Between Saint-André-la-Côte and Rontalon

This loop offers pleasant views of the plateau to the south-west of the Lyon conurbation. In good visibility, the Pre-Alps and Alps can be seen in the distance.

Details

n°19717

Creation:
16 Feb 2013

Last update:
03 Jan 2022

Last review:
11 Aug 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 17.53 km
Average duration: 6h 50
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 650 m
Descent: - 647 m
Highest point: 874 m
Lowest point: 432 m

Country: France
Areas: Massif central, Monts du Lyonnais
City: Saint-André-la-Côte (69440)
Start/End: N 45.629197° / E 4.601125°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2932ET
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Description of the walk

Car park in Saint-André-la-Côte, below the church. This small car park is a very good vantage point.

(S/E) Take the^{GR® trail}, which starts by running alongside and overlooking the D113 road leading to Saint-Martin-en-Haut. Head north.

(1) Pass by the Templiers farm (note: turn right just before this farm) and then the Monchard farm.

(2) At this point, turn left in front of the cross to reach the Croix Forest viaduct.

(3) To avoid the tarmac road that descends to Rontalon, turn left onto the path that goes around the small hill and joins the crossroads between the D75 and the small tarmac road leading to Tiremanteau.

(4) Take this small road, pass the hamlet of Tiremanteau and stay on the ridges.

(5) Follow the botanical trail to the hamlet of Le Roman at the bottom of the valley.

(6) Climb back up to Rontalon. Cross the village via the D75 and, immediately afterwards, take the small road leading to Le Rely.

(7) After 300 metres, turn right down the slope to join the road at the bottom of the valley.
Cross this road and take a path that crosses a farm. Pass this farm.

(8) Use the planks to cross a stream. Head back up towards a group of houses overlooking the stream.

(9) Cross the D115 again and take the small road opposite that climbs through the woods. After a sharp bend, take a path on your right, still climbing.

(10) Pass through the hamlet of Les Ravières. In this hamlet, turn left until you reach a crossroads with marked paths.

(11) Turn right towards the hamlet of La Ferrandière, heading due north.

(12) After this hamlet, take the small road that climbs to the left, then turn right after 200 metres to avoid the road and reach the Surgeon farm.

(13) Go to the crossroads and take a track opposite, which quickly joins a path that climbs directly up the slope and through the woods. Walking along an old field, take the path on the right which, after 800m of steep climbing, leads to a crossroads with a cross.

(14) You then have two options:
- go straight ahead to reach the ridge path taken on the way there and join Saint-André-la-Côte on the left. (route)
- turn immediately left and head for the village of Saint-André-la-Côte (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 839 m - Car park below the church
1 : km 2.41 - alt. 772 m - Templar farm
2 : km 3.19 - alt. 725 m - Cross near Monchard
3 : km 3.87 - alt. 658 m - Croix Forest
4 : km 5.27 - alt. 632 m - D75 towards Tiremanteau
5 : km 7.18 - alt. 539 m - Botanical trail
6 : km 8.47 - alt. 440 m - Le Roman
7 : km 9.08 - alt. 498 m - Rontalon
8 : km 9.88 - alt. 437 m - Crossing a stream
9 : km 10.12 - alt. 453 m - New crossing of the D115
10 : km 11.43 - alt. 612 m - Hamlet of Les Ravières
11 : km 12.8 - alt. 574 m - Fork in the road to the right
12 : km 13.98 - alt. 546 m - Hamlet of La Ferrandière
13 : km 14.87 - alt. 611 m - Surgeon Farm
14 : km 16.17 - alt. 820 m - Crossroads with a cross
S/E : km 17.53 - alt. 839 m - Car park below the church

Notes

Good walking shoes recommended, beware of muddy sections after heavy rain.
A "dangerous" crossing over a stream (using poles or planks) below Rontalon. However, this crossing can be avoided by using the road above it.
Water point and hiking signs in Rontalon.

Worth a visit

Museum of miniature agricultural machinery in Rontalon (open on request or at certain times of the year).

On the way there, between Saint-André-la-Côte and Rontalon, the path that initially follows the watershed between the Loire and Rhône basins is mostly a ridge path. For a few kilometres, it intersects with one of the Saint Jacques paths, as well as a botanical trail.
On the return journey, there are often climbs through wooded areas.
A short break for a bite to eat is possible in the village of Rontalon.
Just before Rontalon, at the bottom of the valley, you will find the ancient hamlet of Le Roman.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5

Based on 22 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.9 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5

Route interest
4.6 / 5

Durand Gilles

11 Aug 2025 at 14:27 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike in the Monts du Lyonnais
With beautiful panoramic views and magnificent woodlands

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Monsieur Chupon

21 Jul 2024 at 20:38 7200 • Edited: 21 Jul 2024 at 20:38 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed today with a friend, leaving at 10:40 a.m. and returning at 6 p.m., with quite a few breaks (about 2 hours).
We set off prepared for the heavy rain that had been forecast, but not a single drop fell. On the contrary, the sun broke through the clouds, revealing magnificent views of Lyon.
The hike is fairly easy, and although most of the climb is at the end, it's not very steep. The alternation of woods and fields provides plenty of variety, and the forest sections are very pleasant.
We stopped at the small bar/restaurant on the church square for a welcome refreshment break.

It should be noted that this hike overlaps considerably with the Croix circuit

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pascal.amieux

02 Jan 2022 at 18:24 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Departure at 9:15 a.m. and return at 4:45 p.m. Clear, sunny weather. It is quite warm for this time of year (we were wearing T-shirts at the picnic in St André la Côte).

We did not use GPS, but the map was perfectly clear. However, the description was very brief.

Like several other people, we set off from Rontalon from the hikers' car park. Between points 8 and 9, we took the road around the stream (which had swollen considerably due to the previous days' rain). At point 14, we decided to turn left at the crossroads. This option allows you to make a loop around Saint André la Côte rather than a return trip. Picnic in St André la Côte, halfway along the route, with panoramic views of the Rhône valley and the Alps .

Thanks to the author for mapping out this beautiful walk.

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Guy de St Martin

25 Mar 2021 at 14:06 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Day trip with picnic on a beautiful early spring day. Following advice, we set off from Rontalon, which allowed us to tackle the climb at the start of the hike. Beautiful views, beautiful paths, a mix of shaded and open terrain. Nothing to report, it's a lovely walk!

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nicolas.bachan

21 Feb 2021 at 18:31 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb hike with beautiful scenery (between forest and countryside) and stunning views of the Alps and the Lyon region.
We set off from Rontalon, which meant we started with the climb and finished with the descent.
At St André la Côte, we made a short detour to the St André signal.
The hike took 5½ hours (including a picnic break).

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franck Petit

15 Jun 2020 at 11:03 7200

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk through woods and countryside...we couldn't resist eating cherries straight from the trees, there are some all along the route!

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hiker38

12 Nov 2019 at 06:34 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We set off from Rontalon (hikers' car park), which meant we ended with a long descent and the botanical garden trail. Thanks to the school children, we now know the names of all the "weeds" we pull up in the garden!
Be careful after heavy rain, as the Cartelier stream ford at the bottom of Rontalon is impassable and must be bypassed by road.
A beautiful walk in the colours of autumn.

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LN.prtn

15 Apr 2019 at 10:43 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The hike is well suited for sensitive knees (few steep descents) and there is a lovely spot for a picnic on the botanical trail in the Grand Bacha woods (between stages 5 and 6 of the route).

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Michel lacroix

28 May 2018 at 08:19 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Be careful not to miss the path before the La Croix Forest crossroads.
This is a very beautiful hike.
Thanks to its author

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manuel.fonseca

18 Feb 2018 at 17:32 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great walk with friends in sunny, snowy weather (12 cm of snow)
Magnificent landscapes with a superb view of the Alps

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jps.dufour@wanadoo.fr

06 Nov 2017 at 09:08 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Magnificent autumn colours and a sea of clouds in the Rhône Valley – the perfect moment for this hike!

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ritounet27

15 Jul 2015 at 16:03 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

At the Croix Forest viaduct (bridge), cross the road and immediately turn left (yellow markings) to climb the hill and follow a path that is barely visible at first.
After the hamlet of Tiremanteau, follow the yellow markings to the botanical garden (picnic tables)
To leave Rontalon, follow the red markings (see hiking sign at the hikers' car park)
After Le Surgeon, cross the D34 and climb up opposite, walk along a field and at the fork, take the path on the right WITHOUT the yellow mark...which goes up into the woods;
signs then for St André la Côte;

numerous orchards along the walk

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gebe

20 Apr 2015 at 21:19 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

walking time 5 hours 15 minutes plus a half-hour break halfway through the route,
interesting and well-designed botanical trail,
beautiful views over the Lyon metropolitan area.
thanks to the author.
gebe

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bibi

06 Nov 2014 at 18:15 3600

I have just sent a message to the author asking him to add a little more detail to his description.

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Chantalcarle@hotmail.com

06 Nov 2014 at 16:13 3600

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2014
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

2nd hike on Visorando.
conclusion: thank you, IGN maps, because without them!!!!!!!
the descriptions are still as vague and confusing as ever.
same goes for Gérard Boyer's comments.
very beautiful panoramas.
great botanical trail before arriving in Roman.
and climbs + to reach the starting point with "lost in the forest+++
there's no point getting lost in useless descriptions, keep it simple.
chantal.

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cottin
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