Crêt de Py-Froid starting from Châteauvieux

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Beautiful views of Lyon, Pilat, the Monts du Lyonnais and, with a bit of luck, as far as Mont Blanc.
The chapel is sometimes open at weekends and is well worth a visit.

Technical sheet

n°7823936
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.70 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 147 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 144 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 786 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 673 m
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Photos

A retired couple watches you pass by

Description of the walk

Park in the small car park next to the Châteauvieux chapel.

(S/E) Walk past the church entrance and note the two hundred-year-old lime trees. When you reach the junction with the Yzeron road, note the stone cross on the left. Cross and continue straight ahead.

(1) At the three-way junction, keep left. The path curves sharply to the right, passes a riding school and then continues. You will notice traffic signs on a path that is not very suitable for vehicles!

(2) As you approach the D25, don't forget to turn right at the hairpin bend to start the climb. Further up, join the path coming from Yzeron.

(3) Follow it to the right towards the rocks of Crêt de Py Froid. You will reach an intersection (view of Pilat).

(4) The path is not signposted, so continue straight ahead towards the east. Make a left turn and you will come to a balcony section with beautiful trees. Join a path that also comes from Crêt de Py Froid and continue to the right.

(1) Turn left and return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 673 m - Car park - Chapelle Saint-Jean-Baptiste (Châteauvieux)
  2. 1 : km 0.22 - alt. 686 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 2.87 - alt. 702 m - Right-hand hairpin bend
  4. 3 : km 3.61 - alt. 785 m - Junction with the path from Yverzon
  5. 4 : km 4.18 - alt. 773 m - Crêt du Py Froid (772m)
  6. S/E : km 5.7 - alt. 673 m - Car park - Chapelle Saint-Jean-Baptiste (Châteauvieux)

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 15 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
RANDOCATHY
RANDOCATHY

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

An easy hike with beautiful views. Lots of shaded areas, which are useful in hot weather.

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myzebe
myzebe

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk, perfect for these early days of spring. Route followed according to the GPX track.

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AgnèsDess73
AgnèsDess73

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A lovely, easy hike with little elevation gain and beautiful views at the start of the trail.
Very pleasant despite a rather cloudy December day.
Worth doing again to visit the chapel 😉

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Fabrice0869
Fabrice0869

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A great two-hour walk with no real difficulties. Magnificent panoramic views and, as the weather was superb today with clear blue skies, we could see the entire Alpine range – a magnificent sight.
There was a little snow on the path, but for a Christmas hike, it was rather nice.
The Chateauvieux Chapel is only open to visitors on Sundays.

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nathalie
nathalie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Lovely short hike, with the option to extend it
Beautiful views on the first part, second part in the woods, little road.
We did this walk during the festive season, so we didn't meet many people, but be aware that it can get busy around the Py-froid ridge on sunny days

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Solange EPITALON
Solange EPITALON

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Beautiful hike, very pleasant route, little elevation gain, beautiful views, just one intersection during the hike before Crêt de Py-Froid that is not very well marked. Crêt de Py-Froid is very pretty and worth the trip!
A bit far from Lyon for an afternoon stroll, and the GPS route via small roads is too complicated! It's better to go via Yzeron!

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EsmeM
EsmeM

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

I was surprised to reach such heights and enjoy such beautiful views so close to Oullins. It is a pleasant, easy path to walk. The only drawback is that it is close to a motocross track, so the peace of the mountain was interrupted by the noise of engines.

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VCANET
VCANET

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

.

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phoenn69
phoenn69

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful walk taken in May in hot weather.
Very pretty view at the start.
Shade along the route.
Easy and very pleasant walk

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jctrimintin
jctrimintin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

I did this hike on 11 November 2022. I used a Garmin hiking GPS and had no trouble finding the path. The first half of the hike is interesting, with beautiful scenery and views of the Alps. However, the second half is through the woods, with very few views, and the path is rocky and rutted. My wife and I did this hike in 1 hour and 45 minutes, stopping frequently to admire the scenery. I recommend doing this hike in the spring to avoid slippery rocks

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ivermeire
ivermeire

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk, with the first part being relatively quiet, even on public holidays. It gets a little busier from the Rochers de Py-Froid viewpoint onwards.
The walk is well shaded and there are pretty landscapes. The ChateauVieux chapel is also worth a detour.

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Lechappe
Lechappe

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A walk on 1 May, a Sunday, and yet not too crowded, which is nice. Especially since the scenery is magnificent with beautiful spring sunshine. We had a little trouble finding our way between points 2 and 3, so we cut across another steep path to get back on track. Other than that, I recommend this walk in spring.

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baladindesrues
baladindesrues

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

A lovely little hike with a superb view. A bit crowded, especially on a Sunday morning, but there's room for everyone.
Thank you

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noynoy
noynoy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

What a view on a clear day! A pleasant and quick trail

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Alambiki
Alambiki

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A superb 1½-hour walk with stunning views of the Monts du Lyonnais.
The chapel, which is almost 1,000 years old, is well worth a visit.

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