Short tour of the Siccieu and Saint-Julien lakes

de fr

This circuit will take you to several ponds around Siccieu and Saint-Julien and offer superb views of the foothills of the Bugey and, on a clear day, the Alps.

Details

n°453828
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.40 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 177 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 177 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 378 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 278 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Ry Pond
Gillieu Pond
Siccieu Church
Return to Siccieu and its cultivated fields

Description of the walk

Start from the small car park behind the war memorial in Siccieu.

(S/E) Cross the D54 road and take Rue des Roches on the left until you reach Chemin des Ravières (elevation 363). Take this road on the right (yellowPR® sign) and continue to Étang de Bas (elevation 335). Turn opposite and follow the road in front of the pond.

(1) At the Étang de Bas signpost, take the path on the left and follow the signs for "Annoisin - le Rocher - Bois de Gillieu" (yellowPR® signposts).

(2) Take the first path on the right (yellowPR® signposting), follow the Étang de Gillieu on your right and join a small road at elevation 375.

(3) Do not take the road but continue along the path on the left (yellowPR® signpost) until you reach the Bois de Gillieu signpost.

(4) 20 m after the Bois de Gillieu signpost, take the path on the left towards Dizimieu - mairie. Leave the first path on the right and continue straight ahead (yellowPR® signpost). After the 356 elevation mark, take the signposted path on the right until you reach the road.

(5) Turn right and follow the road for 50m, then turn right onto the marked path. Pass the first path on your right, then the second, and continue along the path until you reach the Étang de Ry lake, which is below on your left.

(6) Cross the road and take Chemin de Ry opposite. After the 90° left turn, leave the YellowPR® signposting and continue along the small road to the village of Saint-Julien.

(7) At the first left turn in Saint-Julien, take the grassy path uphill on the right. At the junction with a small road that descends to the left, continue straight ahead until you reach a fork at an elevation of 355 metres.

(8) Take the path on the left. Pass the first path on the right, take the second one, also on the right, before reaching the road and continue straight ahead.

(9) At the crossroads, continue straight ahead until you reach the Étang de Bénétan signpost. Follow the signs for "Siccieu le village" on the right, walking alongside the lake.

(10) Do not cross the pond but continue straight ahead, passing two other small ponds. Leave the marked path that continues straight ahead, turn left and continue to the road (D54).

(11) Cross the road and take Chemin de la Forêt opposite. Leave two small paths on your left and you will come to a wide path.

(12) Turn left and continue to the first fork (altitude 342). Turn left again and continue to a viewpoint (Le Lucle).

(13) Continue, turn left at the next fork (altitude 319). The path turns into a road that leads directly back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 351 m - Parking at the war memorial
  2. 1 : km 1.11 - alt. 335 m - Étang de Bas, on the left
  3. 2 : km 1.64 - alt. 346 m - First path on the right
  4. 3 : km 2.24 - alt. 373 m - Path on the left
  5. 4 : km 2.69 - alt. 376 m - Bois de Gillieu, path on the left
  6. 5 : km 3.59 - alt. 330 m - Road, on the right
  7. 6 : km 5.06 - alt. 278 m - Étang de Ry, cross, opposite
  8. 7 : km 6.57 - alt. 296 m - Saint-Julien
  9. 8 : km 7.11 - alt. 351 m - Fork at elevation 355, left
  10. 9 : km 8.25 - alt. 365 m - Four paths, straight ahead
  11. 10 : km 8.82 - alt. 344 m - Étang de Bénétan, straight ahead
  12. 11 : km 9.38 - alt. 346 m - Crossing the D54
  13. 12 : km 10.22 - alt. 338 m - Marsh and viewpoint, on the left
  14. 13 : km 11.34 - alt. 352 m - Viewpoint at Lucle
  15. S/E : km 12.4 - alt. 351 m - Parking at the war memorial

Notes

No water supplies along the route.

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 44 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
JPEQ
JPEQ

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant 3 hour 15 minute walk at a normal pace, not a strenuous hike. No major difficulties. Almost flat from start to finish. I would do this hike again.

Machine-translated

Agenceur
Agenceur

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk, but just for the pleasure of walking, as there isn't much to see. Note that after a very rainy March 2024, I couldn't cross the Regnault stream at point 10 because it was flooded. The section of path before that was also very muddy. I had to turn back to Les Prins and go via "le chameau" to get back to the starting point. This added a little over a kilometre to the walk. The walk took 2½ hours despite the extra kilometre.

Machine-translated

Alexol
Alexol
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Fine, nothing special. A little too short for me, so I extended it without any problems to Optevoz to make 20 km in 3 hours and 25 minutes in total.
D300+

Machine-translated

Tita10
Tita10

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk in favourable weather.

Machine-translated

oxycrest
oxycrest

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, mostly shaded except at the start. The lakes are not particularly interesting (muddy banks and inaccessible).

Machine-translated

TIFTUF65
TIFTUF65

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

very pleasant route, shaded at this time of year, with few roads and very little traffic. Discover private ponds, some of which are accessible. The route is very well described with signposts along most of the way.

Machine-translated

NB1990
NB1990

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, even at this rather cool time of year and on muddy trails.
We completed it in around 2 hours and 55 minutes without any difficulty (very little elevation gain and all the paths are easily passable), so we will be returning with the family and maybe even on bikes!
The views are lovely, especially around Saint-Julien Castle and during the last 3 kilometres.
Thank you to the author!

Machine-translated

masdelaraz38
masdelaraz38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely family hike around the local lakes and ponds. You can tell that it's been dry, as the water levels are low. The description and directions are clear and accurate. For the absent-minded, there is a water source and toilets (CLEAN) at the start of the walk, next to the town hall. There is a lovely view of the charming St Julien castle from the Ry pond. The walk is not particularly difficult, and there are a few benches and other picnic facilities along the way.
Thank you to the author for this suggestion

Machine-translated

MLNrando
MLNrando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The weather was a little cool at the start but fine. We were familiar with part of the route, but this time we started from Crémieu. We made a small mistake, which was our fault, and ended up extending the route, but we didn't mind as the route was so pleasant. There was a short stretch of road along the Etang de Ry, but it was reasonable and there were few cars. We enjoyed views of the imposing Château de Saint-Julien from different angles. There was little elevation gain overall. The end of the route was very pleasant after the last three lakes and the country lanes took us back to the starting point. The route was suitable for Nordic walking poles despite some stony sections. You may want to bring some tips for the section of road along the Etang de Ry.
Many thanks to the designer.

Machine-translated

YBoissel
YBoissel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and fairly varied walk alternating between moorland, woodland and paths along ponds. Beautiful views of Saint Julien Castle.
Short and very easy, it makes for a lovely outing with children.

Machine-translated

morel yves
morel yves

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

very interesting for discovering the flora
a little-used route
bring documentation from the tourist office
our starting point was the church in Mépieu

Machine-translated

danesy
danesy
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, enjoyable and varied hike through forests, hills and ponds.
Thank you for sharing it.

A suggestion for improving the route: about 100 m before reaching the D52 at point (5), we took a clearly visible path on our right, which crosses the valley and rejoins the route after 200 m, avoiding the section on the D52. I think we followed the yellow PR markings. This path is not shown on the IGN map but is clearly visible on the IGN satellite view.

Machine-translated

Pabou
Pabou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike through varied landscapes.
We did it starting from the Ry pond (point 6) and going back the same way.
Thanks to the person who designed it.

Machine-translated

randosenior
randosenior

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Despite starting out in the rain, we really enjoyed this hike. No difficulties, excellent description and route. Varied landscapes: ponds, forests, Saint-Julien Castle... Very little road, beautiful paths which, of course, are very muddy in places at this time of year, but with a good pair of shoes and gaiters, no problem.
We had a really lovely day, with sunshine at the end as a reward. A big thank you to the person who recommended this route to us.

Machine-translated

isaedo
isaedo

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Few hills, so suitable for all ages
A pleasant route through the countryside in all seasons.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Siccieu - Cessieu

Visorando member
Siccieu - Cessieu
↔25.04 km ↗+533 m ↘-387 m ◔8 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Siccieu-Saint-Julien-et-Carisieu (Isère)
Sixth stage of the Way of St James. A route offering ever-changing landscapes between the Lyon plain and the Alps, with glimpses of the Alpine range.

Walking Walk around Optevoz between paths and woods

Visorando member
↔16.67 km ↗+164 m ↘-158 m ◔5h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Optevoz (Isère)
A pleasant little walk passing by three ponds.

Walking Walk between Le Bourg and Trept

Visorando member
Balade entre Le Bourg et Trept
↔7.27 km ↗+134 m ↘-134 m ◔2h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Dizimieu (Isère)
A short hike through woods and fields that is also suitable for families.

Walking Through the woods of Perrier and Fontenaille

Visorando member
Par les bois de Perrier et Fontenaille
↔8.26 km ↗+193 m ↘-186 m ◔2h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Dizimieu (Isère)
This is a pleasant hike that can also be done in hot weather as 90% of the route is in the shade of the woods.

Walking The Lemps Pond

Visorando member
↔2.40 km ↗+4 m ↘-4 m ◔0h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Optevoz (Isère)
A lovely family walk around a pond classified as a nature reserve, equipped with observation points for viewing local wildlife.

Walking Saint-Hippolyte via the Gorges de la Fusa

Visorando member
Saint-Hyppolite par les Gorges de la Fusa
↔5.31 km ↗+81 m ↘-81 m ◔1h 45 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Crémieu (Isère)
Explore Saint-Hippolyte by following the Ruisseau de Vaud through the Gorges de la Fusa, whilst discovering Fontaine Martine and the Resistance’s clandestine printing press.

Walking Courtenay - the Lemps pond

Visorando member
Courtenay - l'Etang de Lemps
↔8.19 km ↗+47 m ↘-45 m ◔2h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Courtenay (Isère)
A lovely circuit in Île Crémieu with a visit to the Lemps Pond nature reserve. This circuit is open to all and presents no difficulty.

Walking Chapelle de Leyrieu

Visorando member
Chapelle de Leyrieu
↔8.34 km ↗+222 m ↘-226 m ◔3h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Leyrieu (Isère)
This shaded trail leads to the top of the cliff at the Leyrieu Chapel and offers superb views of the Lyon plains and the Pilat massif. On a clear day, you can see the Alps and the Vercors massif.

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.