La Balme-les-Grottes walks

This is a fairly easy hike along the northern edge of the Isle Crémieu plateau, through fields, pleasant villages and a few wooded areas.

A little path that smells of hazelnuts... This pleasant, easy trail takes you through the charming little village of Parmilieu, a land of stone, quarries and traditional stone houses.

A very pleasant trail from Saint-Sorlin-en-Bugey leads first to the old village of Souclin and then to the Roche de l'Église, which overlooks it. This hike will appeal to lovers of old stones: old villages and paths often lined with timeless stone walls. This route has few paved roads and offers many panoramic views of the Rhône between Bouvesse and Vertrieu, the north of the Isère and, in good weather, even Lyon.

Starting from the beautiful village of Saint-Sorlin-en-Bugey, we reach the Rhône via the châteaux of Molard and La Durandière, follow the ViaRhôna, pass by the proud ruins of the dovecote of the former medieval leprosarium, then cross the public park of Lagnieu to return to our starting point along the old railway line, which has been converted into a footpath.

From Lagnieu, climb up to the Croix de Bramafan to discover a wide panorama of the Rhône plain, the Ain plain, Île Crémieu and, on a clear day, as far as Lyon. A very pleasant hike on well-shaded forest paths and trails.

A shaded trail that takes you through the Gorges de Verbois, very pleasant in hot weather, and past some typical buildings.

This circuit takes us from the village of Hières-sur-Amby at the foot of the cliff to the archaeological site of Larina on the cliff. It offers panoramic views of the Pilat Massif, the Monts du Lyonnais, the plains of Lyon and the Ain, and the foothills of the Bugey.

A walk in a natural environment where you can observe a wide variety of wildlife, including European pond turtles at the Lemps pond. This hike can be done in late October or early November, when you can admire the beautiful autumn colours of the bald cypress trees at the Surbaix pond next to the La Roche waterfall.

A circular route around the small village of Soudon, best done on a sunny day as the route is almost entirely through woodland. A pleasant hike in warm weather but best avoided in the rain as some steep sections will be difficult to negotiate.

There are many ways to get to the Croix de Bramefan. This route is unique in that it first takes you along the ridge north of Vaux and, after crossing the Buizin stream, returns via the Bramefan ridge. Almost the entire route is through woodland. The "medium" rating for this hike is justified by the fact that the start of the route is all uphill and there are numerous crossroads that could lead you astray.

This hike through the woods follows sections of the GR®59, PR® and unmarked trails. It will take you to the Croix de Bramafan and its viewpoint, the pools and waterfall of Le Buizin, and the Chapelle de Nièvre. It will also take you through the beautiful village of Vaux-en-Bugey, which is crossed by the Buizin.

From medieval Vernas to ancient Larina and back via the limestone plateau to the Chapelle des Aviateurs (a memorial to two plane crashes), return to the Middle Ages via the fishpond at the Château Delphinal de Vernas.

Cleyzieu is a charming village in the Bugey region. This easy hike offers several viewpoints. It passes through both woodland and open areas.

Perfect for hot days as it is very shady under beautiful high-altitude coniferous and deciduous forests (between 625 and 920 metres above sea level), on trails and good forest paths through the beautiful landscapes of the Bugey, offering a wide panorama of the cliff. In autumn, you can pick blackberries, hazelnuts and walnuts along the way.

This hike offers a good route on the Cleyzieu plateau, starting from Montferrand (Torcieu). The main difficulty is the climb to the Grottes du Crochet, where caution is advised in wet weather (walking sticks recommended). Given the length of the route, the hike has been classified as difficult.

This is a very pleasant circular walk starting from the pretty village of Vernas, which takes you along attractive paths and trails, often shaded by trees, to the Plateau des Aviateurs, where a military aircraft crashed in 1944 and another in 1969. A small chapel, commemorative plaques and a sign commemorate these events. Wide panoramic views of the Rhône plains and the Alps in the distance can be enjoyed throughout the walk.

This hike will take you to both sides of the massif between Torcieu and Saint-Denis-en-Bugey. Enjoy beautiful views of the region, the Monts du Lyonnais, the vineyards of Vaux-en-Bugey, the ridges of the Albarine Valley and a passage through the pretty village of Ambutrix, not to mention the start of the Saint-Denis tower, which offers a panoramic view of the region.

An easy walk that is part of a 30 km route linking 4 medieval castles (the Circuit des 4 Châteaux).

This shaded trail leads to the top of the cliff at the Leyrieu Chapel and offers superb views of the Lyon plains and the Pilat massif. On a clear day, you can see the Alps and the Vercors massif.

A beautiful, relatively easy walk along roads and paths, allowing you to discover the flora, fauna and habitat of this regional nature reserve. No major difficulties apart from a steady climb in the middle of the route. A review dated 17/04/23 indicates that a section is now private (6), but it is possible that the marked trail has been diverted or that the hiker was unable to find the path due to construction work. We would appreciate it if anyone passing through the area could confirm or deny this.