Route des Outines Lakes

Circular route around the Landres and Grand Coulon ponds, passing by the birdwatching hides.

Details

51115564
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.64 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 18 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 18 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 144 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 124 m

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the Chantecoq site.

(S/E) With your back to the car park, cross the roundabout carefully (follow theGR®14B-GR®15signposts) and head straight ahead onto the path running alongside the barbed wire fence. Cross the wooden bridge and turn right to reach the first viewing point at the Étang des Landres.

(1) Walk back 100 m and turn right. At the edge of the woods, turn left into the meadow to reach the Grand Coulon No. 1 viewpoint.

(2) As you leave the viewpoint, turn left along the reeds, enter the woods via the boardwalk and, after 200 m, turn left onto the white path (GR®14B-GR®15). Walk past the “Au milieu de nulle part” lodges.

(3) Turn left, continue along the white path (leaving theGR®) until you reach the Grand Coulon Observatory No. 2 on the left.

(4) Continue left as you leave the observatory, along the white path, and walk past the “Le Clos du Vieux Moulin” campsite.

(5) Take the tarmac road to the left with care, cross the D13 at the pedestrian crossing, climb the iron steps and join the cycle path.

(6) Turn left (GR® 14B -GR®15) and go straight on to reach the car park at the Chantecoq site (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 142 m - Chantecoq car park - Lac du Der-Chantecoq
  2. 1 : km 0.72 - alt. 127 m - Observatory
  3. 2 : km 1.4 - alt. 126 m - Observatory
  4. 3 : km 2.74 - alt. 135 m - Junction
  5. 4 : km 4.4 - alt. 125 m - Grand Coulon Observatory No. 2
  6. 5 : km 5.92 - alt. 141 m - “Le Clos du Vieux Moulin” campsite
  7. 6 : km 6.26 - alt. 144 m - Cycle path
  8. S/E : km 7.64 - alt. 142 m - Chantecoq car park

Notes

Wear weather-appropriate clothing; the ground may be muddy in heavy rain.

Worth a visit

Lake Der
Port de Giffaumont
Der Museum Village in Sainte-Marie-du-Lac
Route of half-timbered churches
Please note: the Étang de la Forêt is part of a National Reserve and is off-limits to all walkers.

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

4.4 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
Som'vigérien de rien
Som'vigérien de rien

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful walk to enjoy at sunrise or sunset. If you start at the end, you will have the pleasure of finishing with the most interesting part.
This walk offers a wealth of wildlife (deer, hares, herons, egrets and migrating cranes in winter) and flora.
Thanks to Courjus for this easy walk.
Easy parking next to the lake. For our tourists, the half-timbered church in Outines is a must-see.

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User 9600658

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike, but best avoided in hot weather as most of the route is on a white path in full sun, as is the return journey along the cycle path or the path below. At a fork in the path, the signpost was hidden by vegetation, but by following the directions provided, it was easy to find. Pleasant observatories and forest trails. Don't forget the observatory at the Chantecoq site.

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inconnu qui randonne
inconnu qui randonne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

A lovely, easy walk where you can observe marsh birds
as well as nutria and, unusually, a raccoon.

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Isabelle Magnien
Isabelle Magnien

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A trail for birdwatchers. Binoculars are recommended for this activity. There are numerous birdwatching spots.

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Marc1961
Marc1961

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

The path leading out of the Grand Coulon No. 1 observatory is currently being repaired. You can see the white path and reach it without any difficulty.
The Grand Coulon No. 2 observatory is undergoing repairs. The route between the two Grand Coulon observatories has lost its appeal.
We saw various birds at the observatories and along the lake (herons, egrets, lapwings, curlews, etc.).
As the Chantecoq observatory is next to the starting point, we took the opportunity to stop there on the way there and back. We were lucky enough to see cranes!

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brageole
brageole

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A short walk, taken on a lovely summer’s day; the first section by the ponds is very pleasant, offering good birdwatching opportunities at the first hut, where you can spot coypu, great crested grebes and ducks.
The section along the dirt tracks is rather monotonous, especially as the third observation hut at the end is closed for several months.

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