The hillsides of the Marne starting from Saint-Jean-les-Deux-Jumeaux

The Marne valley seen from the four cardinal points around Saint-Jean-les-Deux-Jumeaux. Alternating forests, a source of coolness, and aerial views of the Omois.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.82 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 558 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 551 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 466 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 164 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the car park at the end of Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, near the river stop.

(S/E) The walk begins by following the Pâtis de Saint-Jean eastwards, along the left bank of the Marne to the bridge.

(1) Go under the bridge, turn right onto the path that climbs up to the road, which you follow to the right. Cross the Marne and immediately afterwards, turn right onto the Chemin des Îles, which runs along the right bank of the Marne. Head up to the left onto the D3E road.

(2) At the roundabout opposite Changis station, follow the D53 for about 300 m; this road crosses over the railway line leading to Jaignes.

(3) Turn right onto a farm track that heads straight towards the Bois de la Muette and its forest lodge, which you pass; continue through the woods for 500 m and, just before a private track, take the path on the right that descends to a road waste disposal site, which you go round on the right until you reach the railway line.

(4) Turn left, follow the railway line for 250 m, go under the motorway through the tunnel and cross the railway line via the bridge to come down onto the D3E road.

(5) Cross the railway line to take the farm track to the football pitch at a place called Les Vieux Moulins.

(6) Turn right onto the path, after the yard of a building firm, which leads to a small bridge that you cross. Follow the path running along the right bank of the Marne to the Pâtis de Ussy-sur-Marne, then cross the campsite and go under the bridge (caution: slippery banks in wet weather).

(7) Cross the bridge over the Marne and follow Rue d’Ussy to Sammeron.

(8) Cross the D603 road at the shops and head up Rue Cassine on the opposite side until you reach the junction with a path.

(9) Take the Pré Maquais path on the left, which winds its way between woods and houses to join Rue Gaulde, which you follow to the left for 100 m.

(10) Turn left into Rue du Four, then immediately right into Rue du Tarcq, which you leave on the right to take Rue de Coulommiers, behind the bridge over the Ru de la Bécotte (red and white markings). Continue along a path.

(11) Turn onto the second path on the right, a track that runs alongside the woods to a ford, which you cross.

(12) Take the Route de Signets on the right for 200 m and turn into the first path on the left, which climbs towards the hamlet of "La Grange au Bois", and follow the edge of the woods on the left until you reach the Dhuis.

(13) Follow the Dhuis aqueduct on the right; continue after crossing the road leading to the hamlet of "Montretout" on the right. Carry on until you reach the motorway.

(14) Head left for about 100 metres and cross the motorway via the tunnel located below the Dhuis aqueduct inspection chamber. At the exit, turn right and rejoin the aqueduct, following the field on your left, running alongside the motorway. Walk back up to the aqueduct inspection chamber and turn right towards the hamlet of Arpentigny, still following the Dhuis.

(15) Continue along the Dhuis aqueduct after crossing the road, then cross two more roads leading to the hamlet of Les Deux Jumeaux and carry on through the Bois de la Garenne.

(16) Turn right, just after the hamlet of "Les Ambroises", onto a cobbled path leading to the centre of Saint-Jean-les-Deux-Jumeaux via Rue Alfred de Musset (red and white markings).

(17) Turn left onto Rue du Général de Gaulle, continuing until you reach Rue Pasteur (D603), which you cross to reach Rue Pierre Marie Curie.

(18) Turn left onto this street to reach the river landing stage (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 171 ft - River stop
  2. 1 : mi 0.31 - alt. 171 ft - Bridge over the - Marne (la)
  3. 2 : mi 1.02 - alt. 203 ft - Roundabout - Gare de Changis - Saint-Jean
  4. 3 : mi 1.29 - alt. 240 ft - Chemin du Bois de la Muette
  5. 4 : mi 3.09 - alt. 210 ft - Railway depot
  6. 5 : mi 3.51 - alt. 203 ft - Junction with the D3E
  7. 6 : mi 4.13 - alt. 177 ft - Path to the football pitch
  8. 7 : mi 4.92 - alt. 180 ft - Ussy Bridge
  9. 8 : mi 5.32 - alt. 184 ft - Crossing the D603
  10. 9 : mi 5.46 - alt. 236 ft - Sente du Pré Macquais
  11. 10 : mi 5.77 - alt. 200 ft - Rue du Four
  12. 11 : mi 6.07 - alt. 240 ft - Stud Farm Trail
  13. 12 : mi 6.85 - alt. 262 ft - Ford
  14. 13 : mi 7.97 - alt. 446 ft - Dhuys Aqueduct
  15. 14 : mi 9.3 - alt. 381 ft - Motorway tunnel
  16. 15 : mi 9.75 - alt. 394 ft - Arpentigny
  17. 16 : mi 11.12 - alt. 397 ft - Junction of the GR14 and GR11
  18. 17 : mi 11.5 - alt. 200 ft - Rue du Général de Gaulle
  19. 18 : mi 11.65 - alt. 177 ft - Rue Pierre Marie Curie
  20. S/E : mi 11.82 - alt. 171 ft - River stop

Notes

Hike accessible by public transport: Transilien line P, on the section between Paris-Est and Château-Thierry. Get off at Changis-Saint-Jean station and start the hike at point (2).

Shops in Saint-Jean-les-Deux-Jumeaux and Sammeron.

Worth a visit

Views of the hillsides and banks of the Marne.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Denis26
Denis26 ★

Thank you, jpricour, for pointing that out; I’ve just updated the entry accordingly.

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jpricour
jpricour

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We had a bit of trouble finding the tunnel under the A4 (point 14).
You need to go 100 metres further past the Dhuys manhole, take a path on the right and you’ll find the tunnel.

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Marcello75
Marcello75

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

-Difficult parking. Park on Rue du Bac and start the hike at point 1.
-Point 14: there is no tunnel under the motorway; it is located 100 m to the left, south-east.
-Terrain particularly muddy and slippery on the aqueduct during wet weather.

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ageep
ageep

Thank you for your comments. We hope you enjoyed the entire course despite the waterlogged ground.

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Gardiner
Gardiner

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I combined this route with the neighbouring hike (panoramic view of the Marne) to shorten it. I did it in the opposite direction, cutting straight from the barn to the woods (between nos. 12 and 13) towards Sammeron: difficult going as the ground was very muddy most of the way. Avoid the tunnel and go via Montretout (No. 14). Not recommended in rainy weather.

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Tylec
Tylec

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, best done in dry weather. We avoided the Montretout tunnel.

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ageep
ageep

With the rain, this tunnel has become very slippery! It has never been like this, even in winter.
If this continues, I will change the route completely.
Thank you for your comments. Enjoy your walks.

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genevieve74
genevieve74

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Overall, a beautiful hike without any difficulties, offering beautiful views of the Marne Valley.
Two minor issues: after point 12 on the climb, the route goes straight into a cornfield. You have to go around it on the left and follow the path along the woods. At point 14, it says to cross under the motorway below the Dhuis manhole, but there is nothing there.There is a passage 200 metres to the left, but it is impassable due to mud (we got mud up to our ankles), so it is impossible to pass in winter. It is advisable to go around via the village of Montretout and rejoin the trail at point 15.

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ovil
ovil

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We started and ended the hike at Congis-Saint Jean station (exit track 2 – town centre).
An easy hike in pleasant weather on dry paths, except for the morning dew as we crossed the fields.
Beautiful scenery but little in the way of heritage. We made a small detour to see the church in Ussy, which was unfortunately closed.
At point 14, the field had been ploughed up to the motorway fence, so we had to walk along the edge of the field rather than alongside it.
At point 16, turn right onto a path (GR markings on an EDF pole) which becomes paved further on.
We only met three hikers (a group of two and one solo hiker) on the entire route.

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Domipolo
Domipolo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, undulating walk with varied landscapes. It can also be done by mountain bike.
A small error at point 14: the tunnel under the motorway is much further to the left of the Dhuys water reservoir (about 150/200 m) than indicated on the map and in the description.
Apart from this point, the route is great!

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