A long, solitary escape west of Cogny

Go to the car park in front of Cogny Church, Place Thomas Descotes

(S/E). From the church square, go up Rue Mont-Saint-Guibert on the right, then turn left onto Montée Saint-Claude.

(1) At the "le manoir d'Epeisse" signpost, continue straight on towards Régny towards the localities of Les Plaches and Clos Rambion.

(2) At the "Regny" signpost, at the Chapelle Saint-Claude crossroads, continue straight on along the Montée Saint-Claude towards Les Plaches and Champatin.

(3) At the top (Champtin), continue straight ahead on the dirt track. Ignore the track that descends to the left. When the track makes a slight right turn after an uphill section, you will come to a crossroads with three other tracks. Ignore the first track on the left that descends and the track on the right that ascends, then take the second grassy track that descends to the left. Join the road and continue straight ahead on the Corsel road. Ignore the dirt track on the left.

(4) After the last house, continue straight ahead on the grassy path. Join the small tarmac road and turn right in front of the wash house. When you reach the high-voltage power lines, take the dirt track that descends to the left. At the top of the Impasse du Venet, follow the tarmac road on the left and ignore the grassy path that climbs to the right.

(5) At the crossroads with the Montée de la Roche, go up to the right and then immediately take the path on the left that leads into the woods. Ignore the paths on the left that lead down to the stream. Do not climb over the small arch on the right and continue straight ahead.

(6) When the path splits, cross the small shrine and take the path perpendicular to the stream, which climbs steeply. A few metres further up, you will cross another stream bed. Cross it and continue climbing to the right. As soon as you leave the trees, take the path on the right that descends slightly. A few metres further on, at the left-hand bend, ignore the small path on the right. When you come to two paths running perpendicular to you, take the one on the right. When you come out of the woods, there is a hairpin bend on your left. Take the path on the far left which climbs uphill.

(7) If this hike is too difficult, you can turn right for about 100 metres to reach a fork in the path that leads directly back.

At the "Le Bois Château" signpost, continue straight ahead towards "Col du Châtoux".
Stay on the main path. At the "Col du Châtoux" signpost, continue straight ahead towards "Col du Joncin".

(8) Cross the Châtoux road and take the dirt track opposite. The path makes a sharp right turn downhill. Follow it. When you reach the junction with a tarmac road, turn left at the hairpin bend, then immediately take the tarmac road that descends to the right and quickly turns into a dirt track. At the "Les Sapins" signpost, turn left towards "Crêt de la Garde." A few metres further on, you will reach a wider tarmac road.

(9) After a fenced-in field, immediately take a dirt track that branches off to the right and descends. Leave the track on the right and continue downhill. At the bottom, continue straight ahead on a path that leads through boxwood. After a left-hand bend, two paths branch off to the left. Take the^{second one}, which descends steeply. At the crossroads, continue downhill. Once at the bottom, do not take the path that bends to the right, but take the path that branches off to the left. You will arrive in the woods. Ignore all the crossroads and continue straight ahead. The path then climbs uphill.

(10) Take the hairpin bend to the right which descends again. Continue straight ahead at the next crossroads without ever taking the grassy paths. Follow the path which winds down the hill. When the slope becomes less steep, continue straight ahead. Never take the grassy paths. At another hairpin bend, turn right and follow the dirt track. The descent then continues.

(11) At the "Le Rebaisselet" marker at the bottom of the descent, turn right towards "Font Berou." After about 100 metres, take the grassy path that turns 90° to the left. When you reach the road, turn right. Cross the hamlet of Le Farginet.

(12) At the intersection, continue straight ahead, leaving the road that bends to the left. Immediately afterwards, leave the dirt road ahead and turn left. At the next large intersection, go straight ahead onto the dirt track that climbs steeply. At the "Crêt de Tier" signpost, continue straight ahead towards "La Grange Quantin". At the intersection 100 metres further on, turn left onto the grassy path.

(13) Cross the hamlet of Lancelot, then cross the road and take the path that climbs opposite. When you reach the small road, turn right. Head towards the house, leaving the path that branches off to the left, and just after the buildings, stay on the dirt track on the right that climbs uphill. At the "La Grange Quantin" signpost, stay on the left-hand path towards "Les Razes". At the unnamed signpost, follow "Les Razes" and stay on the left-hand path. Do not take the very steep climb on the right, but continue on the path on the left. At the next fork, take the right-hand path that climbs uphill.

(14) At the "Les Razes" signpost, head towards "Col du Joncin". At the "Col du Joncin" signpost, cross the road towards the tables and follow the small path opposite the car park.

(15) After 300 m, or about 80 m of elevation gain, turn right onto a small path. At the junction with the^{GR® trail}, turn right. After a picnic table, a large meadow stretches out to the left up to the top of the hill. Continue straight ahead.

(16) At the "Source des Ânes" marker, note the donkey fountain on your left.
Turn left towards "Le Bois Château." At the first crossroads, take the path on the left that goes uphill. 100 m further on, go straight ahead on the grassy path, leaving the dirt track on the left that climbs even more steeply. Continue straight ahead at the junction, where you will be rewarded with a magnificent view of Villefranche-sur-Saône.
At the crossroads at the bottom of the descent, keep to the right to stay on the path that bends to the right.

(17) Continue straight downhill.

(18) Once you reach the road, turn right. Leave the paths on your right and follow the road. You will pass between two houses. At the crossroads, continue straight on along Route de la Cime de Cogny. When you reach the buildings, continue along Route de la Cime de Cogny.

(19) When the high-voltage power line on the right-hand side of the road crosses the road to pass to the left, there is a path on your left. Follow it, ignoring a path on the right.

(20) At the "Le Collongé" signpost, continue straight ahead towards Cogny. Ignore the path that branches off immediately to the right. Ignore the grassy path on the left and follow the dirt track.

(21) When you reach the road, do not take the dirt track directly opposite, which leads towards the telephone masts. Turn right and immediately take the dirt track on your left. The low stone wall should now be on your left.

(2) At the "Regny" signpost, turn right towards "Le Manoir d'Epeisse". When you reach the road, turn left downhill.

(1) At the "Le Manoir d'Epeisse" signpost, turn right towards "Le Bourg". Continue along the wall on your right. Just before the large gate of the manor house, turn left towards the church and head for the car park (S/E).

You can shorten the 15 km hike by taking a direct route between (7) and (17).
Picnic tables at Col du Joncin (15).
A good walker will complete the hike in 7 hours with a 20-minute lunch break. Allow 8 to 10 hours to be on the safe side.

Fontaines des Ânes at (16)