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Take the CD518 linking Saint-Jean-de-Bournay and La Côte Saint-André. 1 km north-west of Lieudieu, turnonto the CD41G towards Villeneuve de Marc, then, at the bottom of the descent, take the first small road on the left which runs alongside the Gère.
(S/E) From the sign describing the route, cross the bridge over the Gère and continue to the cross.
(1) Turn right and follow the meadow on the left bank of the Gère. At a three-way junction, veer left to climb gradually through the forest to some meadows, then descend to the right before making a wide left-hand bend, re-entering the forest to descend to the foot of the dyke at the Étang du Grand Giray. Climb onto the dyke.
(2) Take the path on the left bank of the lake; further upstream, cross the Girieux. Pass a chain and, before reaching private property, head left up the forest track leading to the hamlet of Bourgariot (halfway up the slope, do not turn right despite the arrow, but continue climbing towards Bourgariot).
(3) On the flat stretch, before reaching a farm, turn right onto the first signposted forest path; it crosses the forest plateau to the Allée Royale crossroads.
(4) Keep to the path on the right to begin a gradual descent along the hillside to a charcoal-burning platform, then turn right at the junction with a forest track to reach the ford over the Girieux and its small wooden bridge.
(5) Head back up opposite, passing in front of Château Avril, to the road to Vienne; turn left here and follow it for 600 m before turning left onto the Route d’Arzay (closed to traffic), which descends to Étang Cadenas.
(6) Head back up opposite to the hamlet of Saint-Martin as far as Étang de Cholley.
(7) Turn left to go round the pond, head back up to the hamlet and turn left, heading west, to cross fields and then a wood, and head back down to Les Essarts.
(8) Opposite the buildings, leave the road and head down to the left, cross a stream and continue straight on along a path that climbs to the right, then turns left to reach the plateau of the Forêt de Bonnevaux, which you cross to come out at the crossroads of the Allée Royale.
(4) Turn right to head north, descending towards La Gère. The path can be very eroded: you can veer right through a gap, but you must quickly return to the valley floor as the track straight ahead leads to the private paths of Château de Bonnevaux. The descent through this valley leads to the cross you passed on the way out.
(1) Opposite, the bridge takes you back to the car park (S/E).
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