The Mountain of Parves

Parves and a few other villages are nestled between the old Rhône and the canal (actually the canalised Rhône): you could say that this area forms an island. The suggested walk takes place at low altitude through woods, forests, agricultural landscapes, villages and hamlets that have preserved or enhanced the typical buildings of the Bugey region. There is also a beautiful view of the Savoyard foothills.

Details

164008
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.22 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 405 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 397 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 600 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 250 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park along the D107 road leading from Parves to Belley, near a viewpoint over the Rhône. Parking spaces are limited.

(S) Head west and follow this road for 80 metres.

(1) Then turn left onto a path that is also a fitness trail. Stay on this trail and follow the path or track towards Montpellaz (there are occasional signposts).

(2) Before Montpellaz, turn right and follow a narrow path (not shown on the IGN map) that winds through the woods. Continue until you reach the Croix Sainte-Anne.

(3). Continue south to reach the paragliding take-off area at the edge of the cliff. Continue south again and reach a viewpoint, follow the path on the left and come out onto a track.

(4) Then turn left and join the road. Follow it to the right towards the village of Parves, cross it after cutting across the D107b (pass the school and the town hall) and head towards the hamlet of Sorbier.

In the hamlet, turn left at the second crossroads.

(5) Then pass a communal oven and, at the next fork, turn right towards Grand Ecrivieu for a long descent.

(6) Turn right towards Grand Ecrivieu for a long descent. When you reach the hamlet, turn left, pass a covered wash house and leave via the road that climbs uphill.

(7). Follow the road to the left, then take the path on the right at the next intersection and descend towards Le Rhône

(8). Go back and turn right.

(9) Go up a wet path to an intersection.

::10: Turn left (yellow signpost), continue along the Ruty woods until you reach a road, then follow it to the crossroads.

(11). Then turn right, then right again.

(12) Return to the D107, which will take you to the car park at the viewpoint (E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 458 m - Car park at the viewpoint
  2. 1 : km 0.09 - alt. 452 m - Towards the fitness trail.
  3. 2 : km 1.17 - alt. 540 m - Head towards the Sainte Anne cross
  4. 3 : km 1.58 - alt. 583 m - Sainte-Anne Cross
  5. 4 : km 2.57 - alt. 565 m - Take the track on the left.
  6. 5 : km 4.61 - alt. 464 m - In Sorbier, turn left.
  7. 6 : km 4.84 - alt. 467 m - Head towards Grand Ecrivieu
  8. 7 : km 6.55 - alt. 307 m - After the wash house, go up to the left
  9. 8 : km 7.58 - alt. 250 m - View of the Rhône
  10. 9 : km 7.69 - alt. 256 m - Wet path
  11. 10 : km 8.37 - alt. 358 m - Turn right, follow the yellow signs
  12. 11 : km 9.73 - alt. 473 m - Turn right
  13. 12 : km 10.24 - alt. 497 m - Rejoin the D107
  14. S/E : km 11.22 - alt. 459 m - Car park at the viewpoint

Notes

Toilets in Parves.
Water at the Grand Ecrivieu wash house.

Worth a visit

Vineyards and wine cellars in Massignieu-de-Rives.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 31 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
gentiane73
gentiane73

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk that passes through the charming village of Parves. Be careful in wet weather as some sections are muddy and therefore slippery. We carried on to the small harbour at the Lit du Roi car park for a snack break.
There are picnic tables and a lovely view of the Rhône, accompanied by plenty of birds.

Machine-translated

Bernard Fa
Bernard Fa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike today
Description accurate
A beautiful route starting at point 9 for parking and beginning with the descent.
No difficulty, you can change route at times and still find your way back to the trail.
11 people left the car park at 10 a.m
Everyone enjoyed the walk
Very beautiful landscapes and views
Thanks to the Bisserains

Machine-translated

opsalys
opsalys
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, easy walk. Like some others, I started from the car park near the Lit au Roi bridge (a shaded car park with spaces available) and began with the uphill section in the shade of the trees. Beautiful paths, lovely views, a few hamlets and some peaceful tarmac roads.

Machine-translated

phdorando
phdorando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike on a sunny Sunday in spring. Balconies overlooking the Rhône and Belley. A varied route through woods and fields, along paths and quiet roads, except at the end. You can avoid walking on the main road by cutting across the fields. Well marked and easy going.
The signs are clear, so it's hard to get lost.

Machine-translated

mariethe.
mariethe.

Completed on 24 March 2024
Very beautiful hike
Be careful of slippery conditions in wet weather

Machine-translated

Jp9374
Jp9374

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike with beautiful views. It may indeed be better to start from the car park near the Rhône canal bridge for two reasons:
There is space to park
The elevation gain is at the start, which is always better than at the end of the hike

Machine-translated

vincent D
vincent D

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route that passes through three main viewpoints overlooking the Rhône or Lake Lit au Roi and three hamlets... One section is on the road, particularly the part leading to the communal oven, which is unfortunately unavoidable, but it's not too long... At point 7, it's essential to head down towards the Rhône!

Machine-translated

souchon maryse
souchon maryse

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

we do this hike once a year because it's not far from where we live. We did it on 7 February 2023. It was cold early in the morning but the weather was nice later on. It was a very beautiful walk, very well signposted. Even the path to the St Anne's Cross has a sign, so there's no reason to get lost. I'd like to say thank you again to Bisserain 73

Machine-translated

michelbi38
michelbi38
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, varied landscapes with small traditional hamlets and beautiful views.
Excellent description and signposting.
I can confirm that it is much better to start from the car park opposite the bridge (landmark 9), as the elevation gain is at the start.

Machine-translated

roland.
roland.

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful hike, often shaded. It is a little difficult to find the path leading to the Saint Anne cross.

Machine-translated

Mouna73
Mouna73

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very well signposted route. Varied landscapes along the way.
Completed in just 4 hours, including a lunch break.

Machine-translated

lepinsoncelliste
lepinsoncelliste

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

the loop is interesting, but it's much better to start from the car park opposite the bridge, as this means you have the entire climb at the beginning of the hike, rather than three quarters of it at the end, as suggested. What's more, it's a large car park with space for more than a dozen cars

Machine-translated

malassia
malassia

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A gentle and pleasant walk to spend some peaceful time in nature without worrying about a thing

Machine-translated

alouette74
alouette74

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful walk through a pretty village.

Machine-translated

alain 73
alain 73

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A very beautiful hike in magnificent weather with plenty of sunshine and, above all, no vegetation, which allowed us to enjoy the superb views

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.