Saint-Chamond walks

Short circular or long circular above Saint-Chamond. A pleasant walk or bike ride for the whole family. This path is quite busy, especially on Sunday mornings when the weather is good. Be careful if there is snow, as there may be snowdrifts near the Col de Trente Sous.

An easy hike (reasonable distance and elevation gain) offering views of the northern slope of the Pilat Regional Nature Park, the hillsides of Jarez and the Monts du Lyonnais. Alternating meadows and groves, with a few sections on very quiet roads.

This circuit starts in Valfleury, a charming village nestled at the bottom of a valley, and mainly follows ridges offering numerous views towards Saint-Chamond, Saint-Étienne, Pilat and, further afield, Forez and Auvergne. Don't miss a visit to Valfleury church.

A very varied hike in the Loire, alternating between open landscapes with meadows, valleys, deciduous forests and numerous apple and cherry orchards. The walk also allows you to discover a curious underground aqueduct. In good weather, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Mont Blanc and the entire Alpine range. This hike can be enjoyed in all seasons, but it must be magnificent in spring when the fruit trees are in bloom.

This hike around Crêt de Montieux offers beautiful views of Mont Pilat, the Couzon dam and the Col de Pavezin.

An easy, shaded route with few hills, surrounded by pine trees, with beautiful views of the Gier valley, Saint-Chamond, Pilat and the Furan valley, Guizay and Saint-Etienne. Viewpoints and rest areas are provided along the route.

A lovely, quick walk that is easily accessible from the centre of La Talaudière. Hilly but not difficult. Beautiful views of the Pilat massif and the heights of Sorbiers. Discover the castle and park of Sorbiers at the end of the walk.

A pleasant walk for summer days, as it is almost entirely in the shade. A spectacular finale with a unique and magnificent view of the city of Saint-Étienne.

Most of the hike is in the woods, which is very pleasant in summer. From La Valla-en-Gier, a pretty village that has retained its authentic character, take a small road and then a footpath to reach the Ruisseau du Ban stream, nestled at the bottom of a bucolic valley. The path runs alongside this stream for almost 3 km before climbing up to the Bessat plateau. TheGR®®42 trailtakes you to Le Bessat, a tourist village with low, squat houses reminiscent of the nearby Massif Central. The return journey is a descent through the woods.

A walk to discover beautiful views of the Dorlay valley, an opportunity to explore an old Roman road and an old railway line.

Long hike in the Pilat massif. Ideal for beautiful days in May. This hike has two main attractions. It allows you to discover the Cascade du Gier waterfall before entering a completely different world and discovering all the ridges of the Pilat. The advantage is that there are several points where it is possible to shorten this beautiful hike. Please note: the first part through the woods is not well marked and it is easy to take the wrong path.

This is a fairly strenuous hike with beautiful views. If you wish, between (1) and (2), you can take a slightly easier route. The waterfall is worth the detour.

A short walk to do with children (but not with a pushchair!). The start is quite steep for little ones, but the rest is fairly easy.

A pleasant circular walk starting from Farnay. Fully marked in white and yellow as Farnay 3 route. Two other walks start from behind the town hall and are signposted. This is the longest, but it is possible to shorten it by 3 km.

A long route along the panoramic ridges of Mont Pilat.

The route passes through different areas in the countryside around Saint-Christo-en-Jarez (wetlands, forest and meadows). Along the way, themed information boards provide details about the local wildlife. On a clear day, two-thirds of the way along the route, you will be treated to a magnificent view of the Alps.

A circuit primarily on small paved and sunny roads.

The Gouffre d'Enfer dam is one of the most famous sites in the Rhône-Alpes region and a popular walk in the Saint-Étienne area. It was built in 1860 in the Furan valley, near Rochetaillé, and completed 17 years later by the Pas du Riot dam. We then continue along the dam trail to the Pont de Souvignet. The return journey takes us via Les Palais, Les Sagnes and La Croix de Givet before joining theGR®42to arrive at Le Plateau and Rochetaillé.

A very beautiful, easy circular alternating between forest paths, magnificent landscapes and breathtaking views of the Château de Rochetaillée, the Roche Corbière (117 m high) and the Pas du Riot (1878) and Gouffre d'Enfer (1866) dams, whose surroundings have been converted into a very pleasant relaxation area for the end of this walk.

A beautiful hike through orchards and forests in the hills above Rive de Gier. The very hilly area offers beautiful panoramic views. Chagnon and Saint-Romain-en-Jarez are interesting for those who love old buildings.

Starting from La Tour-en-Jarez, this is a gentle walk along quiet roads and paths, ideal for families.

This hike allows you to discover the infrastructure that supplies the city of Saint-Étienne with drinking water. The hydraulic structures were built mainly to prevent flooding in the mid-19th century during the Second Empire. A journey between a Canadian atmosphere, with the expanse of water and fir trees of the Riot dam, and the Great Wall of China with the ascents of the Gouffre d'Enfer dam. Mostly forest trails.

An extraordinary route starting from the town, 95% on paths, surprising and so beautiful. No difficulty. Head towards Rochetaillé via a footpath, then the Gouffre d'Enfer with its via ferrata and climbing walls, and finally the two dams that supply Saint-Etienne with drinking water. 2½ hours at a leisurely pace with 2 water stops.

A walk at the gateway to the Pilat mountains to discover the Lac du Pas du Riot and two dams built under Napoleon III. This walk is easy, suitable for families and without difficulty. The hardest part is climbing the 52 steps of the dam.

Beautiful route along the ridges around the village of Fontanès. Free parking in the castle grounds.

A short walk starting from the village of Fontanès, offering a beautiful view at the highest point of the Sept Pins. The passage through the woods is very pleasant.

Enjoy the atmosphere of northern Ardèche with this exceptional hike in the heart of Pilat. Pass through the main ridges of Pilat to discover breathtaking views and small steep paths.

An easy walk to enjoy as a family. Very popular in summer, it is worth the detour to admire the panoramic view over the Alps and the summits of Mont Blanc, the Lyonnais mountains and the Giers valley, the Vercors massif and those of northern Vivarais. With a wealth of flowers in spring, you can gather bilberries in August and raspberries in September. Unless you choose to go ski touring or cross-country skiing here in winter.

On the heights of Saint-Martin-la-Plaine, a lovely walk through the fields. The last part takes you past a zoo where you can see a few animals (ostriches, wolves, goats).

Family-friendly walk in the hills of Saint-Héand among the horses and cows.

This hike will take you to the north face of the Pilat massif and the Mézenc plateau, with beautiful forest crossings. Enjoy the coolness of the two dams visited and climb a rock to admire the rugged landscape of the Gouffre d'Enfer.

A short hike in the Pilat Massif with plenty of shade. The route is not too difficult and offers beautiful views of the Rhône Valley, the Vercors and the Alps, weather permitting, as well as the Monts du Lyonnais in some places and the Gier Valley.

Circular hike to the Gouffre d'Enfer and Pas du Riot dams, built under Napoleon III using stone masonry. Admire the height of the conifers growing in these forests. The nearby Col de la République, also known as Col du Grand Bois, lives up to its name. The route is mainly through woodland and is not difficult. There is very little tarmac road (only at the start and finish).

Car-free route: depart from Saint-Étienne Bellevue station, accessible by tram from Chateaucreux, and take the L14 regional bus towards Jonzieux. Get off at Planfoy Route du Bourg, paying attention to the timetable, especially on weekdays outside school holidays. It is best to travel in the morning.

A short, varied tour in the Pilat Massif around the Crêt de l'Aireiller, with a 360° view from the Crêt de la Perdrix as the grand finale.

Starting from the Croix du Guizay, this circuit in the Pilat Regional Nature Park offers some of the most beautiful views of Saint-Étienne. The belvedere allows you to take in the city's central street and enjoy a panoramic view of the entire urban area.

Long snowshoe hike on the Pilat ridges with little elevation gain. Can be done on foot in the right season. If there are no tracks, GPS or an app can help in addition to the map.

An easy hike along the ridges of Pilat linking three major summits, via trails through forests and moors. Along the way we discover magnificent views of the Alps, the Massif Central and the Rhône Valley.

This is a lovely hike for exploring the Pilat ridges, with superb panoramic views of the entire Alpine range. The route takes you through a variety of landscapes, from scree slopes to coniferous forests and heathland covered with heather and broom. In season, you can pick wild raspberries and blueberries. This route offers a return via a less frequented path through a deciduous forest.

Straddling the Loire and Rhône rivers, near Rive de Gier, Saint-Joseph and Saint-Maurice-sur-Dargoire, this is a very pleasant walk along the river.

This hike is primarily along clear paths with views over le Pilat and Sainte-Catherine. An easy trek with some slight up and downhill slopes. Be careful, as non-stone tracks can get muddy in the rainy season.