The Herrétang peat bog

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In Saint-Laurent-du-Pont, there is a 6 km flat walk along a wetland discovery trail.

Details

n°684649
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.58 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 10 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 10 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,316 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,299 ft
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Photos

Back to the lake
Flora of the Herretang Canal
Herrétang Canal
Herrétang peat bogs

Description of the walk

On leaving Saint-Laurent towards Saint-Joseph-de-Rivière. Follow the signs for Tourbière de l’Herrétang.
Park in the car park.

(S/E) Cross the bridge to enter the wetland. Head to the junction of the circular route.

(1) Turn left onto the path running alongside the marshes. Follow the D520.

(2) Turn 90° to reach the ‘Tourbières’ junction and the canal of the same name.

(3) Turn left, following the canal. Head towards the road and the sewage treatment works.

(4) Return via the other bank of the canal, crossing it via the concrete bridge just before reaching the fork.

(3) Continue along the canal to the Marais crossroads. Turn right and head for the junction where the circular route begins.

(1) Turn left and follow the route you took on the way out to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,306 ft - La Tourbière de l’Herrétang car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.09 - alt. 1,302 ft - Crossroads at the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 0.86 - alt. 1,302 ft - 90° bend
  4. 3 : mi 1.18 - alt. 1,302 ft - Canal junction - Herrétang (canal) - Affluent du Guiers
  5. 4 : mi 1.89 - alt. 1,306 ft - Wastewater treatment plant
  6. S/E : mi 3.58 - alt. 1,306 ft - La Tourbière de l’Herrétang car park

Notes

No difficulty. Flat terrain and accessible by pushchair. Dogs are not allowed.

Worth a visit

Numerous information boards explaining the history and wildlife of the peat bog. Aubrac cattle and Camargue horses in the marsh.
You can round off the outing with a walk up to the Notre-Dame du Château chapel in Saint-Laurent-du-Pont.
This remarkable site is, however, associated with a horrific event that took place on All Saints’ Day 1970, when the ‘5-7’ nightclub opposite was completely destroyed by fire, resulting in the deaths of 146 people. A memorial to the victims stands by the roadside, on the site of the nightclub.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
papou26200
papou26200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A really enjoyable and informative walk. I’d also recommend, once you reach point 4, continuing for 300 metres to the right to visit the tile works. For the return journey, it’s best to leave the cycle path at the first bridge on the right (the hamlet of Les Lards) to enjoy the two other viewing points located after point 3 and get a better chance of seeing the herds. Mid-March is a bit early to visit, but in a month’s time it will be very interesting. Thanks for the walk.

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Popouruchka
Popouruchka

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did the hike in winter, there weren't many people. The hike is nice and easy to do.

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JCParavy
JCParavy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Visited the Herrétang peat bogs on Sunday, after a rainy spell, with the surrounding peaks still shrouded in mist.
Variations from the guidebook starting from the lake after St Joseph-de-Rivière to reach the Herretang Canal and its greenway through the forest, following it for a long time before going around the marsh via the discovery trail. The boardwalk crossing takes us back to the canal through the most characteristic areas and, after visiting the birdwatching hides, the return journey follows the Canal de l'Herrétang again to the stadium before returning to the car.
The weather remained grey, and the fauna and flora are limited at this time of year (a few birds, ducks, frogs, etc.).
I'll add a few photos anyway.

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Fenneca
Fenneca

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 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 pleasant walk with viewing points over the peat bog. Everyone respects the peace and quiet of the place: it's very moving

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Michelgalle
Michelgalle

Very nice walk
Worth repeating.⁹

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Wg91
Wg91

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Part of it is located near the busy D520 road... and that's where you'll find facilities for taking a break or having a picnic. Otherwise, it's a very beautiful walk, very easy and well laid out (wooden walkways).
I can confirm that there are two observatories open to the public at the end of the route (facing the ponds, not on the extension of the mill).
One is only one storey high, allowing you to observe the flora and fauna up close. Posters about dragonfly families were pinned up in the observatory, which made it even more interesting.
The other, a little further away, has two floors, providing a more comprehensive view of the ponds.
(Note that there is another observatory near the road, but it is not open to the public).

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Cyrane
Cyrane

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Too bad it's too close to a busy road.

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A wonderful discovery of this peat bog, which also allows you to enjoy the many information panels about the flora and fauna of this protected area.

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fbarthelemy05
fbarthelemy05
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Clean and well-maintained trail.
Cormorants, grass snakes, dragonflies, Camargue horses and a variety of flora were all present.

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Mariefrez
Mariefrez

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The trail at the beginning, when it runs alongside the road leading to St Laurent du Pont, is a little uninteresting, but it soon veers inland and, with a little luck, you can see frogs and birds.
There are two observatories where you can watch birds on the ponds

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phbenech
phbenech

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb, flat walk in a well-maintained area.

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les A2
les A2

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Easy walk with children. Wildlife observation points along the route + information boards about marsh flora. It's a shame that hunters are allowed to walk within the perimeter, even though many more common restrictions are advertised.

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yssappey
yssappey

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Family walk with no elevation gain.
Don't hesitate to continue on to the old tile factory when you reach point 4. The tarmac road on the right will take you there directly. Signs explain the organisation and history of the tile factory.

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jidoto
jidoto

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice walk, quite busy, please note that dogs are not allowed, even on a lead (protected sensitive area)

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DECARSIN
DECARSIN

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely route through the ponds. Nice description.
March is too early in the year to see dragonflies, frogs, or other insects.
You need to go later in the year.
But it was very pleasant.

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