The Maguenay viewpoint circular tour from Lac d’Ilay

Discover Saut Girard (the highest point of the Cascades du Hérisson), lakes, viewpoints and the Cairns trail.

Details

64361961
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.07 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,378 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,355 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,241 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,398 ft

Description of the walk

Lac d’Ilay car park, at the south-western tip of the lake.

(S/E) Cross the road and take the path opposite towards the Fromagerie, continuing straight on. At the first houses, turn left. Cross the road.

(1) Walk past the “tourist” buildings, then continue for about a hundred metres. Take the path on the left towards Saut Girard. Pass a junction and cross the bridge.

(2) Turn slightly left and follow the track up to the car park. Walk carefully along the D75 on the right to reach the 776m mark.

(3) Cross the D678 carefully, heading left, then turn sharply right onto the track heading south-south-west until you reach its end at the junction with a road.

(4) Turn left onto the D75E1 towards the Abbey, pass by the oratory and follow the lake for 300 m.

(5) Leave the road and take the stony path (GR®559) to the next junction at Maguenay.

(6) Leave the GR® and head left towards the Maguenay viewpoint.

(7) Walk back down a few metres and look for the faintly marked path opposite. Follow this track, east, north then east, until you reach a T-junction.

(8) Follow a track to the left (north). Then head east-northeast until you reach a T-junction.

(9) Turn left onto the Route Forestière de Maguenay. Stay on this forest track and ignore all side paths.

(10) Just before the first houses, turn left onto the Sentier des Cairns. Walk north-northeast along this path, which is marked by numerous cairns.

(11) At the crossroads, take the second path on the left (north-north-west). Then turn right (north-east) and climb to the highest point of the walk and its remarkable tree.

(12) Continue north-east and head back down.

(13) At a fork, take the path on the right. Then make a wide right-hand bend and arrive at a junction.

(14) Turn left and leave the Sentier des Cairns. Cross the D678 and take a narrow staircase opposite. Climb up to the statue of the Virgin Mary.

(15) Turn left and head north.

(16) You’ll come out onto a small road (C1) and follow it to the right for about fifty metres. Just after the first car park, turn left to reach a second car park.

(17) Take the path towards the Pic de l'Aigle (west-north-west). Ignore the paths branching off to the left and continue to a junction on a platform.

(18) Continue straight on to reach the summit and the orientation table.

(19) Retrace your steps back to the platform.

(18) Head back down the path you came up via to the car park.

(16) Reach the D678, turn right, taking care, for about sixty metres and take the track on the right to the point (altitude 882).

(20) Follow the GR®559A (red and white markings). Ignore a path coming from the left (elevation 833). As you come out of the bend to the right, leave the main path and turn left onto the GR®.

(21) Cross the D39 with care and continue along the path opposite. Shortly afterwards, cross the D39 again. Walk along the road on your left and arrive at the Chapelle d'Ilay.

(22) Then leave the main road and take a small road on the right. At the next junction, turn left onto Chemin du Lac. Walk along the lake on your right and you will soon reach the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,543 ft - Car park at - Lac de la Motte ou d'Ilay
  2. 1 : mi 0.42 - alt. 2,533 ft - La Fromagerie - Crossing the D39. Towards the - Saut Girard
  3. 2 : mi 0.93 - alt. 2,402 ft - Saut Girard - Hérisson (rivière) - Affluent de l'Ain
  4. 3 : mi 1.41 - alt. 2,546 ft - D678 road
  5. 4 : mi 2.42 - alt. 2,608 ft - D75E1 road
  6. 5 : mi 2.98 - alt. 2,635 ft - Lac de Bonlieu
  7. 6 : mi 3.63 - alt. 3,133 ft - Maguenay
  8. 7 : mi 3.75 - alt. 3,212 ft - Belvédère de Maguenay
  9. 8 : mi 3.98 - alt. 3,166 ft - T-junction
  10. 9 : mi 4.43 - alt. 3,163 ft - T-junction
  11. 10 : mi 5.39 - alt. 2,999 ft - Sentier des Cairns
  12. 11 : mi 5.87 - alt. 3,031 ft - Crossroads
  13. 12 : mi 6.1 - alt. 3,123 ft - Highest point of the hike
  14. 13 : mi 6.38 - alt. 3,025 ft - Fourche
  15. 14 : mi 6.64 - alt. 2,969 ft - Junction towards the quarry
  16. 15 : mi 6.78 - alt. 2,963 ft - Statue of the Virgin Mary
  17. 16 : mi 6.88 - alt. 2,930 ft - Route C1
  18. 17 : mi 6.98 - alt. 2,953 ft - Pic de l'Aigle car park
  19. 18 : mi 7.25 - alt. 3,077 ft - Crossroads
  20. 19 : mi 7.34 - alt. 3,241 ft - Pic de l'Aigle (994 m)
  21. 20 : mi 8.04 - alt. 2,815 ft - GR 559 A- EJ
  22. 21 : mi 8.43 - alt. 2,664 ft - Crossing the D39
  23. 22 : mi 8.73 - alt. 2,549 ft - Saint-Vincent Chapel (Ilay)
  24. S/E : mi 9.07 - alt. 2,539 ft - Car park at - Lac de la Motte ou d'Ilay

Notes

The small car park by the lake can get very busy. You should consider parking near the Fromagerie.

This whole area is very crowded during the summer. I recommend this hike at another time of year.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

Must-see sights: Hérisson Waterfalls, numerous lakes.

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

4.8 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
favrebrunj
favrebrunj

Hello
Thank you for your comment... and the information regarding the removal from the network
You’re right, that particular section is very tricky. I’ll take action and amend the description and route, especially as it’s no trouble at all and it’s easy to do.
Kind regards

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OT Haut-Jura Grandvaux
OT Haut-Jura Grandvaux

Hello
Between points 18 and 20, the path is slippery and has been removed from the hiking network.
We advise you to follow the markings and signposts in place (passing via the car parks at the peak and the signpost marked ‘ND la pitié’).
Is it possible to adjust the route accordingly?
Kind regards
The Tourist Office and the Community of Communes

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User 15255801

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent route, though a little tricky at the top of the hill leading up from Lake Bonlieu, after the junction heading towards Prénovel and the Maguenay viewpoint, due to forestry work and a fenced-off survey area.
Stunning, with the cairn trail and its superb views and route.
Very few people

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User 6922124

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike, not very busy that day in my opinion, given the late start time of 3 p.m.
The route descriptions are important so that you don't end up on the road but take the path alongside it, which is much safer!
The Pic de l'Aigle is simply magnificent, and the cairn trail is excellent. I loved this hike and highly recommend it.

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ppillon
ppillon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, very well described and not very busy in winter. The views from Maguenay and the Pic de l'Aigle are superb. Many thanks for sharing this.

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favrebrunj
favrebrunj

Thank you ...
It’s true that the two iconic spots, Saut Girard and Pic de l’Aigle, are overrun with people... especially at the weekend!
That makes us appreciate all the other sites all the more

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cuzcodom
cuzcodom

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We loved it.
Well, you have to make your way out of the crowded area around the Saut Girad (only to find it again at the Pic de l’Aigle), but between the two, what a treat!
The tranquillity of Lake Bonlieu, the cairn trail... A real treat.
My heartfelt congratulations

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