Marly Park and Forest by bike

Starting point and access: Marly-le-Roi station.
- Transilien – Line L, on the section between Paris Saint-Lazare and Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche via La Défense.
Take the “Place de la Gare” exit, platform 1, heading from La Défense to Saint-Nom. If arriving from the opposite direction, use the underpass (stairs – carry your bike – or lift).

(S/E) On leaving the station, turn left into Rue Alfred Couturier. At the roundabout, go straight on towards Versailles. At the next roundabout (“give way”), turn left onto the D7 towards Versailles.

(1) At the junction (with the Marly horses visible on the right), follow the D7 to the right towards Parc de Marly and head uphill. At the traffic lights, carry on straight ahead for about fifty metres.

(2) Then turn left, go through the monumental Porte du Bourg and enter Parc de Marly. Turn left when you reach the buildings on the right and pass through a forest gate.

(3) At the Fork in the road immediately ahead, take the right-hand path, which goes uphill (paved section). Pass through an old gate and follow a tarmac path between two walls, then into the woods. You’ll reach the Tapis Vert viewpoint.

(4) Then turn right and you’ll soon reach a junction (with a closed gate opposite).

(5) Turn right and stay on the tarmac.

(6) Go through a metal gate and leave the park. Pass a forest barrier and you’ll immediately come out onto the D7 (“give way”).

(7) Turn left and take the cycle lane on the right-hand side of the road.

(8) At the junction, turn right towards L’Étang-la-Ville. Continue straight on along the Route Forestière Plantée, which you’ll be sharing with motorists.

(9) Cross the D161, go through a metal barrier and continue along the forest road, which is now closed to motor vehicles.

(10) Turn right and follow the Route Forestière Royale, with the A13 some distance away on your left. At the end, go through a metal barrier.

(11) Continue straight ahead, taking the shared pedestrian and cycle path on the left-hand side of the road. After about 350 m, start to go round the Carrefour Royal on the right, following a clearly marked cycle path.

(12) Cross the D98 at the pedestrian crossing and continue round the junction on the cycle path. Then follow the D98 along the cycle lane on the right-hand kerb and pass under the A13 bridge.

(13) Take the^first right onto a forest track signposted with a cycle arrow and pass through a metal barrier. Continue straight ahead along this small track, which is closed to motor vehicles.

(14) At La Belle Étoile (signpost), the road veers to the left and becomes the Route Neuve du Roi. At the end, go through a metal barrier and you’ll immediately come to a small roundabout.

(15) Turn right and go through another metal barrier. From here on, the tarmac is in very poor condition, revealing the underlying layer of gravel.

(16) Turn right with the road, the tarmac of which remains in poor condition.

(17) Pass under the A13 bridge, turn right with the road and the surface improves. The road then curves to the right.

(18) At the junction, carry on straight ahead.

(19) At a small roundabout, carry on straight ahead onto the Route Forestière Dauphine. Pass through a metal barrier and ride alongside a small car park on your right.

(20) At the Stop sign, turn right and follow the cycle path which runs parallel to the D98. You’ll arrive at the Carrefour Royal, which you’ve passed before.

(12) Enter the junction (leave the cycle path as there is no protected crossing on the other side) and turn left towards Saint-Nom station. Continue either on the shared path taken on the way there or on the road.

(11) At the end of the shared path, turn left onto Route Forestière des Muses. NB: The marked lane on the right-hand side of this road is reserved for pedestrians. Head downhill and follow the edge of the Saint-Nom station car park.

(21) At the bottom of the descent, turn right onto the bridge crossing the railway line. Then turn left and you will immediately reach Saint-Nom station at the level crossing (S/E).

To get back home:
- Transilien – Line L, towards Paris Saint-Lazare via La Défense.

Train timetables: see the Transilien website.

Conditions for taking a bike on trains (RER and Transilien):
- Monday to Friday: before 06.30, between 09.30 and 16.30, and after 19.30.
- Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: no time restrictions.
A picture of a bicycle on a door indicates the presence of bicycle racks, available in certain carriages only.

For motorists:
Park in the car park at one of the two stations and make a return journey by train. The car park at Saint-Nom station (21) is recommended as it is spacious and easily accessible.

This route mainly follows tarmac roads with a few cobbled sections. However, in the Forêt de Marly, the surface is rather rough and, between (15) and (17), the tarmac is in a very poor condition. Therefore, this ride is not suitable for a road bike: you should use a hybrid bike or even a mountain bike.

No water points have been identified along the route.

A detailed map is useful (at the very least, the one accompanying this description).

Hunting days in the Marly State Forest:
During the hunting season (from mid-November to the end of February), avoid Thursdays, as this is when driven hunts are organised. For further details, see theONF website.

Warning:
Between (9) and (14), the route runs close to the A13 motorway, and the traffic noise is certainly noticeable.

Hike undertaken by the author on 25 September 2021.

A route mainly through woodland with beautiful high forests and a few remarkable trees.

The route through Marly-le-Roi and Marly Park offers views of the Marly Horses (1) and some remains of the ancient castle’s ramparts.