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To reach the starting point, leave the Francilienne at Saint Thibault-les-Vignes and take the D10p towards Vaires-sur-Marne.
At the roundabout, head towards Noisiel and park at the first car park (S).
A/ Section common to all three routes
The car park is situated on the banks of a backwater of the Marne. Walk down to the riverbank and take the path heading westwards, downstream.
When you reach the main channel about a hundred metres further on (1), walk past a small wooden jetty and continue on to the footbridge spanning the entrance to the canal that feeds the hydraulic engines of the mill at the former chocolate factory (2).
A little further on, to the right of the weir, you’ll see the Vaires Leisure Centre on the opposite bank. Carry on and cross the mill’s outlet canal via the floating footbridge.
Turn right and head back up the path running alongside the Marne; you are now at one of the entrances to Noisiel Park.
As you continue your walk downstream, you’ll come to another floating footbridge (3), which takes you across the Marne into the Vaires Leisure Centre.
You can choose either to continue on one of the two main routes or to take the shorter route (8 km). If you choose the shorter route, cross the Marne and follow the rest of the guide in description E below.
For the other options, continue below.
B/ Section common to the 13 and 22 km routes
As you continue your walk, you will soon leave Noisiel Park and arrive at the banks of the Marne at Gournay-sur-Marne. Near the Champs footbridge, a canoeing and kayaking course has been set up and you can sometimes see people training there.
At the Gournay Bridge (4), you must choose between the long route and the 13km route.
If you choose the latter, cross the Marne and refer to description D below for details of the remainder of the 13km route.
Otherwise, stay on this bank and carry on.
C/ 22 km route
Pass by Gournay-sur-Marne Town Hall, which is a 17th-century château, then proceed to the foot of the Chetivet Bridge (a footbridge for pedestrians and cyclists with a spiral ramp).
Follow the river’s wide circular bend, skirt the small marina at Neuilly on the opposite bank and pass under the Neuilly Bridge (5).
Immediately afterwards, turn left to head up to the N370 (Route de Neuilly). Turn left, cross the bridge, then continue to the pedestrian crossing (6), cross the N370 to the right and turn into Rue de l’Amiral Courbet.
Turn right onto Boulevard Maurice Berteaux to reach the banks of the Marne and, once there, turn left.
From here onwards, the walk follows the Marne upstream.
At the lock (7), cross the bridge over the canal and continue left along the towpath to the entrance to the Haute-Ile Departmental Park (8).
Once inside the park, it’s best to take the path on the right, which is more pleasant than the long straight stretch running parallel to the canal.
Covered picnic tables are dotted along the route (they’re a real bonus on rainy days).
The path passes close to birdwatching spots where birds come to nest in the ponds during the breeding season.
At the northern end of the park, the exit is via a bridge crossing the canal. Cross the car park and turn right onto the D934.
Shortly afterwards, turn right onto Rue du Chetivet (9), situated 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 follow the outbound route in the opposite direction as far as the Gournay Bridge (4). Cross the bridge to cross the Marne again, then turn right and head down the path along the riverbank.
D/ Section common to the 13 km and 22 km routes
Once you’ve joined the riverside path, follow the river and pass under an arch in the ruins of the Moulin de Chelles (11). Continue to the entrance to the Vaires Leisure Centre (12).
E/ End common to all three routes
Take the path that follows the southern bank of the lake. This is preferable to the one on the northern bank, which is a straight, monotonous tarmac road.
Towards the far end of the lake, you’ll cross the spillway embankment, which is used in the event of the Marne rising. The water sports centre acts as a retention basin during major floods of the Marne to limit the impact downstream.
When you reach the end of the spillway embankment, turn right onto the path that runs alongside the Marne and follow it to the bridge (13). Pass under the bridge and turn left onto a path that leads up to road level.
Turn left through a 180°, cross the bridge and turn immediately left onto the small road leading down to the river (14).
Turn left to go under the bridge and return to the car park at the starting point.
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Very difficult 
Difficult 
