La Roche qui Tourne and Les Platières de Coquibus

A hike in a little-visited part of the Forêt des Trois Pignons, through several biological reserves. This varied route alternates between forest paths, trails that wind between rocks and open stretches on flat rock outcrops.
This hike requires a good sense of direction.

Details

256734
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.86 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 124 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 124 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 127 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 70 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the Feuillardière car park, along the D409 between Milly-la-Forêt and Arbonne-la-Forêt.

No signposts

(S/E) At the car park entrance, with your back to the road, head south onto Chemin de la Borne à l'Enfant (signposted "Promenade de Sucremont") and pass a sort of hollow on your right.

(1) About 150m after the starting point, turn right onto a path marked "Chemin de la Sapinière" on the 1:25,000 map (incorrect name, the path with a sign bearing this name is the next one, further south). Be careful here, as there are no signs and few landmarks (however, there is a shrub on the right-hand corner of the crossroads, with much taller pine trees behind it). Head west, staying on the main path, which is slightly higher than the surrounding area. At a fork (post with a yellow silhouette of hikers on the left), turn right. Ignore a vague path on the left (not shown on the map) and when a well-marked path comes from the left, turn right (north).

(2) Cross the D409 road (be careful, this road is busy). Continue opposite on Chemin de la Passée aux Moutons. Immediately cross a perpendicular path and continue north on a wide white track that winds through the forest. Ignore a path on the left and then another one on the right (forest plot no. 61, small rock).

Red and white markings

(3) At the next junction, join theGR®11coming from the right and continue straight ahead. Ignore the Chemin de la Vielle Grange and the Chemin de la Barrière Matéo on your left. Climb slightly up the path, which has now become paved.

(4) Just before reaching a small pass, turn left onto a path (be careful, the start is difficult to see; if you go downhill, turn back). Climb this winding path and pass a first summit covered with pine trees (viewpoint). Continue west and wind your way through the heather and then under the pine trees. Climb again through the heather and broom, with birch trees, many of which have been felled or pollarded (storm?). Pass a second summit (viewpoint) and continue west through very young trees. Pass a third summit covered with rocks. Descend gently with a slope littered with felled tree trunks on your right. When you reach a rocky ledge (beautiful view to the south), turn right under the pine trees. Descend with a few hairpin bends, then climb up opposite. At a fork, turn right and pass a small rocky outcrop. Then descend with steep hairpin bends.

(5) At the bottom, at the T-junction, turn right onto Chemin de Coquibus, an old gravel road that descends with a few bends and soon gives way to a sandy path.

(6) At the next junction, turn left onto Chemin de la Roche qui Tourne and follow it west-northwest for about 3 km, ignoring the side roads. Cross Chemin du Polissoir. At the three-way junction that follows (Carrefour des Côtes de Courances), turn right. At the next junction (plot no. 39), turn left. At the fork, turn right and continue on the main road until you reach the aqueduct (arcades).

No signposts

(7) Ignore the red and white arrow pointing left, continue straight ahead and pass under the aqueduct. Continue straight ahead (west; sandstone marker). Walk through the forest with a few rocks on either side. Pass the Carrefour de la Gorge aux Fauves, which is easier to spot by its sign than by any perpendicular path... At a fork shortly before reaching the edge of the forest (fenced plot with beehives on the right), turn left onto Chemin de Courances à Coquibus.

Yellow + red and white markings

(8) At the T-junction that follows shortly after, rejoin theGR®11and follow it to the left (south-east). At a fork, turn right and continue along the wide path, ignoring the paths branching off to the sides.

(9) At a triple fork (sign for "piste cavalière" on the left), leave the wide path, which becomes gravelly, and turn right onto a poorly marked trail. Climb up the switchbacks and reach the northern edge of a plateau (signposted "Réserve Biologique Dirigée"). Turn right and then gradually veer left to cross the plateau through the heather and rocks protruding from the ground. When you reach the southern edge of the plateau (viewpoint), turn left (east).

(10) At the crossroads (small hill covered with pine trees), turn right and descend between the rocks. At a sign for "Réserve Biologique Dirigée", continue straight ahead (sand). At a fork, take the left. Walk east-southeast on a narrow sandy path, surrounded by heather and birch trees, with rocks on your left. Continue up a sort of gorge. Pass some short posts across the path, come out onto a small road and follow it to the left.

No signposts

(11) At the crossroads, leave theGR® trail turning left towards the Ferme de Coquibus and continue straight ahead on the gravel path of the same name (east). At the Carrefour de la Réserve, continue straight ahead. You will then cross a narrower path (and the underground aqueduct). Just after a tree with five trunks on the right, ignore the Chemin du Parc aux Boeufs on the right. Continue on the main path which curves to the left (north-east). At a three-way junction (plot no. 50), turn right (east). After a right-hand bend in the path, you will come to a fork in open ground (plots no. 49 and no. 53).

(12) Leave the path on your left and turn right (south) onto Chemin du Raboliot. Walk again through a flat landscape with heather, birch trees and rocks protruding from the ground. Pass a pond on your left (the path may be wet here). At a marker on the left, turn right onto the path. At a fork (sign saying "Interdit aux cavaliers à droite" [No horse riding on the right]), turn left and note a sign saying "Zone sensible à l'érosion" [Erosion-sensitive area]. Continue straight ahead, still on Chemin du Raboliot, pass a chicane and arrive at a viewpoint (rock ledge). Then turn left onto a faint path that starts to the left of a small birch tree with a trunk leaning significantly to the left. Descend slightly on the path equipped with wooden steps.

(13) At the Carrefour des 4 Héros, turn left (east) onto a sandy path. Then descend under the pine trees, heading east-southeast. Pass a chicane (signposted "Chemin de la Barrière Matéo" on the right), come out at a hairpin bend onto a wider path and follow it to the right. Head east on a good path between plots no. 54 (on your left) and no. 56 (on your right), ignoring the paths branching off to the sides. At the junction with Chemin des Engoulevents coming from the left, continue straight ahead for a few metres.

(14) Just after a sign for "Chemin de la Barrière Matéo" on the left, turn right (south). At the next fork (large oak tree with the number 63), turn left (east-southeast). Ignore a track on the right immediately after a sign for "Chemin des Vieilles Granges" and, at the crossroads shortly after (elevation 70), turn right (south) onto Chemin du Chapeau de Napoléon. At a fork, turn left. After a right-hand bend in the road, at a crossroads, turn left onto Chemin de Milly à Arbonne. Head east-northeast, crossing two other roads, until you reach the crossroads you passed on the way there.

(3) Turn right onto Chemin de la Passée aux Moutons and easily rejoin the D409 road.

(2) Cross the road (take care) and continue straight ahead on Chemin de la Sapinière (you can't go wrong here), ignoring the faint tracks on either side. At the fork, take the less marked path on the left and ignore a faint track immediately on the right. At the next fork (signpost with a yellow silhouette of hikers), turn left. Continue east, ignoring the paths on either side.

(1) At the T-junction, turn left and quickly reach the Feuillardière car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 76 m - La Feuillardière car park
  2. 1 : km 0.17 - alt. 75 m - Chemin de la Sapinière
  3. 2 : km 0.78 - alt. 83 m - Route D409
  4. 3 : km 1.38 - alt. 71 m - Path from Milly to Arbonne - GR11
  5. 4 : km 2.03 - alt. 89 m - Trailhead on the left
  6. 5 : km 3.06 - alt. 103 m - Chemin de Coquibus
  7. 6 : km 3.35 - alt. 70 m - Route de la Roche qui Tourne
  8. 7 : km 5.33 - alt. 86 m - Aqueduct of La Vanne and Le Loing
  9. 8 : km 6.65 - alt. 74 m - T-junction - GR11
  10. 9 : km 7.02 - alt. 84 m - Triple fork
  11. 10 : km 7.5 - alt. 119 m - Crossroads
  12. 11 : km 8.26 - alt. 124 m - Carrefour du Coquibus
  13. 12 : km 9.9 - alt. 118 m - Chemin du Raboliot
  14. 13 : km 10.59 - alt. 112 m - Crossroads of the 4 Heroes
  15. 14 : km 11.3 - alt. 73 m - Start of the trail on the right
  16. S/E : km 13.86 - alt. 76 m - La Feuillardière car park

Notes

Hiking boots with good grip are necessary for some rocky sections. There are no water sources, so bring plenty of water with you.

A 1:25,000 map is essential (at least the one accompanying this description). A compass is useful. On several sections, whether marked or unmarked, a good sense of direction is required.

Markings and signage:
- At the various crossroads, the names of the paths are generally (but not always) indicated on a sign high up, which also shows the forest plot number.
- Between (4) and (5) and between (9) and (11), be vigilant in locating the markings, which are sparse, with a significant proportion of markers at ground level on outcropping rocks.
- On the other sections ofthe GR®11, the signposting is recent and very satisfactory.

Biological Reserves:
The route crosses several Managed Biological Reserves, which are indicated by signs at various points. Please follow the instructions: do not stray from the paths, keep dogs on a leash, pick no flowers, etc.

Variants:
- You can shorten the hike at the aqueduct (7): follow theGR®11to the left, reach the Carrefour de Coquibus (11) and follow the route again from there. This shortens the hike by about 2 km.
- You can also start from Milly-la-Forêt. From the D837 road, take the Chemin de Milly à Coquibus (GR®11) and park in the car park indicated on the map. Continue on foot along the old road until you reach the crossroads (11). When you reach the crossroads (3), do not go towards La Feuillardière but turn right onto theGR®11and follow the route as described at the beginning.

This hike was completed twice by the author, the first time on 6 May 2016 and the second on 11 June 2023.

Worth a visit

- The hike is mainly through forest with a variety of tree species.
- Beautiful views between (4) and (5), (9) and (10), and (12) and (13).
- Plateau landscapes between (9) and (10) and (12) and (13).
- Grotte de la Souris between (9) and (10).
- Marsh between (12) and (13).

 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

4.6 / 5
Based on 32 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 3854500
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk at sunrise. Some parts were pleasant, others more monotonous. We appreciated the tranquillity and the lack of crowds. The only slight downside for me was the noise of the road in the background, which detracted somewhat from the immersive experience of the walk. As for the app, nothing to say. It was flawless, and congratulations to the creators of this great hiking tool!

Machine-translated

User 21149944

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A somewhat monotonous circuit with long, straight paths. A shame in this forest with so many beautiful trails

Machine-translated

RANDOSAMEDI
RANDOSAMEDI

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in beautiful sunshine and magnificent light, a little muddy on the flat sections, but no problem.

Machine-translated

zebulon1961
zebulon1961

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A bit too many wide forest paths, which makes it feel a bit monotonous, but you pass through the lovely Coquibus clearing and some very pleasant trails. Perhaps best to do this walk in autumn when the colours add a different touch.

Machine-translated

DEBUT
DEBUT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful and enjoyable hike, completed in 4 hours. Beautiful colours at this time of year. Recommended. 🥾😁

Machine-translated

yanick.delain
yanick.delain

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a superb hike, thank you very much for sharing it with us

Machine-translated

Yann91
Yann91

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thanks for the outing idea.
The route can easily be adapted for those who want to do more or less.

Machine-translated

RaonLesLeau
RaonLesLeau

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very pleasant hike that allowed us to enjoy the autumn colours, varied landscapes and beautiful rocks. You need to pay attention to the route, as indicated in the description, and use GPS guidance. We saw very few people, even though it was a Saturday. Highly recommended!

Machine-translated

visogor
visogor

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Well described, easy to find. Nice walk, but not one to do again, too many forest paths (about 5 km, which is monotonous).
The trail section is pleasant with beautiful views. Absolute peace and quiet, no one around for four hours.

Machine-translated

visomerigot
visomerigot

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

very nice walk

Machine-translated

eltatio
eltatio

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hike done today... Very few people... Pleasant but a bit boring, as most of the route is along wide paths...

Machine-translated

bebeto21
bebeto21
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Clear description except for the section near the Coquibus farm
Very little elevation. It's more of a walk than a hike.
Took 3½ hours and I'm a fairly average walker
Only encountered 3 mountain bikers

Machine-translated

yves berteaud
yves berteaud

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike alternating between different types of vegetation and landscapes, open areas and forest.

We only encountered a few people (about ten), but it was a Monday.

Machine-translated

DWolff
DWolff

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Thank you for this beautiful hike, which we highly recommend.
One change: at point 8 of the itinerary, the GR 11 trail markers are no longer there. They have been replaced by yellow PR markers. Everything else is clear.

Machine-translated

zebulon1961
zebulon1961

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Apart from the 3 km of winding rocky path (a forest landscape found in many places in the Paris region), this hike is very pleasant and offers a variety of landscapes. It is best to do it in spring when the flowers are in bloom or in autumn for contrasting colours. There are a few steep climbs, some quiet passages, and the peace and quiet of nature. What more could you ask for?
Thanks to the author of this hike.

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.