The Pointe du Cap Ferret on the ocean side, then on the lagoon side

A hike with alternating:
- Ocean-side beaches and blockhouses with attractive graffiti.
- Beaches on the Arcachon basin side with views of the Dune du Pyla and Arcachon.
- Forest trails.
- Explore 44 hectares featuring the most beautiful villas in the basin.
Numerous restaurants and oyster tasting spots, fishermen's huts.
Moderator's note added on 15/05/2021: Please note! Several route changes are necessary to avoid private property. See description

Details

n°4728282

Creation:
25 Jan 2021

Last update:
17 Dec 2023

Last review:
29 Sep 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 9.49 mi
Average duration: 4h 30
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 121 ft
Descent: - 102 ft
Highest point: 85 ft
Lowest point: 3 ft

Country: France
City: Lège-Cap-Ferret (33950|33970)
Start/End: N 44.660696° / W 1.240182°
IGN map(s): Ref. 1337ET
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Description of the walk

Departure from Plage des Américains, Allée des Loubines, Lège-Cap-Ferret. Parking available.

(S/E) Walk up Allée des Loubines towards the ocean. At the roundabout, take the forest track opposite (towards the ocean, heading west). After 50 metres, turn left, then 200 metres further on, turn right and head towards the ocean.

(1) When you reach the road, turn left onto Avenue de Bordeaux, then take Allée des Dunes on the right to continue along the forest track towards the ocean.

(2) Follow the beach towards Pointe du Cap Ferret for 2 km.

(3) Take the forest track towards the Bassin (heading east) until you reach a crossroads. Turn right and follow the track towards the Pointe (heading south) for about 2.5 km.

(4) Change: follow the track to point 5.
~~At the car park, head towards the beach, then turn left and follow the path towards the point~~.

(5) Turn left at the Croix des Marins, then turn right onto Avenue Ouest, then take Avenue Est (heading north) and follow it for 500 m.

(6) Turn right onto Allée du Bon Civet, continue onto Allée de la Grenouille on the left and quickly continue onto Avenue du Sémaphore.

(7) Take Allée de la Franchise on the left, then take Allée du Bel Ombrage, also on the left.

(8) At the fork, turn right onto Avenue des Cols Verts. Ignore Allée Bellevue on the right and continue right onto Allée des Pinsons.

(9) Turn right onto Avenue de la Lague. Turn right onto Allée Beausoleil, then turn right onto Avenue du Sémaphore and continue for 100 metres.

(10) Turn left onto Allée des Sauvagines and continue right onto Avenue du Tram.

(11) Turn left onto Allée de Traine. Turn left onto Allée du Flambeau towards the basin. Change: Then turn left to go directly to Avenue de la Conche.
Other change: At the Lavergne roundabout, it is impossible to follow the coastline as it is fenced off. Take the roundabout, then the path on the right and immediately another path on the right to reach the coastline.

~~Walk to the point along the stone dyke~~

(12) ~~Retrace your steps and walk along the coast on the Arcachon Bay side (heading north) for 2.5 km~~.

(13) Continue along Avenue de la Conche (heading north) for 1.5 km.

(14) Walk along the coast (heading north) to the pier and walk up the pedestrian street for 75 m.

(15) Turn right onto Allée de la Baignade 50 m on the right (heading north) for 300 m.

At Allée de la Dune Boisée, take the small path opposite to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 7 ft - Plage des Américains, Allée des Loubines
1 : mi 0.71 - alt. 16 ft - Avenue de Bordeaux
2 : mi 1.07 - alt. 49 ft - Ocean beach
3 : mi 2.36 - alt. 39 ft - End of the route on the beach
4 : mi 3.66 - alt. 26 ft - Access to the point on the beach side
5 : mi 4.22 - alt. 30 ft - Croix des Marins
6 : mi 4.59 - alt. 10 ft - Allée du Bon Civet
7 : mi 4.75 - alt. 7 ft - Allée de la Franchise
8 : mi 4.96 - alt. 13 ft - Avenue des Cols Verts
9 : mi 5.32 - alt. 13 ft - Avenue de la Lugue
10 : mi 5.73 - alt. 10 ft - Allée des Sauvagines
11 : mi 5.92 - alt. 10 ft - Allée de la Traine
12 : mi 6.3 - alt. 20 ft - Pointe du Cap Ferret
13 : mi 7.59 - alt. 10 ft - Avenue de la Conche
14 : mi 7.87 - alt. 13 ft - Coastal path.
15 : mi 9.21 - alt. 10 ft - Allée de la Baignade
S/E : mi 9.49 - alt. 7 ft - Plage des Américains, Allée des Loubines

Notes

Toilets at points (4) and (18).
Forest trails are not muddy.

Preferablyset off 2 hours before low tide.

Worth a visit

Numerous restaurants and oyster tasting opportunities.
View of the Banc D'Arguin, the Dune du Pyla, oyster farm.
Swimming in the ocean or pool.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5

Ease of following the route
3.9 / 5

Route interest
4.8 / 5

User 21112951

29 Sep 2025 at 11:56 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 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 hike with a lot of walking in the sand because at low tide, you can go anywhere except towards the tip of Cap Ferret (
when returning to the Bassin), which is off-limits.
A beautiful route for exploring this superb location

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User 26130332

16 Jun 2025 at 21:26 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

As a beginner hiker, I absolutely loved it

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User 2646080

02 Jun 2025 at 10:48 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant between the beach, forest and lakefront

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Rico89

21 Apr 2025 at 09:07 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk between two seas, but unfortunately the route has a few errors. It is not always possible to walk along the beach, so you have to go inland.

A pleasant family outing, but it should be noted that the long walks in the sand require a minimum level of physical fitness

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PSIM

15 Apr 2024 at 08:51 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike in April 2024. The moderate number of visitors and spring temperatures contributed to making this a very enjoyable hike, whether on the ocean side, the basin side or in the heart of the village. Apart from the route changes already mentioned, be careful at point 3 when leaving the beach, as it was difficult to navigate (steep slope). It is better to continue for a hundred metres and exit at the next point.

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jefplus

24 Oct 2023 at 09:33 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Do not forget to bring binoculars to admire the birds.

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sylvie33

02 Oct 2023 at 09:42 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A very beautiful hike – especially in summer when the weather is good!
Be careful not to try to push on to Cap Ferret, as it is impossible to walk back up the beach due to areas protected against erosion.

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Mofe

01 Feb 2022 at 17:08 3600 • Edited: 01 Feb 2022 at 18:00 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike: setting off at dawn (wearing five layers of clothing because it was -3°C) on the basin side at low tide (oyster beds, oyster farmers at work, colourful landscapes, light, atmosphere...) and arriving on the ocean side via the beach and its blockhouses.
A pleasant and interesting walk through the woods to discover this unique setting: you pass by large residences that you can just about make out...
Route downloaded to GPS - perfect and invaluable as there are no markings.
We recommend this route at this time of year!

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TISSOTY

01 Nov 2021 at 08:45 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that allows you to discover CAP FERRET. Unfortunately, the entire route is not accessible. Rockfill on the basin side of the shore prevents passage from point 11 to 12.

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salla64

08 Sep 2021 at 14:12 7200 • Edited: 08 Sep 2021 at 14:14 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very interesting walk. Beautiful views of both the ocean and the bay.
Worth doing again in autumn or spring, when it's not so hot.

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grandin

15 May 2021 at 19:35 7200

Thank you, yaku47, for these clarifications. I have added this information to the description

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yaku47

14 May 2021 at 18:04 7200 • Edited: 14 May 2021 at 18:05 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant route. Lots of walking on beaches. Nice little forest paths. Glad we did it. Good walk in sunny weather and cool temperatures. In summer, without wind, the heat must be difficult to bear.

However:

As already mentioned by other hikers, the path between 4 and 5 is not accessible due to a fence. Follow the forest track.

Waypoint 12: the point is private property, you cannot access it unless you are prepared to be questioned about your presence there.

At the Lavergne roundabout, it is impossible to follow the coastline as it is fenced off. Take the roundabout, turn right and then continue straight ahead. Take the path on the right to reach the coastline.

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Tsephei

29 Mar 2021 at 09:09 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike that I often do between the basin and the ocean (I start from Bélisaire). It's impossible to get lost. Yes, there has been no access to the Point for quite a few months, but you can take the path that passes between the "villas" a little further inland, then follow the road for a few metres to reach the point.

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FRED-3344

08 Mar 2021 at 17:58 3600

Good evening!
This hike is very similar to mine.
I live in the area and met a club that was hiking there.
So I wanted to see the route out of curiosity.
But I was born here and I know quite a few places and routes.
Best regards
FRED

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jocedan

08 Mar 2021 at 10:31 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

No access to the tip (point 12) Path closed by barriers.

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