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Starting point and access: L'Étang-la-Ville station.
- Transilien - Line L, on the section between Paris Saint-Lazare and Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche via La Défense.
Take the platform exit towards Saint-Nom in Paris (if arriving from the opposite direction, use the footbridge).
No signposting
(S) On leaving the station, turn left then right and head downhill. At the junction, go straight ahead down a one-way alley and continue downhill. At the bottom, turn right onto Chemin de la Chancellerie. At the cemetery gate, turn right and head downhill to reach the foot of the church.
(1) Then turn right, immediately ignore a street on the right and follow Chemin du Cabaret. Walk straight on through a residential area on level ground. At the Stop sign, turn left and head downhill. At the “give way” sign, cross the Route de Saint-Germain (D161) and follow it to the right. Pass a bus stop and, at the junction immediately ahead, leave the town and continue along the Route de l’Étang-la-Ville.
Signposts "Les sentes de Mareil-Marly"
(2) After about fifty metres, turn left onto Chemin des Morelles. Walk uphill alongside a fence on your right. At the corner, turn right and continue on level ground. At the junction, turn left onto Chemin des Marivaux (yellow signpost) and walk uphill. At the next junction, go straight on (Yellow Cross), continuing uphill.
Yellow markings + “Les sentes de Mareil-Marly” signposts
At the next junction, continue straight up and note a wash house on the right-hand side. At the T-junction, first turn right then left and pass under a railway line. On the other side, continue along a path that climbs. Ignore a turn-off on the left and you will soon reach a T-junction.
Yellow markings
(3) Turn left and follow a wire fence on your right. Walk through a shaded area, then follow a patch of apple trees on your left. Further on, cross a small road and continue uphill along the path opposite until you reach another T-junction (bench on the right).
(4) Then turn left and walk alongside a fence on your left. Alternate between garden fences and apple orchards. At the corner of an apple orchard (on the right-hand side), when the main path turns right (which is not shown on the map), continue straight ahead along a footpath. Wind your way between garden fences, alternating between flat and downhill sections.
(5) You will come out onto a road (Chemin des Boulins); follow it to the right and uphill.
No signposting
At the end, pass through a forest gate, cross a stream via a footbridge and enter the Marly State Forest. Pass a picnic table on the left, followed by a fitness trail sign. Go straight on and you will immediately reach a fork in the path.
Yellow and blue markings (rare and faded)
(6) Take the path on the left, then ignore a turn-off on the right (not shown on the map). Walk along a wide dirt track lined with (faded) fitness trail signs. At a junction, go straight on, due west. Ignore a turn-off on the left (not shown on the IGN map) and reach another junction.
No signposting
Then turn right, immediately ignore a path branching off to the right (not shown on the map) and arrive at the Étoile du Chêne au Chat (signpost; a remarkable oak tree on the right).
(7) Take the third turning on the right, a good, well-maintained track heading towards l’Étoile Magnifique. Pass through a forest gate and cross a small car park. Cross the D98 in two stages using the protected crossing on the right. On the other side, follow a path, come out onto a small road and follow it to the left.
(8) Just before a Stop sign, head down to the right along a path that is narrow at first but widens quickly. Continue straight ahead (north-west) and downhill. Pass between two areas of regenerating woodland. At a crossroads, take the second path on the right (north-north-west; plot no. 76). At the next junction (plot no. 75), go straight on and downhill. Ignore a path on the right, veer left and reach the Étoile du Loup (central cobbled circle).
Red and yellow markings
(9) Take the fourth left, a path starting at the foot of a tree marked No. 72, and head uphill. You’ll come out onto a tarmac forest road; first turn left then right to take an uphill path. Continue straight on until you reach the Étoile des Chasseurs (central paved circle; signpost).
Red and white markings
(10) Take the second right, the Route des Chasseurs, and follow the GR®1. Head west and, at each junction, continue straight on with the GR®.
No markings
(11) When the GR® turns right, continue straight on along a path, heading west-south-west. Join a tarmac forest road (Route Dauphine) and first turn right then left to continue along a path. Reach the Étoile Verte and another tarmac forest road.
(12) Follow the road to the left and, after a few dozen metres, turn left onto a path that leads into the undergrowth. Walk east-southeast and, after about 500 m, the path becomes blocked, likely due to lack of maintenance. Turn left and follow a path that winds through the undergrowth parallel to the old track (this path is not shown on the 1:25,000 map but can be seen at the highest magnification).
(13) At the junction with the old track, continue along the path (east-southeast). At the crossroads shortly afterwards (blue double-sided signs), go straight on along a hard-standing track (plot no. 17). At the next crossroads (Étoile du Chêne Capitaine), turn left at a 90° angle and follow a good, compacted track to the Étoile Parfaite (central paved circle; shelter on the right). Then take the third right, the Route forestière Dauphine (tarmac).
Red and white markings
(14) After about 250 m (signpost on the left), turn right onto a path. At the fork immediately ahead, veer left and pass a picnic table. Continue straight ahead, south-southeast, until you rejoin the D98. Cross the road and the cycle paths alongside it with care (no pedestrian crossing here). Continue straight ahead on the path opposite, descending slightly before climbing again. Ignore an arrow pointing to a path on the right and, shortly afterwards, take a path on the right which quickly leads to the Croix Saint-Michel (view on the left).
(15) Leave the cross on your left and go straight on along a wide path, heading due west, ignoring all the side paths. At a three-way junction (plot no. 106), turn left (south-east) and arrive at the Étoile de Dryade (a tree with a sign on the right-hand side).
(16) Then turn left and follow a small arrow pointing to a station 1 km away. Head downwards and, at each junction, keep heading east-northeast.
No signposting
(17) After about 500 m, turn right onto a faint path (Red Cross and White Cross; look out for this turn-off). Walk slightly uphill to a road. Follow this to the left and head downhill alongside the station car park. Turn right then left to cross the bridge over the railway line. Turn immediately left and head downhill to the level crossing, where you will find, on the right, Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche - Forêt de Marly station (E).
To get back home:
- Transilien - Line L, towards Paris Saint-Lazare via La Défense.
- Tram - Line T13, towards Saint-Germain-en-Laye or Saint-Cyr.
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