The beaver trail around the gravel pits at Bar-lès-Buzancy in Harricourt

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This path winds its way around very recent bodies of water created by sand and gravel extraction. Since 2004, the site has taken on a new role in protecting animal and plant species associated with wetlands. Birds, insects, amphibians and mammals find ideal living conditions here, as does the recently arrived beaver, a symbol of sand pits.

It is ideal for families, with numerous interactive information boards bringing the trail to life.

Details

n°15415150
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 1.68 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 0h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 10 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 10 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 564 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 554 ft
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Photos

The Bar Ponds

Description of the walk

The trail starts near the campsite; parking is available on Rue des Étangs.

Follow the signposts for the ‘Sentier des Castors’.

(S/E) Head north-north-west and take a narrow path through the trees. Cross the Ruisseau du Moulin and you’ll come to a junction.

(1) Turn left and walk through the trees until you reach the edge of the first pond. Continue straight on, cross a path and walk alongside a second pond until you reach the next junction.

(2) Then turn left, then immediately right onto Rue de la Malmaison. After about 150 metres, pass the first path on the right and immediately take the second one on the right, under the trees. Keep going straight on and walk alongside a series of ponds once more. There are several picnic areas available.

(3) Turn right, keeping to the side of the pond. After a sharp left-hand bend, leave the main path and take a track on the left that winds its way through the trees.

(1) At the junction you came across right at the start of the walk, turn left. Cross the Ruisseau du Moulin again and take the path between the trees in the opposite direction to reach the campsite (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 564 ft - Rue des Étangs – Bar-lès-Buzancy Campsite
  2. 1 : mi 0.23 - alt. 561 ft - Junction of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 0.84 - alt. 558 ft - Junction
  4. 3 : mi 1.34 - alt. 564 ft - Junction
  5. S/E : mi 1.68 - alt. 564 ft - Rue des Étangs – Bar-lès-Buzancy Campsite

Notes

Picnic area along the route.

Make sure you’re properly equipped: watch out for ticks and processionary caterpillars.
Some sections of the trail may remain damp, so wear suitable closed-toe footwear.

Do not make any noise.
Stay on the path.
Do not leave any rubbish behind.
Keep your dog on a lead.
Do not pick any plants.

Worth a visit

There are several information boards along the route where you can learn more about wetlands, beavers and their habitat.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
AC08
AC08

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, very easy walk, ideal for young children.
Plenty of birds to spot
Interesting information boards dotted along the route.
There’s no sign of the heatwave here: everything is green and the streams are still flowing.

Machine-translated

tirou 08
tirou 08

Hello,
The beaver is primarily a nocturnal animal; it is very rarely seen during the day, but it is actually very difficult to spot.

Machine-translated

PasN@th18
PasN@th18

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The Beaver Trail is very easy to get to, but we didn’t see a single beaver.

Machine-translated

tirou 08
tirou 08

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

A lovely walk – both enjoyable and educational thanks to the information boards placed all along the route.
There’s even a small observation point from which you can watch the wildlife on the lake.

The first section, which is mainly through woodland, leads to the lakes. Don’t overlook the path (on the right-hand side) between the two lakes; you’ll need to walk along this path and back to rejoin the main trail.

Sightings of Great Crested Grebes, Coots, Eurasian Sparrowhawks, Nutrias, ducks and numerous traces of beavers

I’ll be doing this route again in the spring when there’s more wildlife to be seen.
Thierry

Machine-translated

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