Along the Chalifert Canal and then the Marne d'Esbly to Thorigny

Starting point and access: Esbly station.
- Transilien - Line P, on the section between Paris-Est and Meaux.
Take the Place de la Gare exit on the side of platform B, in the direction of Meaux to Paris (if arriving in the opposite direction, platform A, take the footbridge).

Red and white markings
You will occasionally see blue and green markings: follow the red and white markings.

(S) When you leave the station, turn left. After about 100 metres, turn right onto Rue du Général Leclerc. Continue straight ahead and, when the street turns right, continue straight ahead to cross a small car park.

(1) Then cross a road (D5) at the pedestrian crossing and follow it to the right. After a few dozen metres, turn left onto a cement path and leave the war memorial on your right. Go through a chicane and climb up to rejoin the road at a bridge over the Canal de Chalifert.

(2) Cross the road (be careful, there is no protected crossing), do not take the bridge and follow Chemin des Aulnes towards Port de Coupvray. Instead of taking the road itself, take a tarmac lane further to the left that runs parallel to it. Cross a car park and continue along the wide grass verge of the road, which is now slightly below you. Rejoin the road further on and pass under a railway bridge (be careful, narrow passage). Walk alongside a factory on your right and continue along the canal.

(3) The tarmac gives way to a path that disappears into the vegetation, still with the canal on your left. After about 400 m, pass under a footbridge and continue on the path along the canal. At the approach to a bridge, turn right onto the path. At the end, cross a road (Rue de Lesches; be careful, there is no protected crossing).

(4) Turn left into Rue des Marais (dead end; do not take the bridge over the canal). Go through a metal gate and walk along the houses on the right. Go through a second metal gate and follow a path along the canal, which is overgrown and appears to be poorly maintained. Further on, continue along a wider path until you reach the Lesches lock.

(5) Go around the lock on the right and follow a small road with worn tarmac, slightly uphill with the canal below on the left (note the entrance to the tunnel that was dug for the canal). Go under a railway viaduct, ignore a road coming from the left, make a hairpin turn to the left and go up to a larger road.

(6) Cross the road (be careful, there is no pedestrian crossing) and climb up a wide, rutted track opposite. At the top, cross another road and continue along the track opposite. Ignore a turn-off on the right (not shown on IGN maps), go straight ahead and descend a steep path. Turn left, come out onto a wider path and follow it downhill. Ignore a few steep shortcuts on either side and walk alongside a building on your right. Go through a metal gate and turn right along the building. After about 30 metres, turn left and join the basin at the exit of the Canal de Chalifert tunnel.

(7) Turn left again, follow the Chalifert lock on your right and continue along the Marne towpath. Continue straight ahead, between garden fences (on your left) and the river (on your right), ignoring all turnings on your left. Note a pontoon on your right and continue along the towpath, following a field on your left. Further on, the path is lined with stone statues. You will then reach the Dhuys footbridge.

No signposts

(8) Turn right, climb a staircase and take the footbridge to cross the Marne. Go down the steps on the other side, turn left and go under a ramp for cyclists. Continue along the Marne towards Thorigny-Lagny. Stay as close as possible to the river on a good, stable path, ignore all the paths on the right and go through a few wooden barriers.

(9) Return to the tarmac and continue along the Marne towards Thorigny-Lagny. Join Rue du Lavoir and follow it to the left (20 km/h zone). When the street turns right, go through a wooden barrier and continue straight ahead on the stable towpath. Note the Lagny water sports centre on the opposite bank.

(10) Go through another wooden barrier and continue along the Marne towards Lagny. Then continue along the Quai de Marne. After about 450 m, take the^first right, Rue d'Orgemont. At the end, cross a car park and immediately go down the stairs leading to the underpass that gives access to Lagny-Thorigny station (E).

To return home:
- Transilien - Line P, towards Paris-Est or Meaux.
- Bus - "Marne-la-Vallée" lines 02, 21, 23, 25, 26, 29, 42.

Train timetables: check the Transilien website.

In dry weather, good sports shoes or low-cut hiking boots are suitable for this route, which is mainly on well-maintained paths.

Bars and shops near the departure (S) and arrival (E) stations.

Useful detailed map (at least the one accompanying this description).

Hike completed by the author on 19 March 2022.

- Chalifert Canal between (2) and (5).
- Locks and tunnel for the canal between (5) and (7).
- Pleasant walk along the Marne between (7) and (10).
- Stone sculptures around the footbridge (8).