Parilly and Saint-Priest Parks

A lovely walk through the parks of south-east Lyon, starting from the Mermoz/Pinel metro station.

Details

115298
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.43 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 55 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 52 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 215 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 183 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Lyon (69000)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 45.730457° / E 4.887397°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3031OT, 3032E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Metro D Mermoz/Pinel, south-east car park.

(S/E) Cross over and take the hill alongside Avenue Mermoz towards Bron.

(1) Turn right and continue south-east along a path that joins the Esplanade circular, then turn left onto Boulevard Émile Bollaert, right onto Chemin du Belvédère and back onto Boulevard Bolaert.

(2) Cross the two bridges on Boulevard Laurent Bonnevay (ring road).

(3) Turn left to go around the water tower and join the stream path.

(4) Turn left onto Boulevard Émile Bollaert, then right onto Boulevard des Turfistes.

(5) Turn left then right, cross Avenue Pierre Mendès France and walk alongside the tram station and the University (Avenue de l'Europe). Turn left then right onto Impasse de l'Hippodrome. Turn left and follow Avenue de l'Europe again. After the roundabout, turn left, then left again to join Chemin de la Côte. You will enter Parc de Saint-Priest.

(6) After the footbridge, continue straight ahead along Chemin de la Côte.

(7) Then turn left three times to return via the footpath along Allée des Parcs.

(8) Turn left along Boulevard de la Porte des Alpes until you reach the footbridge.

(6) Turn right. Follow the same route as on the way there until you reach Boulevard des Turfistes.

(5) Turn left along the racecourse.

(9) Continue right onto Allée des Cèdres, then right onto Allée du Trot.

(10) Turn right onto Allée du Tunnel, then Allée de la Pépinière.

(11) Turn left onto Allée des Oliviers, then right onto Allée du Mûrier. Turn right onto Chemin de la Centine and the intersection at the water tower.

(3) Follow Boulevard Emile Bollaert on the left and retrace your steps to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 183 m - Metro D Mermoz/Pinel, South-East car park.
  2. 1 : km 0.19 - alt. 193 m - Turn right at the fork
  3. 2 : km 1.19 - alt. 209 m - Between the two bridges on the ring road
  4. 3 : km 1.51 - alt. 208 m - Turn left at the fork
  5. 4 : km 2.36 - alt. 202 m - Turn left at the fork
  6. 5 : km 3.24 - alt. 189 m - Turn left at the fork
  7. 6 : km 4.76 - alt. 208 m - Footbridge
  8. 7 : km 5.66 - alt. 213 m - Turn left at the fork
  9. 8 : km 6.9 - alt. 203 m - Bd de la Porte des Alpes on the left
  10. 9 : km 9.1 - alt. 186 m - Allée des Cèdres on the right
  11. 10 : km 9.51 - alt. 185 m - Allée du Tunnel on the right
  12. 11 : km 10.02 - alt. 187 m - Allée des Oliviers on the left
  13. S/E : km 12.43 - alt. 183 m - Metro D Mermoz/Pinel, South-East car park.

Notes

Dry toilets are available in Parilly Park.
Parking is available at the starting point and in the Galeries Lafayette car park.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
M Grisel
M Grisel

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Urban route taken on a weekday in good weather. Discovering the parks, but lots of tarmac, which is normal as we're in the city. It's a wonderful discovery when you don't know eastern Lyon. Surprise around the lakes in St Priest.

Machine-translated

domibr
domibr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello to all walkers...
A nice little hike, ideal for this wet weather.
Very passable paths and pleasant walks around the racecourse.
Not recommended during peak season as the park gets very crowded.
Enjoy your walk, everyone.
Dominique

Machine-translated

terrafirma
terrafirma

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A city hike which, apart from the start, mainly consists of a tour of Parilly Park and does not venture off the beaten track. A very popular spot at weekends. But the route provides an opportunity to visit this place.

Machine-translated

margjean
margjean

Hello,
Correction made.
Thank you.

Machine-translated

marie-france.goaziou
marie-france.goaziou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

This route allowed us to comply with the 10 km regulation.
It has the advantage of being mostly on paths and crossing urban areas that are unfamiliar even to Saint-Priest residents.
We set off from our usual starting point for our walks on Rue Louis Braille and then headed for the Fort de Saint Priest park...

Machine-translated

ANNE2669
ANNE2669

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We didn't complete the entire route, preferring to stay in Parrilly Park.
It was difficult to follow the description on the ground without GPS guidance, but given the multiple trails, this is not the author's fault.
There were quite a few people out on this day of lockdown and holidays, including Nordic walking groups, cyclists and children.
We really enjoyed this natural setting within easy reach of the underground. Just one correction: it's line D, not B, that takes you to Mermoz Pinel.

Machine-translated

palmyr
palmyr

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk during lockdown. Parilly is very large, so there are no crowds. The Parc du Chêne is more wild. Bring the smartphone app with you because the names of the paths are not always visible. The multitude of paths in Parilly can lead to mistakes, but it is easy to find your way back with the app.

Machine-translated

Marie Christine balai
Marie Christine balai

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The signposts in the park are not very precise given the number of paths that cross the route.

Machine-translated

Yannick_Josset
Yannick_Josset
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

As for the question about traffic, it depends on the section.
I only walked there. For the return journey, I took the T6 to Desgenette, then the T2 to Porte des Alpes, where I had left my car in the park-and-ride car park. From the park-and-ride car park, I walked to marker No. 8, then No. 6, via Avenue de la Porte des Alpes, and walked back along the route in the opposite direction to the description (a distance of 5 km with a negligible elevation gain, taking 1 hour 20 minutes).
Thank you to the author for this lovely green walk in an urban setting.

Machine-translated

Sud 8
Sud 8

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A pleasant walk through the beautiful Parilly Park, passing by the university faculties and reaching the water retention basins
(Bassin Minerve) and then take the footbridge to the Feuilly forest trail.
A lovely day spent with the family.

Machine-translated

liliane.clarens
liliane.clarens

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This route showcases the extent and richness of the parks, on the one hand through the different species of trees and conifers
Contrast as you walk along the university grounds and the footbridge, where you will find peace and quiet and the scents of nature in the Feuilly forest
On this beautiful day, walkers, joggers and cyclists gather around the racecourse
Thanks to Margjean for this lovely walk.

Machine-translated

cavallier43
cavallier43

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk between the rather large and pleasant Parilly Park, where squirrels seem to thrive, away from the noise despite the proximity of major roads, and the small but pleasant Feuilly Wood in Saint Priest with its two ponds. This walk is ideal for families and is not difficult at all.
I recommend this peaceful outing.

Machine-translated

randobeaunant
randobeaunant

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A peaceful setting, endless possibilities, views of the racecourse

Machine-translated

A-Marie de Chap
A-Marie de Chap

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

An interesting walk where you are surrounded by nature... in the city!

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.