From the Cadran forest house to the Chêne des Trois Frères and Courtagnon

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This is a walk through the woods that can be done at a brisk pace or as a family stroll. Pass by the remarkable tree "Le Chêne des Trois Frères" and the pretty village of Courtagnon with its small vineyard.

Details

n°3747621
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.67 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 129 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 129 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 270 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 177 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Sermiers (51500)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 49.128124° / E 3.990616°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2712E, 2713E, 2812O
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Photos

In winter
The Oak Tree with Cavities
The Oak of the Three Brothers

Description of the walk

Departure from the Cadran car park, on the road between Épernay and Reims.

(S/E) Cross the D951 road with caution and take the Route Forestière de la Mer Rouge, along the forest house. Walk to a crossroads.

(1) Turn right onto the Route Forestière de la Fontaine à l'Aulne. Walk to a T-junction.

(2) Turn left onto the Route Forestière de la Noëlle and walk for one kilometre. Look for the bench on the left and the entrance to a path.

(3) Take the path on the left and walk 200 metres to a crossroads.

(4) At the crossroads, turn right.

(5) After 150 metres, pass the remarkable tree known as Le Chêne des Trois Frères (the Three Brothers Oak) and continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroads.

(6) At the crossroads, turn left towards Courtagnon (signposted). The path crosses the woods, then the vineyards, and reaches the houses of Courtagnon.

(7) At the first house, turn left, then right. Cross the Ardre bridge and you will reach the Courtagnon car park. (sign with hiking map)

(8) At the car park, turn left. The path runs alongside fields, then crosses through woods. Follow this forest road without changing direction.

(1) At the fork in the road, continue straight ahead until you reach the car park where you started (S/E) after crossing the road.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 270 m - Cadran car park - Parking du Cadran
  2. 1 : km 1.1 - alt. 224 m - Crossroads of the circular loop. After the - Ardre (rivière)
  3. 2 : km 3.09 - alt. 266 m - Fork in the Route Forestière de la Noëlle
  4. 3 : km 4.51 - alt. 264 m - Bench, path on the left
  5. 4 : km 4.75 - alt. 263 m - Path on the right
  6. 5 : km 4.94 - alt. 263 m - Arbre remarquable "Les trois frères"
  7. 6 : km 5.78 - alt. 261 m - Crossroads of trails
  8. 7 : km 6.57 - alt. 194 m - Entrance to Courtagnon
  9. 8 : km 6.93 - alt. 177 m - Parking de Courtagnon
  10. S/E : km 10.67 - alt. 270 m - Cadran car park - Parking du Cadran

Notes

No water on the route.
There is a lovely picnic area at the Noëlle car park at the end of the road, near (3). If you are coming from Reims, you can start the hike from this car park.

Picnic area at the start of the route in the Cadran car park.

Be careful when crossing the D951, which is difficult during rush hour.

Worth a visit

Visit Épernay or Reims.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
virgule
virgule

Thank you for this review. The car park is indeed busy on weekends when the weather is good (around ten cars at most), but you rarely meet anyone on the trails.
As mentioned above, in the Montagne de Reims, except on trail running days or when large organised hikes take place, it is never very busy.

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User 26194610

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Great trail route, path/trail, I recommend it.

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virgule
virgule

A brief update: it's even muddier than last week.

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virgule
virgule

The road, a long road, and there's not much to see except trees. No viewpoints in Courtagnon.

I just saw this comment. It's true, there isn't much to see except trees. But that's precisely the point of this route: to see remarkable trees. There are few routes in the region with viewpoints. But it's very peaceful, perhaps precisely because it lacks viewpoints and Instagram-worthy spots.
Let's hope it stays that way.

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virgule
virgule

Thank you for this review. I was there today. Indeed, between the 4th and 6th, it is very, very humid. It is better to walk through the woods than on the path.
The bench by the Three Brothers Oak is a very nice place to stop for a short break.

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Mookaz51
Mookaz51
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike on this Sunday morning in February 2025!

The first part is on trails that are accessible to everyone: on foot, by bike, with a pushchair...
However, at this time of year, several kilometres (2? 3?) in the forest are on a virtually impassable "path": water and therefore mud.
This part is impossible if you have young children and/or a pushchair. The same applies if you are cycling.

I used my GPS to follow the GPX track: perfect route.

We had a lovely time.

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virgule
virgule

Thank you for this review. The Courtagnon car park is nice, but there is only one bench. For a proper picnic, there is the Aire de la Noëlle, which is a little off the route, at the end of the Route de la Noëlle. There are several tables there.

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MORIAMEZ
MORIAMEZ

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Many thanks for this detailed route with reliable landmarks.
I would have just cleared the bench (no. 2) a little more so that it could be seen from a distance and reassure those who were impatient! The Courtagnon car park is very pleasant, well maintained and shaded (ideal for a picnic break).

Virginie

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virgule
virgule

Thank you for this advice.

To see wild boars and deer, you need to go early in the morning or in the evening, and remain silent.

This is a route for tree lovers, which I am.

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lajojomamie
lajojomamie

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

A long way to go, and not much to see except trees. No view in Courtagnon.

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virgule
virgule

Thank you for this review. It's a pleasant route in both winter and summer. Currently, the ground is frozen, so there's no slush. There are far fewer people here than on the other side of the road.

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Bauthadam
Bauthadam

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We really enjoyed this forest route. The sun was pleasant, the temperatures were low, but
we weren't cold while walking. We were glad of the frost because the last part of the walk had a lot of puddles after the heavy downpours of the previous days, and the mud was frozen solid.

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Josetteaubry
Josetteaubry

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant route along tracks and paths under the foliage!

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virgule
virgule

Hello,

here is a route for hot weather, as you are almost always under the trees.

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