La Dame Océane and the Prés Salés as seen from Arès

A circular route in Arès via La Tour, La Dame Océane and the oyster port, followed by a walk through the Prés Salés.

⚠️ Dogs and bicycles are prohibited within the Prés Salés Nature Reserve in Arès and Lège-Cap Ferret.

Details

20435313
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.21 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 10 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 10 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 23 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 7 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Gironde (33)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 44.767613° / W 1.139829°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1337ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking is available in the car park on Place de l’Église.

(S/E) Leave Place de l’Église via Avenue de la Plage and follow it straight on until you reach the Tour d’Arès (mill).

(1) Cross Avenue le Goéland and turn right onto Place du Port towards the footpath, then take the path on the right.

(2) Follow this path along the seafront to the Stèle de la Dame de l’Océan, situated at the entrance to the oyster port.

(3) Turn right to walk past the oyster huts towards Rue du Port Ostréicole. At the end, turn left then right onto the Sentier des Prés Salés.

(4) Follow the path alongside the old fish tanks.

(5) Take the footbridge over the Canal des Étangs. Follow the signposts without leaving the path through the Prés Salés. At the fork, turn right towards the north and join the cycle path alongside the D106 at a roundabout.

(6) Cross the D106 to stay on the cycle path on the right, cross the Canal des Étangs via the bridge and continue for a further 200 m.

(7) Then pass under the D106 bridge. Take care under the bridge, as some sections are damaged. Follow the path through the forest.

(8) At the next junction, turn left onto the path, leaving the PR® ahead of you. Follow the Ruisseau de la Machotte stream until you reach a road.

(9) Follow the Route des Abberts to the right for about 200 m, before taking a path on the left which leads to the Avenue du Général de Gaulle (D3). Follow it to the right until you reach a roundabout.

(9) Turn left to cross it and turn right onto Rue des Chanterelles, walking along the Piste des Chanterelles until you reach Rue Brémontier.

(11) Cross the road and take the street opposite towards the water tower. At the end of this street, turn right towards Place de la Victoire, passing the fire station.

(12) Join Avenue de Bordeaux and follow it to the right until you reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 16 ft - Car park at Place de l’ - Église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul (Arès)
  2. 1 : mi 0.44 - alt. 13 ft - The Tower of Arès (Mill)
  3. 2 : mi 1 - alt. 13 ft - Towards the memorial stone
  4. 3 : mi 1.04 - alt. 13 ft - Memorial stone - La Dame de Océane (Arès)
  5. 4 : mi 1.28 - alt. 10 ft - Sentier des Prés Salés
  6. 5 : mi 1.93 - alt. 10 ft - Footbridge over the Canal des Étangs
  7. 6 : mi 2.5 - alt. 13 ft - Roundabout. D106. Cycle path
  8. 7 : mi 3.03 - alt. 16 ft - Passage under the D106
  9. 8 : mi 3.34 - alt. 13 ft - Path. Ruisseau de la Machotte
  10. 9 : mi 3.77 - alt. 16 ft - Route des Abberts
  11. 10 : mi 4.35 - alt. 20 ft - Roundabout. Rue des Chanterelles
  12. 11 : mi 4.92 - alt. 20 ft - Water tower. Place de la Victoire
  13. 12 : mi 5.05 - alt. 20 ft - Avenue de Bordeaux
  14. S/E : mi 5.21 - alt. 16 ft - Car park at Place de l’ - Église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul (Arès)

Notes

The Piste des Chanterelles is the cycle path on Rue des Chanterelles.
The fire station is located on Place de la Victoire.
There are toilets on Place du Port.

The Nature Reserve is open to the public, subject to a traffic plan set out as part of the site management plan, and going off the designated paths is an offence punishable by a fine.

Dogs and bicycles are also prohibited on the site.

Worth a visit

On Place du Port you will find the Tower and the Ovniport d’Arès.
(3) Stele of Dame Océane – Oyster tasting at the oyster port.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 27 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 27981684

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This is a beautiful route through the salt marshes of Arès. It is essential to check the tide times and coefficients before setting out on this trail, as the water level can rise quickly and flood the paths. The route is well signposted. In the event of an orange weather alert, do not attempt the route.

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User 28239396

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very nice walk

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User 15129198

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A superb 7 km walk..

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Pomar
Pomar

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The site is very popular on Sundays when the weather is good, especially the first part before the salt marsh nature reserve.
At point 4, the footbridge over the canal is now open to the public.

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User 10212088

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb walk along the GR trail around the Arcachon basin.
Be sure to wear walking shoes and canvas trousers. There are lots of brambles and the path is uneven due to fallen trees.
The oyster huts are an added bonus. You can enjoy tasting oysters or prawns with a glass of white wine. The view from the statue (see description) is magnificent.

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User 12273831

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, everyone,
A very pleasant hike for a girls' day out. The sun was shining, it was a moment of pure happiness, sharing with the rich flora and fauna of this season.
Please note: blue zone parking is available in the church car park.
See you soon for another outing.

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Danièle Quillet
Danièle Quillet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy and quiet, but the part in the forest was blocked off

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User 9658225

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike in an unusual and peaceful location. Plus, I had the sound of cicadas singing. I highly recommend it.

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Marteau
Marteau

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The heavy rain over the last few days had made some sections a little muddy.
The route was a little short as the circular from point 5 was not accessible, so to extend the hike a little, we set off from St Brice beach in Arès (near the hospital)

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MarieJean91
MarieJean91

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

At point 5, there is a small route located in a restricted area.
I believe it should be removed or prohibited, as it has no place there.

Kind regards.

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jcpac
jcpac

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please note that the circular loop number 5, which seemed to be the most popular according to other comments, is closed. This shortens the walk.
Otherwise, it's a pleasant walk back to the centre of Ares.

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Tigram
Tigram

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike in an area rich in flora and fauna. Our binoculars came in handy. We enjoyed the little circular after point 5, where we had a picnic at the end of the headland, on the sand (canal beach), which was very peaceful and romantic. There was a slight difficulty in completing the circular in the indicated direction due to the path through the marsh, but after a short detour we found our way back to the end of the circular. Parking at the church at the start was no problem at all!
We also had no trouble following the stream on the right side with the GPS.

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Cris33
Cris33

Part of this hike takes place in the Arès Lège Cap Ferret Salt Marshes National Nature Reserve. Depending on the season, the flora and fauna you encounter will vary. The reserve is home to protected species. Visitors are therefore required to follow certain rules, including staying on the paths and not bringing dogs.

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Randopuy
Randopuy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with no difficulty whatsoever.

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pcout33
pcout33

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We had no trouble parking, but we parked in front of the sports hall near the route as a precaution. We enjoyed this very pleasant hike in the sunshine. The route from point 6 onwards was no problem for us, but we had great difficulty with the circular loop 5 and gave up.

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