Rontalon - Saint-Andre-la-Côte - la Croix Forest circuit

This beautiful route offers views of the Alps, including Mont Blanc, and the Cantal. There are orientation tables near Saint-André-la-Côte
You can shorten the hike by going directly to the Signal Saint-André without passing through Saint-André-la-Côte.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.12 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 567 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 563 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 874 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 445 m

Photos

Description of the walk

There are numerous car parks available, but it is advisable to drive through the village and park at the Chapelle Saint-Roch.

(S/E) To start the route, head east and go down the small street (Montée de la Chapelle). Cross the small car park and turn right onto Chemin des Garennes. At the fork that appears immediately, keep right on the same street.

(1) Ignore the signposted path that climbs up to the right towards Saint-Martin-en-Haut and continue a few metres along the road. At the cross, take the small path on the left that descends towards the D115 road. Follow this road to the right to climb back up the valley.

(2) At the place called "le Faure", take the small tarmac road on the right which will take you almost to the entrance of a farm via a fairly steep slope.

(3) At the farm entrance, take the forest path opposite which leads to the hamlet of Les Ravières. Turn right onto the tarmac road to reach the hamlet. At the fork, turn left and then right towards the cross overlooking Rontalon.

(4) Return to the path, turn right: the tarmac quickly gives way to a track. Continue along the hillside and, at a fork, follow the left (south-west) and descend into the valley. At the fork before the Carteller stream, turn left (dangerous path for bikes), cross a first road and arrive on the D34 at the hamlet of L'Arvin.

(5) Cross the D34 to Saint-Genoux, then follow the yellow-marked path on the right that leads to Le Baudoy. Once you reach the first houses in the hamlet, turn right onto the path and continue to Arfeuille.

(6) Turn right at the house onto the path signposted Saint-André, cross the road at Adret and take the path opposite (starting on tarmac).

(7) At the cross, turn left and climb up the valley (steep and stony slope). Be careful, the path is poorly marked, but just follow it to the edge of the woods. When you reach the paved road, follow it to reach Saint-André-la-Côte.

(8) Go back up the village towards the school, going around the church on your right and following Rue de la Mairie (GR®: red and white markings). Once in front of the school and the town hall, turn right towards the housing estate, then right again towards the cross at the fork that follows.

(9) Follow the path straight ahead, which runs alongside the meadows and enters the forest, coming out towards Les Templiers.

(10) Be careful at the Templiers farm: turn right immediately between the two hay barns and follow the path to Monchard.

(11) In Monchard, head towards the cross on the right, then turn left towards Croix Forest (do not head towards Rontalon).

(12) Just before the junction with the D34, go up the path on the left to take the road above the road (former railway line). Follow this road, which makes a wide loop to the right north of the D34, which it then joins near a cross.

(13) Continue left on the small road that leads to the hamlet of Tiremanteau. Cross the hamlet and reach a new crossroads.

(14) Stay on the path marked "vélo interdit" (no cycling), which continues opposite (do not take the marked path on the left that descends to Thiurins). The path leads to Rontalon (keep straight ahead). Cross the housing estate and return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 511 m - Chapelle car park
  2. 1 : km 0.8 - alt. 500 m - Saint-Martin-le-Haut crossroads
  3. 2 : km 1.45 - alt. 453 m - Le Faure
  4. 3 : km 2.13 - alt. 544 m - Fork in the access road to the farm
  5. 4 : km 3.32 - alt. 653 m - Cross above Rontalon
  6. 5 : km 4.86 - alt. 625 m - L'Arvin, D34, cross and take the road opposite
  7. 6 : km 6.9 - alt. 620 m - Arfeuille, turn right
  8. 7 : km 8.53 - alt. 718 m - At the cross, turn left
  9. 8 : km 9.44 - alt. 843 m - Entrance to Saint-André-la-Côte
  10. 9 : km 10.04 - alt. 874 m - Path to the Templars
  11. 10 : km 11.99 - alt. 770 m - The Templars
  12. 11 : km 12.73 - alt. 726 m - Monchard, on the right towards the cross
  13. 12 : km 13.39 - alt. 664 m - La Croix Forest
  14. 13 : km 14.84 - alt. 632 m - D75 crossroads, cross, left
  15. 14 : km 15.65 - alt. 631 m - At the GR crossroads, go straight ahead
  16. S/E : km 17.11 - alt. 511 m - Chapelle car park

Notes

(8) Picnic area with shelter and magnificent view of Mont Blanc (you can also picnic at the signpost about 2 km away, where there are orientation tables and picnic tables)
Towards Pierre Longue, you can climb up to Signal Saint-André. There are two orientation tables and a picnic area (table)
Magnificent view of the Alps, Vercors and, on the other side, the Cantal.

Alternative route from L'Arvin.

(5) At the crossroads, turn right onto the D34 for about 50 metres, then turn left onto the small road that runs alongside the lodge. Just after a sharp left turn, take the path on the right leading up to Signal Saint-André (allow 1 hour), marked in yellow (be careful, the first signpost is quite hidden).

Worth a visit

(4) You can visit the cross, which overlooks Rontalon and offers a view of the Lyon basin.

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 42 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Gloug’
Gloug’

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Stunning views, a very pleasant walk that took 4½ hours excluding breaks. On such a windy day, proper kit is essential, as 70% of the route is very exposed.
A few walkers on the final stretch, but overall there were few people about. It was a brilliant Sunday in the great outdoors with plenty of wind.
Thank you for sharing the route

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manouche1
manouche1

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Well described, with little need to hesitate along the way. A lovely walk, not too difficult, with stunning views of the Alps

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véroniqueProt
véroniqueProt

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, with a good balance between roads, paths, woods and open views. Beautiful views of the Alps. On the advice of a review, we went to Signal Saint André for a picnic. It was a bit crowded there. We passed quite a few runners, but it wasn't too crowded. I followed the route using the PDF map and the app on my phone.
I didn't follow the description. Thank you to the hiker who shared this beautiful route.

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Dédé SAKADO
Dédé SAKADO

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The tour was completed in good weather with a slight breeze. The landscapes were varied with beautiful views, even though the Alps remained hidden.
Due to a mistake in our itinerary in St Genoux, we did not make the detour via Le Baudois and went directly to Saint André.

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rdub
rdub
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike in the Monts du Lyonnais with, depending on the weather, magnificent panoramic views of the Alps and passes through charming little villages. There is little tarmac and the elevation gain is well distributed, making it easy to cover the distance without difficulty.
Thanks to the author.

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christiane longin-sauvageon
christiane longin-sauvageon

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, but the guidebook is too brief

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FlashStony
FlashStony

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice route, lots of cool spots.
We made a little detour via the St André sign, which added a kilometre and, more importantly, a rather challenging descent to get back on track (via the small path that goes straight down the slope to the left of the second viewing platform).
We did this on a very hot Monday 29 May, starting early. As it's mostly shaded, it was fine, but the last 2 km are in the sun on the road, fortunately downhill (if you take the recommended route).

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christiane longin-sauvageon
christiane longin-sauvageon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, not very crowded... because it rained practically all day.
Very beautiful scenery!

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cathycoco
cathycoco

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

beautiful hike, lots of orchards in bloom, more elevation gain than expected. The route marked on Viso Rando indicates a total elevation gain of 750 metres
easy and very pleasant trail
a small group of five people on bikes and three motorbikes after St André la Côte
not many people out hiking on Sunday
thank you

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Yves K.
Yves K.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with relatively little tarmac and some delightful encounters in the villages.

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Gdym
Gdym

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A lovely hike with beautiful views.

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Stéphanie Le Touzé
Stéphanie Le Touzé

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We chose this route because it was advertised as fairly shaded, and we were indeed able to enjoy large sections sheltered from the sun. It is a very pretty, easy walk with beautiful, varied landscapes and generally pleasant paths.
Of course, at the St André signal, there were a lot of people, but that's to be expected, and above all, it was Sunday at picnic time...
Other than that, we only saw one quad bike, but otherwise it was very, very quiet.
Unfortunately, the heat haze was so thick that we couldn't see much of the distant landscapes... but there's nothing anyone can do about that!

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ALLRANDOF
ALLRANDOF

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with stunning views, although we weren't able to enjoy it fully as the sky was quite overcast. Pleasant trails.

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Calanquaise
Calanquaise

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike in beautiful sunshine. As I was familiar with some of the sections, I preferred to do it in reverse (I think the elevation gain is easier that way)!
The whole group loved this hike, which allowed me to discover some new trails. A very wild area with magnificent views.
However, we ended up walking at least 20 km by taking a detour via the St André sign (which was packed with people during the school holidays!)
Thank you for suggesting this hike!

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Ctophe
Ctophe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with magnificent views.

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