The Maguenay viewpoint circular tour from Lac d’Ilay

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 ahead. 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 alongside the D75 on the right to reach the 776m mark.

(3) Cross the D678 carefully, heading left, then quickly turn right onto the track heading south-south-west until it ends at the junction with a road.

(4) Turn left onto the D75E1 towards the Abbey, pass by the oratory and walk alongside 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 out for the faintly marked path opposite. Follow this track, east, north then east, to 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 road 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) Take a well-marked path to the right. Descend via switchbacks to reach the track below (this descent can be very slippery in wet conditions).

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

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

(22) 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).

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.

Must-see sights: Hérisson Waterfalls, numerous lakes