Route around Combe Grenand

An easy route, starting from the village of La Bridoire, offering an insight into contemporary history, whilst also providing the chance to marvel at the work of water which, over millennia, has shaped the geological features of what is now the Combe Grenand.
There are various information boards along the route, including a series designed as a game for children.

Details

4075469
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 2.93 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 951 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 928 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,539 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 866 ft

Description of the walk

Start from the car park at La Bridoire post office.

(S/E) From the car park, cross the road and walk to the left of the church. Follow a cobbled, stepped path uphill until you reach a small road. Follow this to the right for 50 m to reach the start of the footpath.

(1) Set off uphill to the right. Shortly afterwards, a sign invites you to visit a waterfall.
Return to the main path, then continue uphill to join a track near the new railway viaduct. Pass under the railway line and continue along the correct path. Reach the Ferme des Combes, go round it on the left, and continue along the path that descends towards the stream. Cross the footbridge and, after about 150 m, reach a junction.

(2) Turn left and tackle a slightly steeper section on a rocky path, then walk along a meadow until you reach the “Les Roches” junction.

(3) A round trip to Bagné is possible via a path overlooking the Gorges du Grenand.

(4) From the tarmac road at the hamlet of Bagné, turn back and return to the previous junction with theGR®®9.

(3) On your return, leave theGR®® 9 here and take the path leading back down to the village. You’ll come out onto a small road; follow it to the right, heading down to Les Gavans.

(5) Continue down the quiet road towards the village. You’ll come out onto the main street; turn right. Shortly afterwards, you’ll see an information panel about the history of the railway bridge.
At the next junction, turn right onto the street running alongside the church, and head towards the Cours du Grenand to discover one final point of interest. Walk back to easily find the car park (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 873 ft - Post Office car park. Near the - Tier (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.1 - alt. 938 ft - Combe Grenand Trail
  3. 2 : mi 0.65 - alt. 1,194 ft - Junction near the parachute drop zone
  4. 3 : mi 0.92 - alt. 1,490 ft - Les Roches junction
  5. 4 : mi 1.39 - alt. 1,467 ft - Bagné
  6. 5 : mi 2.29 - alt. 1,214 ft - Gavand
  7. S/E : mi 2.93 - alt. 873 ft - Car park

Notes

(5) At Les Gavans, you can take a path on the right to rejoin the route you took on the way out near the footbridge crossing the torrent (2). This allows you to avoid the rest of the return journey along the road.

Right from the start, signs on the church walls recall the tragic history of the Resistance in 1944.
Another sign shows a longer version of the walk; thus, at (3), it is possible to continue following theGR®® 9 towards Attignat-Oncin, leaving it 500 m further on (elevation 437) to head back down to the village.

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

4.7 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
ldominique 66420
ldominique 66420

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The waterfall at the start is interesting.
We then followed the trail as far as Bagne; we were very disappointed by the canyon (entrance), which is reserved for rock climbing.
We’d thought we’d carry on walking through the canyon!!

Machine-translated

39Alain
39Alain

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 12, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The start of the trail is quite steep but accessible.
Very pretty section leading to the waterfall, the Grenand Gorges and the footbridge.
The return trip along the tarmac road is not very pleasant but offers beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.

Machine-translated

Tounetisousou
Tounetisousou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very good route and good tracking by Visorando.

Machine-translated

Crivir
Crivir

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Short but interesting hike in the Grenand Gorges. For the return trip, it is best to follow the circular route because the steep climb is quite slippery.

Machine-translated

Vivelasavoie
Vivelasavoie

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

There are few landmarks in some places. As mentioned, this route is not recommended in wet conditions.

Machine-translated

JulAd
JulAd

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A very good hike in the cool air during this hot weather. Most of the route is in the shade in the late afternoon.
Suitable for beginners in hiking/sport.

Machine-translated

Benoit Thebault
Benoit Thebault

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a refreshing oasis in this scorching heat

Machine-translated

Sylvia15
Sylvia15

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

It was not possible to cross the footbridge because of a tree blocking the way, so we did not go as far as BAGNE, but only as far as the memorial to a member of the Resistance (a very steep climb).
Then we had a picnic near PERRIERE and picked some wild garlic to make pesto.

Machine-translated

stuch
stuch

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

I changed the return route a little. When we arrived at Bagné, we set off on the road to Béranger, then along the Fiardonnet and back via Les Lecheres and Merle.
A beautiful descent through the woods, ending up in a field (horses).
Allow 3 hours 50 minutes to 4 hours, including a picnic by the Quince stream in Bagné.
It's a good climb from the start to the railway line and from the footbridge to the signposts, but the descent is worth the effort.
Good path.

Machine-translated

pepesquat
pepesquat

A very interesting hike, with beautiful waterfalls and hidden gems along the way!

Machine-translated

ZOUBI38
ZOUBI38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route, easy to do if you're getting back into walking after a break of several months. But apart from the waterfall, there's not much to see.

Machine-translated

pepesquat
pepesquat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasantly surprised by the landscape in this hilly area. A must-do hike!

Machine-translated

lepinsoncelliste
lepinsoncelliste

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A somewhat unusual route, full of both historical and geological interest.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.