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To get to the starting point, exit the Francilienne motorway at Saint Thibault-les-Vignes and take the D10p towards Vaires-sur-Marne.
At the roundabout, head towards Noisiel and park in the first car park (S).
A/ Section common to all three routes
The car park is located on the banks of a backwater of the Marne. Approach the riverbank and take the path westwards downstream.
When you reach the main channel a hundred metres further on (1), pass by a small wooden pontoon and continue to the footbridge that spans the entrance to the canal supplying the hydraulic motors of the old chocolate factory's mill (2).
A little further on, to the right of the dam, you will see the Vaires Leisure Centre on the other bank. Continue and cross the mill's outlet canal via the floating footbridge.
Turn right and walk up the path alongside the Marne; you are now at one of the entrances to Noisiel Park.
Continuing your journey downstream, you will come to another floating footbridge (3), which allows you to cross the Marne and enter the Vaires Leisure Centre.
You can choose to continue on either of the two long routes or take the shorter one (8 km). In the latter case, cross the Marne and read the rest of the guide in description E below.
For other cases, continue below.
B/ Section common to the 13 km and 22 km routes
As you continue your walk, you will soon leave Noisiel Park and arrive at the banks of Gournay-sur-Marne. Near the Champs footbridge, a canoe and kayak course has been set up and you can sometimes see people training there.
At the Pont de Gournay (4), you must choose between the long route and the 13 km route.
If you choose the latter, cross the Marne and read the description of the rest of the 13 km route in description D below.
Otherwise, stay on this bank and continue.
C/ 22 km route
Pass by the Town Hall of Gournay-sur-Marne, which is a 17th-century château, then at the foot of the Chetivet bridge (footbridge for pedestrians and cyclists with spiral access).
Follow the wide circular bend in the river, walk along the small marina of Neuilly on the other bank and pass under the Neuilly bridge (5).
Immediately afterwards, turn left to climb up to the N370 (Route de Neuilly). Turn left, cross the bridge and continue to the pedestrian crossing (6), cross the N370 to the right and enter Rue de l'Amiral Courbet.
Turn right onto Boulevard Maurice Berteaux to reach the banks of the Marne and, once there, turn left.
From this point onwards, the walk follows the Marne upstream.
At the lock (7), cross the bridge over the canal and continue left along the towpath until you reach the entrance to the Haute-Ile Departmental Park (8).
Once in the park, it is best to take the path on the right, which is more pleasant than the long straight path parallel to the canal.
Covered picnic tables are placed at intervals (which are appreciated on rainy days).
The path passes close to observation posts for birds that nest in the ponds during the season.
At the northern end of the park, the exit is via a bridge over the canal. Cross the car park and turn right onto the D934.
Shortly afterwards, turn right onto Rue du Chetivet (9), located between the "Point P" and "Lapeyre" shops, and use the Chetivet bridge to cross the canal and then the Marne.
As soon as you reach the riverbank (10), turn left to take the outward route in the opposite direction to the Gournay bridge (4). Cross the Marne again, then turn right and go down the path along the riverbank.
D/ Section common to the 13 and 22 km routes
After reaching the path along the water's edge, follow the river and pass under an archway in the ruins of the Moulin de Chelles (11). Continue to the entrance of the Vaires Leisure Centre (12).
E/ End common to all three routes
Take the path that follows the southern bank of the lake. It is preferable to the northern bank, which is a straight and monotonous tarmac road.
Towards the end of the lake, you will cross the spillway dam, which is useful in the event of flooding of the Marne. The water sports centre serves as a retention basin during major floods of the Marne to limit the consequences downstream.
When you reach the end of the spillway dyke, turn right onto the path that runs alongside the Marne and follow it to the bridge (13). Go under the bridge and turn left onto a path that leads up to the road.
Turn left 180°, cross the bridge and immediately turn left onto the small road that descends to the river (14).
Turn left to pass under the bridge and return to the car park at the starting point.
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