowdrifts near the Col de Trente Sous.

This hike around Crêt de Montieux offers beautiful views of Mont Pilat, the Couzon dam and the Col de Pavezin.

A walk in the hills with unobstructed views of the Pilat massif on one side and the Monts du Lyonnais on the other. The route follows good paths and small service roads. There are some steep sections, but they are short-lived.

Straddling the Loire and Rhône rivers, near Rive de Gier, Saint-Joseph and Saint-Maurice-sur-Dargoire, this is a very pleasant walk along the river.

This hike is primarily along clear paths with views over le Pilat and Sainte-Catherine. An easy trek with some slight up and downhill slopes. Be careful, as non-stone tracks can get muddy in the rainy season.

A very pleasant route starting from the Couzon dam, a little steep in places, alternating between nature and history. Once you reach Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez, it continues with a circular route passing by the Croix de Marlin. The paths are sometimes very stony, so this is not a family-friendly route.

Hike in the Pilat Massif with views of the Rhône Valley.

Discover Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez and its Chartreuse in the Pilat region, starting from the dam on the Couzon.

This is a beautiful hike that allows you to see different landscapes: lake, forest, path and, finally, the river bed as you pass over a pretty aqueduct. This hike is a shorter variation in the opposite direction to the hike I found on this website, called 'Around the Couzon Dam'.

Walk to the Roches de Marlin and return along the Lac du Couzon. On the way, you can visit the former Chartreuse de Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez.

Walk in the Pilat, 6 km from Rive de Gier, around the beautiful Lake Barrage du Couzon.

A lovely walk with some beautiful views of the Gier valley. Our canine friends will find little shade, no paved roads, no river for water, but in season there is a tap at the Saint-Apollinaire chapel.

A wild walk, often along the Bozançon, with the option to visit special sites (Roman aqueduct).

A short hike accessible to all with suitable footwear. Very pleasant in summer as it passes partly through woodland and partly in the open along the Bozançon. Our canine friends will find shade on 75% of the route, less than 1000 m of road (with little traffic), and 2 river water refill points.

A beautiful walk with views of Pilat and Saint-Etienne. Reviews indicate that a GPS is very useful for following this hike.

Take a walk through time, between the Roman aqueduct of the Gier and the unfinished railway line, interrupted by the First World War, which was supposed to link Mornant to Rive-de-Gier.

This hike, which is not difficult on the paths, offers beautiful views of Pilat and the Alps.

At the start, the route winds its way through the valleys of the Monts du Lyonnais and crosses a few hamlets, leading us to the Signal de Saint-André. From the Signal, the view over the Rhône valley, the city of Lyon and the Alps is magnificent. The return journey follows the eastern ridge, with the Pilat massif in your sights and the Alps on your left. The medieval village of Riverie is well worth a visit.

Walk on the heights of the Col du Pilon, reaching Fontanés via the footpaths and returning via the small roads, with little elevation gain.

A nature walk in the Monts du Lyonnais, through pastures and small hamlets.

A short walk starting from the village of Fontanès, offering a beautiful view at the highest point of the Sept Pins. The passage through the woods is very pleasant.

Beautiful route along the ridges around the village of Fontanès. Free parking in the castle grounds.

Long hike starting from Sainte-Catherine, which passes by the summit of the Monts du Lyonnais, the Crêt Malherbe at 946m.

This circular starting from Sainte-Catherine, mainly on trails and little-used roads, allows you to explore the ridges and valleys of the Monts du Lyonnais and discover the Chapels of Saint-Apollinaire and Saint-Pierre. Beautiful views of the Rhône Valley, the Pilat Massif and the Alps on a clear day.

A great day’s walk in the deep countryside of the Monts du Lyonnais.

This pleasant, rural circular walk, in the little-visited hills of the western Monts du Lyonnais, winds its way through the valleys of the Coise and its tributaries. It starts in the charming village of Aubépin and leads to the imposing Château de Lafay, crossing the village of Larajasse and then wandering through fields and forests to isolated farms and peaceful little hamlets: Vaudragon, La Valletière, Chazette, Les Granges, Le Terron, La Grange Bruyère, Gouttenoire, Moulin Vaudray, La Chèvre, La Lardière, La Rivoire, Les Grandes Bruyères and Croix Galant, before returning to Aubépin after this breath of fresh air.

A long and beautiful circular route that begins in a small valley, at the bottom of which lies a hermitage. After a climb, the view opens up onto the Soulages Dam and La Rive lakes. You follow the latter to climb up to the Sapey woods plateau and reach Rochetaillée. A magnificent village dominated by its 12th-century castle. The path leads to the Auberge de Salvaris, which invites you to take a break and enjoy the beautiful view.

Circular route in the Pilat massif starting from La Terrasse-sur-Dorlay, climbing up to Collet de Doizieux and passing by Croix de Montvieux and Croix du Mazet. Along the route, there are beautiful views and panoramas of the Dorlay Dam, the rolling hills of Pilat, the Lyonnais and Forez mountains, and the Rhône and its valley. Discover the craft of shoeing horses and, if you have time, visit the Maison des Tresses et Lacets (house of braids and laces).

Cette randonnée longue et vallonée se déroule majoritairement en forêt ce qui la rend particulièrement agréable en été malgré sa faible altitude. Le parcours en boucle depuis la Terrasse-sur-Dorlay débute par une montée sur la ligne de crête dominant la retenue du Dorlay pour rejoindre la Croix du Planil. Le parcours vient jouxter la Jasserie avant de rejoindre Doizieux et remonter vers le Collet de Doizieux. Le circuit se prolonge par un passage à la Croix de Montvieux, à la Croix du Mazet puis à celle du Pendu. Enfin par le vallon de la Mornante on retrouve la Terrasse-sur-Dorlay.

A walk to discover beautiful views of the Dorlay valley, an opportunity to explore an old Roman road and an old railway line.

A walk in the heart of the Pilat Park on the hills around La Terrasse-sur-Dorlay, alternating between sections through woodland and open paths offering beautiful views of the Pilat mountains and the Gier valley.

Car park at the foot of the trail. A short, easy circular loop with low walking shoes, a rucksack and often my daughter on my shoulders.

Walk around the Bozançon valley (and even the Bozançon rivers) with remains of Roman aqueducts, water mills, old railway tracks and old gold mines. At Les Piles, you can continue up the Bozançon to the viaduct and return to Jurieux via the old railway line (an extra 2 hours).

This varied circuit runs through the upper catchment area of the Grand and Petit Bozançon rivers, taking you along the banks of streams, up hillsides through orchards and, at times, offering unobstructed views of the Pilat mountain range.

A beautiful, easy walk on either side of the Bozançon River, where this section of the valley is a succession of ancient terraces structured by low stone walls. A taste of Provence... Old description, see reviews if you are not using the app.

This walk begins in one of the most culturally significant spots in the Pilat region, the pretty, tourist-friendly medieval village of Saint-Croix-en-Jarez and its 13th-century Chartreuse monastery. It follows the Couzon valley, then runs alongside the river and the left bank of its reservoir before taking the ridge path via the Croix du Cerisier, du Mazet and de Montvieux. The undulating, wooded route continues to the Chirat Rochat, the highest point of the walk, then descends to the hamlet of L’Eau-qui-bruit and returns to the start via the Crêt de Montivert.

This is a short, easy circular. The walk starts at the former monastery of Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez and climbs up to Pavezin, mostly along small tarmac roads, before descending via a pleasant grassy path. Both the ascent and the descent offer superb panoramic views.

A short walk to discover the former Chartreuse de Sainte-Croix-Jarez. No difficulty, just a chance to get some fresh air.

This circular hike in the Monts du Lyonnais between the Rhône and Loire rivers takes place in a little-visited and rather secret area around the Bezançon valleys and its tributaries, including the Grand Bezançon and Petit Bezançon, passing through a few isolated hamlets. It allows you to discover three arches, remnants of the Roman aqueduct of the Gier, and a high bridge pier of a railway line, intended to connect Rive-de-Gier to Mornant, whose construction was halted by the war of 1914. This route can be shortened to 23 km with an 800 m elevation gain by taking a shortcut (see practical information).

This hike takes us to Les Roches de Marlin, which is somewhat overgrown with broom and other vegetation, and the beautiful flower-filled village of Longes. Don't forget to enjoy the beautiful views of the Gier valley and the crosses at almost every crossroads.

This route, which takes you sometimes across fields and sometimes through woodland, will lead you from cross to cross and from hamlet to hamlet in the heart of the Pilat Natural Park. You will occasionally be treated to beautiful views of the Rhône Valley, whilst at other times you may catch sight of lovely panoramas of the Monts du Lyonnais and the Giers Valley.

A figure-of-eight route around the Soulages and Rive dams. It avoids the more technical section on the right bank of the Soulages Dam and offers beautiful views of both dams from above.

Starting from Châtelus, head towards the Couzon, which you will follow as far as the Moulin du Pas. From there, the route climbs up to the Pin Picard and heads towards the Bruneton, from where you will return to Châtelus via Soleymieux and La Rivoire.

A lovely, quick walk that is easily accessible from the centre of La Talaudière. Hilly but not difficult. Beautiful views of the Pilat massif and the heights of Sorbiers. Discover the castle and park of Sorbiers at the end of the walk.

A route on wide forest tracks through woods of Douglas firs and pines. The return trip to the Col de Trente Sous is not compulsory, but the views are worth it. Given the number of junctions, I recommend usingthe Visorando app on your smartphone.

A route of no great difficulty. In the first section, there are beautiful views over the Gier valley, the Piney (sometimes dry) and Rive dams. The paths are a bit stony, so wear good walking shoes. On the return journey, after the Col du Planil, there are views of the hamlets in the valley.

A family-friendly, easy and informative walk, punctuated by beautiful panoramic views of the village of Riverie, the Alpine range, the Pilat and the Bozançon Valley. Return via the nature trail and the medieval village walkway in Riverie.

The easier of the two dams at La Valla-en-Gier, offering beautiful and varied light depending on the season, time of day and weather...

A long route along the panoramic ridges of Mont Pilat.

An easy route to discover the Crêt de Baronnette and the Celtic site of the Château de Bélize, in the Pilat Regional Nature Park. A half-day walk, perfect before or after lunch.

A circular walk through forests of tall trees. During this hike, walkers will be treated to numerous views stretching from the Rhône Valley to the Alps, as well as over the valleys and peaks of the Pilat massif.

This circular route will delight you with its rural landscapes, horses and lake. In spring, the fruit trees are in bloom.