The Saône Marsh

Hike in the Saône Marshes, following the water loop and the natural environment loop.
Varied terrain with ponds, dry pastures and wetlands.

Details

124008
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.69 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 32 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 32 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 414 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 373 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the school car park.

(1) Walk along the football stadium to reach the wooden kiosk.

(2). Take the path to reach a wooden chicane. Take it and follow the pasture straight ahead (south-southwest) to reach a path via several chicanes.

(3) Turn right, then immediately left and follow the signs for "la boucle de l'eau" (the water loop). Stay on the small path, following the fence on your right.

(4) At the end of the loop, turn left onto theGR®595(red and white markings), towards "Les milieux naturels" (natural environments). Stay on the path to reach the hamlet of La Couvre.

(5) Turn right towards "les milieux naturels", cross the hamlet and follow the path. After passing a kennel, climb up to the right and continue to follow the sign for "les milieux naturels". The path runs parallel to the D464.

(6) At a fork, turn right as indicated by the sign for "les milieux naturels". Cross the field to reach a wood where the path starts again. At the end of this path, go through the wooden gate and cross the pasture straight ahead to the next wooden gate. Take the path on the right.

(7) After the wooden bridge, head left towards "boucle milieux naturels" (natural environments loop) towards Saône. Continue along the path to reach "la boucle de l'eau" (water loop) (3).

(3) Go back over the chicane on the left and retrace your steps to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 385 m - College car park
  2. 1 : km 0.33 - alt. 383 m - Kiosk - Marais de Saône
  3. 2 : km 1.27 - alt. 383 m - Head towards the "water loop"
  4. 3 : km 2.75 - alt. 381 m - GR 595 path towards "milieux naturels"
  5. 4 : km 4.12 - alt. 393 m - Hameau "la Couvre"
  6. 5 : km 5.5 - alt. 399 m - Hameau "la Couvre"
  7. 6 : km 7.21 - alt. 383 m - Head towards "Saône"
  8. S/E : km 8.69 - alt. 385 m - College car park

Notes

This hike should be done in dry weather as it is a wetland environment

This route passes through multiple protected areas, which may be subject to special regulations:

 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

4.4 / 5
Based on 21 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
GISORANDO
GISORANDO

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike done under beautiful sunshine.
It was very pleasant and very easy.
It's a beautiful place to discover.

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cnu25
cnu25

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Circuit completed during a period of frost and snow...magnificent landscapes, especially the hollow beneath the rocks

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gremion
gremion

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a very beautiful parish-specific to Brittany, flat walk, rich in discoveries and wet landscapes. Unfortunately, some idiots have torn down the markers along the route. To be redone in late spring for the flowers and greenery.

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Bounon
Bounon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

interesting first part
Return journey more monotonous with uninteresting scenery...

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mireille.sanchez
mireille.sanchez

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy family walk

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lulu25220
lulu25220

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

very interesting
to do when there is water, in order to see the tank full

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Begoniaenfleurs
Begoniaenfleurs

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

An interesting route for both adults and children, varied, best done in good weather, but without mosquitoes. Very pleasant.

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benedicte25000
benedicte25000

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Well-marked, easy, family-friendly walk. However, I didn't find this hike particularly interesting. Not to be done in hot weather, as it is exposed to full sun most of the time, and in my opinion you will be swarmed by insects. The first part of the hike is much more interesting than the second. Lots of flat terrain. I think it's better to visit the Saône marshes when there are guided tours with professionals such as the LPO (League for the Protection of Birds) or others. Worth doing once, but not twice.

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mgrosl
mgrosl

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk, very busy on Easter Sunday.

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piccolopripri
piccolopripri

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 11, 2019
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Before 4, possibility to pass to the left of the pond (between the two ponds)

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v4600
v4600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Walk taken in spring.
Beautiful nature, flora and fauna.
No elevation gain.
Educational.

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acamelot
acamelot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A really nice walk. Not difficult. In the Saône marshes. Best done when there is a little water, but not too much!!!

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sophibel
sophibel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Easy and pleasant hike. Bring insect repellent!!!

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maryvonne.guinchard
maryvonne.guinchard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This is an educational and peaceful hike that is suitable for families and/or teachers and their pupils as part of a life and earth sciences lesson. Why not follow it up with a visit to the Arcier springs and then the Castan archaeological square in Besançon?
Be careful in the hamlet, as the dog and angry geese have taken over the public path and are interested in the calves of hikers. If you are accompanied by children, please be careful.

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46497477
46497477

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb!!!!! An extremely interesting route, rich in hydrogeology, fauna and flora, both fun and educational, very well marked and maintained,
nature is perfectly protected, the signage is very clear and precise, and the information boards are simple but very comprehensive in their descriptions.
However, it should be noted that the indicated duration of the route does not take into account the time needed to stop and admire the scenery and fully interpret the descriptions of the specific sites. To meet this criterion, it would be a good idea to add at least half an hour.
Conclusion: very, very interesting.

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