From the Orge to the Yvette

Hike around Epinay sur Orge (a small town south of Paris) from the train station of the RER C.
It follows paths and quiet streets, heads through Bois des Templiers and follows the courses of three rivers: the Orge, the Rouillon and the Yvette. A trail through the Bois des Templiers with views of an old stone bridge with three arches of the ancient Templar Commandery of the eleventh century.

Details

101394
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.11 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 46 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 54 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 85 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 37 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S) From the RER C line Epinay sur Orge train station (Place Stalingrad), reach Rue Pasteur by crossing the tracks through the tunnel.
Continue on Rue Pasteur, pass by Rue de l’Orge on the right and Voie des Près to arrive on Rue de Corbeil (D117). Take it to the right for 100 m.

(1) Continue on a path that goes right along a stream. At the end of this path, do not turn right but continue on the path on the left that crosses the stream over a footbridge.
Go under the railway, pass by Avenue des Tilleuls as well as the path that continues along the stream. Also pass by Chemin Latéral and continue left across the path through a meadow to reach Rue de l’Orge.

(2) Turn right, cross the bridge and then go left and follow the banks of the Orge to the pond of Moulin du Breuil.
Cross the bridge on the left and go around the pond on the left. Come back to the footbridge, head left via Rue de Villemoisson, Rue de Rivoli and Rue de Chevreuse. At the end of the latter, turn right and immediately left to head up Rue de la Montagne.

(3) Turn left up Chemin des Froids Culs, then reach Rue de Rivoli. Head right for 200 m, return to the path and turn right on Chemin de Villiers in Epinay. At the next junction head opposite on Chemin de la Tournelle. Go to the entrance of Ballainvilliers. Go around the roundabout to the right, cross the D186 to the left as soon as possible and continue left on the road.

(4) At Rue Saint-Sauveur, turn right on Chemin d’Aunette then continue straight along the Bois des Templiers.

(5) Enter the woods on the right and follow the Rouillon on its left bank passing over Pont des Templiers bridge, a relic of eleventh century. On leaving the wood, turn right then up to the left on Rue de la Chevauchée Cut across Route de Corbeil road then right on Chemin de la Chevauchée as far as the railway line. Turn left and follow it until the Gravigny-Balisy station. Cross the level crossing to the right and continue for 10 m.

(6) Turn right on the GRP marked in red and yellow along the Yvette. We find the Rouillon, which flows into the river at this point. Arrive at the Petit Vaux station and head right on the street of the same name and cross at the level crossing. Turn left on Rue de la Station, which becomes a cycle path.
Cut across Rue du Grand Vaux to the left and take Rue des Rossay. Return to the GRP route on the right along Allée des Rossay taking you back to the station of the RER C Epinay sur Orge line.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 51 m - Gare d'Epinay-sur-Orge
  2. 1 : km 0.33 - alt. 39 m - Leave the Grande Rue - Turn right - Orge (l')
  3. 2 : km 1.09 - alt. 39 m - Rue de l'Orge - Right
  4. 3 : km 2.86 - alt. 46 m - Le breuil
  5. 4 : km 4.72 - alt. 75 m - Les Tournelles
  6. 5 : km 5.51 - alt. 63 m - Templar wood
  7. 6 : km 6.42 - alt. 62 m - L'Engenthal
  8. 7 : km 7.35 - alt. 44 m - Gare de Gravigny-Balizy
  9. 8 : km 7.4 - alt. 44 m - Edge of the - Yvette (l')
  10. 9 : km 9.13 - alt. 49 m - Gare de Petit Vaux
  11. S/E : km 10.11 - alt. 50 m - Gare d'Epinay-sur-Orge

Notes

Pass through three stations of the RER C: Epinay sur Orge (Brétigny line), Petit-Vaux and Gravigny-Balisy (Versailles line).

Worth a visit

Railway arch.
Moulin du Breuil lake.
The Breuil barn.
Pont des Templiers bridge.

Reviews and comments

4 / 5
Based on 46 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
helene.touraine
helene.touraine

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting and enjoyable route, apart from a short stretch on the road. It was a Sunday, so there weren't many people around.
You can also start from the Morsang Seminary Park.

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COLIBRI93
COLIBRI93

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

Thank you for this trail.
We follow the Barley, Rouillon and Yvette rivers for a while. These three sections are lovely. Unfortunately, however, we have to cross some suburban areas that are not always pleasant. Crossing the roundabout is quite dangerous.
I used the GPS a lot in addition to the description. Sorry, I won't be doing this hike again because it's not close enough to nature.

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Nadette Pat
Nadette Pat
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The route follows the Orge river at the start, then the Yvette river at the end, which is very pleasant. However, the section along the road and then across the field in full sun are much less interesting!

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User 17213741

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

One of the most beautiful routes in this area

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THOMAS-BOURGNEUF Jacques
THOMAS-BOURGNEUF Jacques

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful walk along 3 rivers, the Orge, Rouillon and Yvette, with a passage through the Templiers wood and the town hall park. Yellow markings in place

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lecoquelicot
lecoquelicot

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A variety of trails in town and country.
Discover the small castle near the station, Le Breuil, the Templar bridge, the arboretum and the course of the three rivers.

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Nanie91
Nanie91

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice, thank you! Do it again

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croux74
croux74

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The main attraction of the walk is the wood and the Templar bridge. Some nice wooded sections interspersed with poorly maintained paths along fields and roads.
I sometimes found it hard to understand where I was supposed to go, even with the app, especially around the Boêle branch (between points 2 and 3).

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libertysurf
libertysurf

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, original and pleasant route, albeit on the outskirts of town. The three rivers accompany us with calm and charm.
Dry weather is essential because of the loose soil in places.

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ozogiminy
ozogiminy

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Some of the same comments as before, a lot of hesitation from point 5 onwards; it says enter the wood (2nd on the right) and follow the Rouillon on its left bank, in reality you are on its right bank, then you pass a footbridge to actually follow the river on its left bank, then you don't really pass over the Templar bridge, you cross it. Some clarification would be very useful between these points 5 and 6.
Otherwise, before the Tournelle path (between 3 and 4) is obviously not maintained at all, with tall grass.

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NathPalm91
NathPalm91

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very interesting walk, but not precise enough in places:
- after entering the Bois des Templiers at the 2nd entrance (we went round in circles).
- after crossing the Grande Rue to find the Chemin de la Chevauchée. Many paths lead to this Chemin de la Chevauchée and we improvised the 1st time. The 2nd time, YES! it was good!

We found that this hike had a few dangerous spots:
- on the road or very close to the road over short distances fortunately: Rue de la Montagne + Route de Monthléry (car race today, very tempting this long straight line for cars) + crossing the D186 on the roundabout.
- At the entrance to the Chemin des Froids Culs, there are 3 or 4 large millstones to cross, 1 of which is very wobbly. We are a group of walkers with several elderly people and it's easy to lose your balance and fall.

Otherwise a very nice walk, thank you for offering it to us. Most of us didn't know the Templiers bridge. A MUST SEE! We'll be doing this walk again on Sunday 21 05 as a group and we'll hear what other people think. It would have been a shame not to experience it! Thank you, and thank you to those who shared it with us.

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menuetb1944
menuetb1944

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A walk through fields, woods and housing estates, not unpleasant when accompanied by bright sunshine.

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Julia
Julia

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The walk through the woods was very pleasant. Very pretty landscape

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Ptitisa
Ptitisa

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk on a sunny day. Through woods, meadows, ponds and streams... a bit of an urban market, but pleasant because of the housing estate.
At the end of the route, it is impossible to cross at Petit Vaux station, as it is being renovated.
Diversions: go down the street, turn right and keep to your left. There are steps on your right. Climb them and turn left as far as the starting station.

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grandiere
grandiere

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Rather pleasant walk, but a little too urban and with two field crossings. We really enjoyed the passage through the Templar woods.

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