The Plaine de Sorques and Marion des Roches

After a short climb up Mont Marion, you will skirt around the Plaine de Sorques, which is a sensitive natural area and a bird sanctuary.

Details

143679
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.46 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 43 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 45 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 95 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 50 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The car park is the Plaine de Sorques car park in Montigny-sur-Loing at the junction of the D148 and D104, towards Moret-sur-Loing, about 100 metres to the right.

(S) Exit the car park, cross the D104 and walk a few metres to the left.

(1) Take the path that veers to the right and enters the forest. At the first four-way intersection, turn left onto theGR®13B(red and white markings). The path crosses over the railway tracks and arrives at another four-way intersection. Turn left onto Chemin de Larchant in Moret.

(2) At the new crossroads, take the path furthest to the right (Route de Marion). This path climbs and then descends to a crossroads.

(3) Take Chemin du Long Rocher on the right, ignore a path on the left and continue to the next one.

(4) At this crossroads, turn left onto Route Rafflé and then right 50 metres further on. At thesecond crossroads, turn right onto Route de la Garenne de Gros Bois and follow it to the railway tracks. Continue along the path to the left, parallel to the railway tracks.

(5) Turn right and go through a tunnel under the railway tracks. At the exit, take the path slightly to the right for about 100 metres. At the end, turn left/right and you will be back on theGR®13B, Chemin de Montigny à Moret. At the first crossroads, turn left onto Route d'Écuelles. Cross the D104 and continue along the path to the end. Take thePR® on the right for about 200 metres.

(6) Turn left to enter the Sorques plain. Follow the path that turns right and runs alongside the Loing, following the yellow markings. Further on, enjoy the first viewing point.

(7) Then make a wide right turn and branch off to the right to reach the second observatory.

(8) Continue along the path for another 400 metres to reach the car park at the start /(S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 52 m - Plaine de Sorques car park in Montigny
  2. 1 : km 0.08 - alt. 53 m - : Path leading into the forest
  3. 2 : km 1.46 - alt. 80 m - Path on the right
  4. 3 : km 2.07 - alt. 82 m - Chemin du Long Rocher
  5. 4 : km 2.73 - alt. 82 m - Path on the left (Rafflé road)
  6. 5 : km 4.01 - alt. 65 m - Tunnel under the railway line
  7. 6 : km 5.47 - alt. 51 m - Plaine de Sorques
  8. 7 : km 6.36 - alt. 50 m - First observatory - Loing (le)
  9. 8 : km 7.97 - alt. 52 m - Second observatory
  10. S/E : km 8.46 - alt. 52 m - Plaine de Sorques car park in Montigny

Notes

This route is one of several proposed by the Seine-et-Marne General Council; this description is original.

The Plaine des Sorques is a sensitive natural area: dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.

Worth a visit

Plaine des Sorques, bird watching.

 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

4.7 / 5
Based on 19 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Nova’s team
Nova’s team

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk in the forest and then along the Loing river. We stopped for a picnic on a viewing bench. The walk is easy and easy to follow. There are a few bird watching hides. The weather was mild. Be careful if it is very hot, as several sections are exposed, so bring a hat and water.

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Sebastiensausset
Sebastiensausset

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, varied and secluded route, well done!

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hortensegagnot
hortensegagnot

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

As usual, the hike was very well detailed on Visorando. The map allows you to find your way back if you get lost. We did the hike at the end of June, but the weather was mixed. A little different from the usual hikes in Fontainebleau, with few rocks, but the sections in the undergrowth were very pleasant, and we really enjoyed the banks of the Loing and the bird observatories around the ponds. We encountered two wild boar piglets foraging in the dead leaves . There was hardly anyone on the paths. Highly recommended

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erictual
erictual

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike through woods, along the banks of the Loing River and past ponds. The wooded section is very quiet, but this changes once you reach the Loing River and the birdwatching spots.
However, this is not a problem. The signage is excellent.

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a28041960
a28041960

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful walk, one of the few where you walk along the Loing rather than the canal
No particular difficulties, well signposted, a little sunny, but very pleasant
Not many birds to observe at this time of year

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bob 77
bob 77

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike. Very little difficulty.
At the end of the hike, in the super nice bird sanctuary.

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eleona
eleona

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2009
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The forest section is not particularly interesting and, at this time of year, the grass is too high to fully enjoy the walk along the banks of the Loing. Furthermore, at point 4, after turning onto the Rafflé road, you have to wait for the fork 50 metres ahead to continue along the Rafflé road, which is the right-hand branch.
At point 5, you have to wait about 100 metres to turn right onto the Montigny à Moret path (you will then be overlooking the road on your left).

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Vivie58
Vivie58

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very well signposted hike
Very pleasant route with no difficulty or elevation gain
Beautiful scenery over the Sorques plain and interesting birdlife

We do it regularly for all these reasons

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62vero
62vero

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this enjoyable and easy-to-follow route. We completed it in 2 hours and 15 minutes without rushing.

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Laurent.Ga
Laurent.Ga

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A nice little hike at this time of year. No one on the first part (forest), a few walkers on the second (plain).
We completed this route in just under two hours without rushing.

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escargot820
escargot820

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Pleasant hike. Large crowds due to the lifting of lockdown restrictions!

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Hub92
Hub92

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We were lucky that the circuit was deserted during the holiday period.
It wasn't too difficult for my tired legs and two teenagers who aren't particularly athletic.
We set off for our first wildlife photo shoot and were spoiled.
A family of ducks with ducklings, swans brooding, lizards, insects, flowers...
A nature lesson with the children.
Of the two observation posts, one was empty but with no subjects nearby, while the other was almost full with photography professionals.
They weren't very talkative, except for one who talked to us about technique.
In short, it was a perfect first hike.

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marginier
marginier

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

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ovil
ovil

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

From point 6 onwards, at this time of year, in the afternoon, the path along the Loing is in full sun and the river offers no relief from the heat.
There are people with impressive camera equipment in the second observatory.

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boucles d'or
boucles d'or

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful walk with autumn colours. We got a little mixed up between points 4 and 5. We walked along the railway tracks a little faster than planned. But nothing dramatic. The Sorques plain is truly magnificent!

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