Jonzieux walks

A lovely, relatively easy walk starting from the hamlet of Les Gouttes, in Saint-Just-Malmont. A hilly route alternating between open landscapes and forest sections, at an altitude of around 900 metres.

Enjoy a breath of fresh air in a part of Pilat that is full of valleys and rich in religious history.

A pleasant Sunday walk, very popular and enjoyable in good weather.

An easy hike in the Pilat Natural Park, through beautiful forests of tall trees and along the shores of Lake Sapt in a mid-mountain setting. Ideal in summer as the walk is refreshing. The village of Saint-Genest-Malifaux is located at an altitude of around 1,000 metres and many of the paths are shaded by century-old trees.

A long but easy hike on the plateau towards Saint-Romain-Lachalm in a landscape alternating between meadows, forests and rivers. Beautiful farm buildings still in use or converted. Crossing the Bois des Cartaires with its oratory dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

This is the story of a 4.7 km route representing the 4.7 billion years of our planet's history. One kilometre corresponds to one billion years and, therefore, one metre (one large step) to one million years. Based on this symbolism, 21 panels have been placed along the route. The location of each panel, and therefore the corresponding period, recounts a major event that changed the course of Earth's evolution. This route, which follows the paths of Saint-Didier-en-Velay, is designed to be fun, historical and original.

Set off to explore the Loire, starting from Saint-Régis-du-Coin and heading to Crêt de Chaussitre, which offers a magnificent view of Saint-Genest-Malifaux and its surroundings.

This is an easy walk on the outskirts of Saint-Étienne, with a few short sections of steep inclines or slopes. Located at the entrance to Pilat Park, the Cotatay dam is one of the dams that supplies water to the towns in the valley. A pleasant, shaded walk that is refreshing in summer (but swimming is prohibited).

This is an easy, short hike, ideal for hot summer days as it is almost entirely in the woods. It allows you to discover the Bois Farost in the Pilat Regional Nature Park, with its many curiosities.

A short circular walk from La Séauve-sur-Semène, following the Semène river, with a return journey partly through the countryside and partly through ancient forest.

This circular route starts at La Pouratte stadium in Chambon-Feugerolles and takes you to the Cotatay dam, which supplies the town with drinking water, before climbing to overlook the Ondaine valley.

This walk starts in the Ondenon valley and climbs twice to 900m, on both sides of the river. It offers several panoramic views of the Ondaine valley, the city of Saint-Étienne and, in the distance, the Monts du Forez.

Starting from the Croix du Guizay, this circuit in the Pilat Regional Nature Park offers some of the most beautiful views of Saint-Étienne. The belvedere allows you to take in the city's central street and enjoy a panoramic view of the entire urban area.

Hike on the plateau from the Col de la République between Saint-Genest-Malifaux and Saint-Régis-du-Coin.

a peaceful walk with no difficult sections but not recommended for young children or pushchairs, through forest, alongside ponds and numerous fields in the Pilat Park. Update 20/08/25: photos added and details provided for the fork at point (7) Update 15/07/2025: route modified between points (5) and (7) due to the gradual disappearance of the path on the western edge of the pond.

A long, pleasant walk in summer through beautiful forests between the Col de la République and Saint-Régis-du-Coin. Can also be done in winter with snowshoes or even cross-country skis.

Car-free route: depart from Saint-Étienne Bellevue station, accessible by tram from Chateaucreux, and take the L14 regional bus towards Jonzieux. Get off at Planfoy Route du Bourg, paying attention to the timetable, especially on weekdays outside school holidays. It is best to travel in the morning.

This easy, short walk through the woods in the heart of the Grand Bois in the Pilat Regional Nature Park is a chance to remember a tragic event from the Second World War, around a small monument that has been somewhat forgotten as it does not appear on any maps. Route updated on 18 July 2020.

Circular hike to the Gouffre d'Enfer and Pas du Riot dams, built under Napoleon III using stone masonry. Admire the height of the conifers growing in these forests. The nearby Col de la République, also known as Col du Grand Bois, lives up to its name. The route is mainly through woodland and is not difficult. There is very little tarmac road (only at the start and finish).

Walk in and around the village of Saint-Pal-de-Mons. Walk through its forests, fields and streams

This walk from Saint-Étienne will take you to Le Guizay via the Ondenon dam. It offers several panoramic views, including the Ondaine valley, Saint-Étienne and the Forez plain.

This walk, which takes about 1½ hours, starts at the gates of Saint-Étienne and then follows a circular route that includes the remarkable Guizay viewpoint.

A semi-urban route that follows part of the disused railway line connecting the mine shafts of Firminy and Roche-la-Molière. You will pass through two tunnels (bring a torch). Thesecond part takes you up to higher ground and the return journey is via the ridge road connecting Saint-Étienne to Firminy. Moderator's warning on 15/02/2021: private property issue in (1), see comments at the bottom of the page.

A walk at the gateway to the Pilat mountains to discover the Lac du Pas du Riot and two dams built under Napoleon III. This walk is easy, suitable for families and without difficulty. The hardest part is climbing the 52 steps of the dam.

This hike allows you to discover the infrastructure that supplies the city of Saint-Étienne with drinking water. The hydraulic structures were built mainly to prevent flooding in the mid-19th century during the Second Empire. A journey between a Canadian atmosphere, with the expanse of water and fir trees of the Riot dam, and the Great Wall of China with the ascents of the Gouffre d'Enfer dam. Mostly forest trails.

A very beautiful, easy circular alternating between forest paths, magnificent landscapes and breathtaking views of the Château de Rochetaillée, the Roche Corbière (117 m high) and the Pas du Riot (1878) and Gouffre d'Enfer (1866) dams, whose surroundings have been converted into a very pleasant relaxation area for the end of this walk.

The Gouffre d'Enfer dam is one of the most famous sites in the Rhône-Alpes region and a popular walk in the Saint-Étienne area. It was built in 1860 in the Furan valley, near Rochetaillé, and completed 17 years later by the Pas du Riot dam. We then continue along the dam trail to the Pont de Souvignet. The return journey takes us via Les Palais, Les Sagnes and La Croix de Givet before joining theGR®42to arrive at Le Plateau and Rochetaillé.

Thirteenth stage of the Way of St James. This stage begins the long descent towards Le Puy-en-Velay. After crossing the Pilat and the Vivarais, the Velay region will now accompany you for the next few stages. This route, just over 25 km long, is a tribute to nature, both in atmosphere and scenery.

A circular route that allows you to appreciate the Gorges de la Dunières. The paths are not always easy (unpaved, steep) but offer beautiful views of a place that is not very touristy and little known to the public. It is a place frequented by mushroom pickers, 4x4s, motorbikes and, in season, hunters.

Located on the outskirts of Saint-Étienne, on the border between the Loire and Haute-Loire departments, the Loire Gorges, a 4,000-hectare nature reserve, charms visitors with its peaceful wooded landscapes, remarkable flora and fauna, rocky outcrops, beautiful Lake Grangent, medieval castles and traditional villages.

The Maumarcha or the fantastic trail of northern Vivarais: over (more than) 1.2 km, behind a tree or a rock, you will encounter strange characters... let your imagination run wild and be amazed by the whimsical creations of nature... Then return via the Grand Felletin, where, according to the elders, it is possible to see the three suns at dawn, when the latter is reflected on Mont Blanc.