Cernay through woods and valleys

A hike with varied landscapes. The route is mainly through the undergrowth of a beautiful forest with sections along the riverbank.
07/08/2023 Moderator's note: hike modified at point 2 to avoid private property.

Details

257914
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 24.38 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 327 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 327 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 177 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 97 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Walk along the wall heading north. At the crossroads, take the path on the right (discovery trail) which runs alongside the stream.
At the Pelouze Monument, take the path on the left that goes uphill, then the path on the right, turn left until you reachthe GR®1c(at the top of the hill). Turn right onto theGR® and take the path on the right that goes back down towards the stream.
Alternative: at the Pelouze Monument, you can go straight ahead and rejoin the route about 150m further on.
Follow the stream, and just before the site of a former footbridge, climb up to descend towards the Moulin des Roches (difficult, unmarked path).

(1) Follow the road, then the path to the car park. Go to the end of the car park and continue along a path. After the barrier, turn right to go uphill. After a bend, turn left onto the PNR, which descends and joins a larger path.

(2) Turn right (leaving the PNR) and follow this beautiful trail. Cross the D149 and continue to a crossroads (PNR).

(3) Turn left onto the PNR, which descends. At the end of the path, take the street on the right (PNR), then a street on the left. At the D149, turn right (PNR) to the castle.

(4) Take the street opposite and follow the PNR, which crosses the D91 and climbs back up towards the forest. At the end of the tarmac road, go around a house on the left and you will come to a crossroads (GR®1c).

(5) Turn left onto theGR®1c. After the old quarry, when theGR® turns at a right angle to the left, take the path on the right which joins the cycle path.

(6) Take the cycle path on the left to the car park. Continue opposite the Route des Franchisés, then turn right onto the path (discovery trail) and follow it until it joins theGR®1c.

(7) At the crossroads, turn right and follow theGR®1c.

(8) At the end of the second straight stretch, continue straight ahead and rejoin the cycle path, which you will follow for several hundred metres.

(9) Leave the cycle path and take the path straight ahead, which rejoins theGR®1C.

(10) Take the second path on the left and stay on theGR®1c.

(11) Cross the path, take the path opposite which goes uphill and leave theGR®1cwhich goes downhill on your left. Join the cycle path.

(12) After the cycle path turns right, take a path on the left (no signposting) and ignore the paths on the left that go downhill. Walk along a field, then enter the woods and continue, ignoring the paths on the left. The path then begins to descend between two fences.

(13) Descend towards Les Côtes. At the bottom, turn left onto theGR®1cand follow it along the bottom of the slope and the stream.

(14) When theGR®1cclimbs again, leave it and continue straight ahead, following the stream. When the path joins a track, turn right, cross the stream and continue straight ahead to the D24.

(15) Cross the D24 and continue straight ahead. The path climbs and curves to the left until it joins the PNR. Take the PNR on the left, pass a path on the left and reach the bottom of the descent.

(16) Turn right. The trail climbs again. At the crossroads, take the PNR on the left, continue straight ahead and reach the hamlet of La Tuilerie, which you go around on the left.

(17) Continue on the PNR, turning left. Ignore the path on the right that descends, pass in front of a small pond and reach a crossroads. Take the marked path on the left, which will take you back to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 124 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 3.11 - alt. 102 m - Moulin des Roches
  3. 2 : km 3.98 - alt. 121 m - Crossroads, on the right
  4. 3 : km 6.12 - alt. 146 m - Crossroads
  5. 4 : km 7.15 - alt. 101 m - The courtyard of Senlisse
  6. 5 : km 8.38 - alt. 148 m - Notre Dame des Roses
  7. 6 : km 9.35 - alt. 170 m - Cycle path
  8. 7 : km 10.61 - alt. 164 m - GR1c
  9. 8 : km 11.46 - alt. 169 m - Crossroads
  10. 9 : km 12.17 - alt. 170 m
  11. 10 : km 12.51 - alt. 162 m - Crossroads
  12. 11 : km 13.78 - alt. 136 m - Route du pont de Granval
  13. 12 : km 14.87 - alt. 176 m - Cycle path
  14. 13 : km 16.37 - alt. 165 m - Descent
  15. 14 : km 18.32 - alt. 130 m - at the crossroads, continue straight ahead following the stream
  16. 15 : km 19.44 - alt. 138 m - Crossing the D24
  17. 16 : km 20.99 - alt. 135 m - Crossroads
  18. 17 : km 23.16 - alt. 173 m - La Tuillerie
  19. S/E : km 24.38 - alt. 124 m - Car park

Notes

From Cernay, follow the D24 westwards. The car park is on the right just before the wall surrounding a private property.
Some sections are unmarked, so a GPS may be useful.
The route can be split in two, and there are several possible shortcuts.

Worth a visit

Le Moulin des Roches.

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

3.8 / 5
Based on 33 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.9 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
aliki03
aliki03

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A long hike, mainly through the forest. The route is very difficult to follow. There are numerous paths leading off in all directions. I took a wrong turn several times and had to turn back or keep checking my phone to see where I was. That spoils the hike a bit. And yet I’m used to hiking. It was a sunny Sunday, so there were loads of people – hikers, joggers and mountain bikers. Not very peaceful. There are sections where the path has disappeared and you have to climb straight up the hillside; it wasn’t very stable. Nevertheless, it’s a challenging hike with quite a bit of climbing and descending.

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ghnassia
ghnassia

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

An interesting and easy route combining a walk in the forest, an urban stroll and culture, allowing you to discover old Poissy at the end. Don't shorten it! The Retz Desert is worth a visit. Allow at least an hour for the visit. This amazing garden is well worth a detour. Please note the opening hours: Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm.
Please note that the small gate at the end of the route is locked. But that's just a minor detail!

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stouvy
stouvy

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

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

hello,
I cut short this route quite quickly because I couldn't see a passable path to reach point 1 from the stream. Having a GPS watch with the route recorded, I'm a little surprised. I had my dog with me and the climb up the side of the slope without a path through the rocks was too complicated. I fell back on the GR and did another loop with real paths

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stouvy
stouvy

hello,
I cut short this route quite quickly because I couldn't see a passable path to reach point 1 from the stream. Having a GPS watch with the route recorded, I'm a little surprised. I had my dog with me and the climb up the side of the slope without a path through the rocks was too complicated. I fell back on the GR and did another loop with real paths

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ovil
ovil

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike done on a cold but sunny day.
Access to Moulin des Roches is difficult. The climb over rocks and frozen dead leaves is tricky, and the descent to the road is no easier.
We hesitated and made a few mistakes, but overall we followed the route. The description is sometimes unclear.
We shortened the circuit to get back to the car before nightfall (winter time).
To be done again in better weather.

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Daniel75
Daniel75

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A beautiful hike through the forest, completed in six hours (including short breaks). The GPS track is good quality, except perhaps towards the end where I had to cross a small stream 1.5 metres wide (on the other hand, it was dark and raining quite heavily, so I may have missed a turn).
I had already done a few hikes in this area and it's interesting to note how different it is when the ground is dry and when it's waterlogged (mud, path turned into a small torrent). So it's worth trying in different seasons.

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phm78
phm78

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike in the forest. GPS app required.
A slightly tricky section due to the river bursting its banks.

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MagTour
MagTour
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike, mostly through beautiful forests and sometimes along a river, but a GPS is essential.
A few small climbs.

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Pjsn
Pjsn

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful and enjoyable hike with almost no tarmac. Very beautiful forest environment.
A route steeped in history and, as a bonus, an amazing and interesting discovery trail that reveals the activity of sandstone quarrying.

Definitely one of the most beautiful hikes in Yvelines, in my opinion.
To be done again!

I needed a GPS point at points 5, 10, 11 and 14.

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Bood
Bood

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route is interesting, with beautiful climbs and descents. It took us 7 hours and 15 minutes with two breaks
The description could be improved, as we got lost a few times
We used the GPX Viewer and it served us well

Thank you

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FLEM
FLEM

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike in the forest on varied terrain. Very little road and possibility to easily shorten the route.
However, the route description is very sparse and it is difficult to follow the route with the description alone. I recommend downloading the Visorando app on your phone and checking the route from time to time.

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akaim
akaim

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, long and varied walk: lots of forest, a few villages, flat terrain and ascents/descents.
The arrival at point 1 is tricky because the path along the river is impassable and the detour above is "adventurous" on a steep slope. But we eventually find a way through...
Thank you for the route!

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amelie1910
amelie1910

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 25/09 in 7 hours with a 30-minute break.
We used the interactive IGN map on the website. Without it, we would have been unable to find our way.
So make sure you have enough battery on your phones to last the day.
A pleasant hike as it is exclusively in the forest. Very few tarmac roads.
Very few people.

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pctlac
pctlac

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Thanks to whoever suggested this route, it is even more enjoyable in summer on very hot days as almost the entire route is through woodland.
The downside is that the landscape is not very varied. The small village of Senlisse is worth visiting.
Otherwise, for a route that should be just over 25 km, I ended up doing almost 2 km more because it was impossible (despite the description) to find the exact path at times, as there are so many junctions in this forest. I did use my GPS, but I didn't want to consult it all the time.
There's a fairly steep climb behind the Pelouze monument.
I recommend this route, but make sure you take plenty of water with you in hot weather.

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bsolrol
bsolrol

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,

First of all, thank you for sharing this route. However, either we misread or misinterpreted the description, or it was not clear enough in certain places. two in particular, from memory: when arriving at the old mill, where you have to understand that you have to leave it on your left and continue before crossing the river (we crossed at the mill, then climbed towards Cernay la Ville before finding the path again), and then after the village of Senlise and the last house... finding the GR wasn't easy (just after going around the house) and we continued a little too far, then found the Franchisés road...
But anyway, a picnic in February in the Paris region lifts your spirits beyond a few detours...
Thanks again,
Bruno

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