In the forest between Étang Godard and Étang and Château de la Chasse.

Departure from Carrefour des Quatre Cèdres (car park), on the D192p, in the Montmorency National Forest, north of the town of Saint-Leu.

No markings

(S/E) Head west-northwest and take a wide path lined with trees and side paths.

(1) Continue straight on to Étang Godard.

(2) Go around the pond on the right and take the first path on the right (north-east). Cross a stream, ignore a path on the right and you will soon come to a crossroads. Turn right and walk along a regenerating forest plot on your left.

Red and white markings

(3) After about 500 m, at the crossroads between plots 185 and 174, follow the GR®1 trail to the left (the purple border supposed to represent it on the 1:25,000 map has not been updated). At the first crossroads, go straight ahead. At the second crossroads, turn right.

Red and white + red and yellow markings

(4) At the next junction, turn left and go downhill. At the next junction, take a narrower path on the right. You will encounter a few wet patches; ignore the paths branching off to the sides. At a junction, go straight ahead and go uphill. Follow the markings carefully as the terrain changes; you will end up on a sandy path that leads to a T-junction.

(5) Turn left and you will soon reach a large sandy crossroads. Take the second path on the right, heading due east, and descend. Then turn left twice and ignore a path on the right.

Red and yellow markings

(6) At an intersection, turn right (let the GR® continue straight ahead). At the crossroads that immediately follows, continue straight ahead and pass a picnic table on your left. Carefully cross a road, follow the path opposite, pass a shelter on your right and descend. Further on, ignore a path on the right and turn left with the main path.

(7) At the next intersection, turn left and climb slightly. At a crossroads, continue straight ahead and descend on a path lined with pine trees on the right-hand side (the purple border supposed to represent the GRP® on the 1/25000 map is not up to date). Come out onto a stabilised path and follow it to the right. At a three-way junction, keep to the right, and at the next crossroads, go straight ahead.

No markings

(8) At a triple fork, take the left path, heading due east.

Yellow markings

(9) At a crossroads, turn right. At the crossroads between plots 87 and 85, go straight ahead. Descend slightly, following the marked path through bushy vegetation. Keep heading east-southeast and ignore any paths branching off to the sides. Climb up, ignore a path branching off to the left, and descend again.

(10) At a crossroads, turn right. Very wet sections can be bypassed by a parallel path on the right-hand side. You will come to a crossroads; take the first path on the left, heading due east. Pass in front of the Fontaine Sainte-Radegonde.

No markings

(11) At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead (ignore the yellow markings on the right). As you approach Château de la Chasse, clearly visible on the right, turn right and follow the path closest to a small pond. Take a footbridge and join a wider path.

(12) First turn right then left to walk along a large pond on your right (Étang de la Chasse). At the end, turn right and pass the pond's spillway.

Red and yellow markings

(13) At the crossroads, take the first path on the right to stay as close as possible to the pond. Further on, join a tarmac path and follow it to the right. At the next crossroads, go straight ahead and pass the Château de la Chasse again.

(14) At a fork, keep left towards Étang Godard and climb up a stony path. Ignore a path on the right and walk along a meadow on your right. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead along Route Tournante du Bois du Roi, a wide, slightly shaded gravel path.

(15) At Carrefour de l'Homme Mort, continue straight ahead and climb up a stony path in a more shaded area. At a crossroads, go straight ahead. Look for an intersection located about 500 m after Carrefour de l'Homme Mort.

No markings

(16) Turn sharply left onto a narrower path. Ignore a path on the right, then parallel paths on the right. Cross a perpendicular path on the right (elevation 161) and descend onto a path. Come out onto a stabilised path and follow it to the right and uphill, along a fence on your left. At a fork, bear left towards Étang Godard.

(17) At the three-way junction, go straight ahead towards Étang Godard and walk along a metal gate on your left, then a fence. At the next intersection, turn right, still heading towards Étang Godard. Continue straight ahead (west) until you reach a tarmac forest road.

(18) Follow the road to the right. At the stop sign, carefully cross the D192p and go through a metal barrier. Continue straight ahead on a stabilised path (ignore a sign inviting you to turn left towards Étang Godard). Look for an intersection about 300 m after the road.

(19) Turn left onto a path that enters the undergrowth (plot no. 174). Cross a stream. At a T-junction, first turn right then left to continue on a path through dense undergrowth.

(1) You will come out onto the wide path you took at the start of the hike and follow it to the left. This will quickly take you to the Carrefour des Quatre Cèdres car park (S/E).

Hiking boots are useful.

No water sources identified along the route. Numerous benches around the Étang de la Chasse, between (12) and (14).

A detailed map is required (at least the one accompanying this description) or a route to follow using the Visorando app.

Hike completed by the author on 27 April 2025.

- Pleasant forest paths.
- Ponds.
- Château de la Chasse.