Saint-Nizier-le-Désert walks

This walk takes you through typical Dombes landscapes such as ponds, fields and copses. There are many ponds to see, making this route particularly interesting. Remember to bring your binoculars.

I had wanted to walk through this flat countryside with its multitude of ponds for a long time. I suggest this route, which starts at Notre-Dame des Dombes Abbey. It will take you past some beautiful ponds and local farms. Depending on the season, you will be accompanied by the songs of a multitude of birds. Frogs will jump out of the water as you pass by and curious cows will come to meet you.

This easy circuit around the commune of Saint-Éloi in the Ain department will give you a glimpse of the Dombes region. It also offers plenty of geocaching opportunities for enthusiasts.

A beautiful loop passing through a small, easy, unobstructed peak offering a wide panorama of the Bugey, the Bresse plain, the Beaujolais mountains and the Lyon region. The springs of the Reyssouze reward us at the end of the hike.

Discover the medieval town of Bourg-en-Bresse. Tour the streets to admire the well-preserved half-timbered houses. Plaques on the remarkable façades explain their history.Departure from the car park of the Monastery of Brou, a remarkable building that is definitely worth a visit.

A pleasant walk typical of the Dombes. Mainly on tarmac but with very little traffic; you are on secondary roads. Along the route there is a high concentration of ponds, which are full of water in 2020. The view of the ponds is unobstructed and you will encounter many different birds. The walk is punctuated by a variety of landscapes: ponds, fields, copses and even a view of the Beaujolais region.

Walk in Bugey along the banks and heights of the Oiselon Valley, crossing wooded areas, meadows and a few vineyards.

A beautiful hike from the Château des Allymes, mostly in the forest, on little-used paths. Passes by Mont Luisandre and the ruins of its14th-century castle. Beautiful view of Allymes Castle and the Ambérieu plain. Of course, you can visit Allymes Castle at the end of the hike.

From Lagnieu, climb up to the Croix de Bramafan to discover a wide panorama of the Rhône plain, the Ain plain, Île Crémieu and, on a clear day, as far as Lyon. A very pleasant hike on well-shaded forest paths and trails.

Short loop passing through the Hautecourt Cave Nature Reserve. Hike with no technical difficulty, alternating between woodland and open spaces. The climb up to the Mont Rosset plateau is a little steep, watch out for cows, but you'll be rewarded at the end. Please note that the cave itself is not open to visitors, even though it was France's first underground nature reserve in 1980. Don't be disappointed, though, as there are a dozen information panels on the surface explaining the cave's biodiversity and its exploration in the past. For those interested, there is a 3D tour on the LPO Aura website.

The aim of the route is to complete a beautiful loop overlooking the Cerdon: after crossing the vineyards overlooking the valley, the route continues on the plateaus of Saint-Alban and Labalme before returning to the starting point via the Combe Cugnat and a slight detour via Mont Carmier. Please note: access is currently blocked at the Pont de l'Enfer (11) and therefore indirectly from Labalme (8). An alternative route avoiding this area is suggested. See below.

A very pleasant trail from Saint-Sorlin-en-Bugey leads first to the old village of Souclin and then to the Roche de l'Église, which overlooks it. This hike will appeal to lovers of old stones: old villages and paths often lined with timeless stone walls. This route has few paved roads and offers many panoramic views of the Rhône between Bouvesse and Vertrieu, the north of the Isère and, in good weather, even Lyon.

After an initial wooded section, you will be rewarded with a beautiful view of the Ain river valley from the top of the Jarbonnet rocks. The river winds its way through the valley below. The summit is not very popular and is mainly known to climbers who enjoy the routes offered by the cliff.

Perfect for hot days as it is very shady under beautiful high-altitude coniferous and deciduous forests (between 625 and 920 metres above sea level), on trails and good forest paths through the beautiful landscapes of the Bugey, offering a wide panorama of the cliff. In autumn, you can pick blackberries, hazelnuts and walnuts along the way.

This is a circular route from Bolozon, passing through pretty villages (Balvay, Solomiat and Napt) and overlooking the Gorges de l'Ain. This is a "classic" route (often suggested in the opposite direction) that does not present any major difficulties.

Steep hike offering superb views of the Jargoy plateau and the village of Oncieu.

Most of the walk is in the forest. The paths are pleasant, with quite a few small stones on the ground. In rainy weather or after heavy rain, the path may be muddy or even impassable in places (not sure, to be checked). The end of the walk is not in the shade, so it can get hot in the sun. Moderator's warning: a section of the route is now closed. Please wait for a detour to be put in place.

This circuit takes us from the village of Hières-sur-Amby at the foot of the cliff to the archaeological site of Larina on the cliff. It offers panoramic views of the Pilat Massif, the Monts du Lyonnais, the plains of Lyon and the Ain, and the foothills of the Bugey.

This is a short, easy loop that allows you to discover the panorama at the confluence of the Rhône and Ain rivers, the picturesque village of Anthon and its surroundings, including the banks of the Rhône and the beautiful town hall of Chavanoz.

This hike in the Monts d'Or mountains, starting from Curis-au-Mont-d'Or, will allow you to enjoy the panoramic view of Mont Thou and Mont Verdun and discover the drystone shelters that are part of the region's heritage. It follows the inner route of the Monts d'Or with a variant to shorten the circuit.

This loop, starting from Curis-au-Mont-d'Or, will take you to Mont Thou with its magnificent view of the region, then to Mont Verdun and Mont Py, and finally to Croix Rampeau before descending back to Curis. During this hike, you will see two old wash houses and, depending on the season, orchids, martagon lilies, wild asparagus and many other flowers

This is a very pleasant circular walk starting from the pretty village of Vernas, which takes you along attractive paths and trails, often shaded by trees, to the Plateau des Aviateurs, where a military aircraft crashed in 1944 and another in 1969. A small chapel, commemorative plaques and a sign commemorate these events. Wide panoramic views of the Rhône plains and the Alps in the distance can be enjoyed throughout the walk.

Je vous propose un petit parcours permettant de rejoindre Heyriat à partir de Granges situé pas très loin des bords de l'Ain.

A Short yet tough hike through the Monts d'Or. Very nice in good weather and on dry ground.

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.

This loop starting from Poleymieux will take you to discover the drystone shelters, traditional huts built from dry stones in the Monts d'Or. The route passes through the forests on the northern slopes of the Monts d'Or and beautiful meadows. You will follow part of the geological discovery trail with its excellent information panels. The paths are easy for the most part, but the forest trails can be steep and tricky in wet weather.

This is an easy, shaded walk where you can see many orchids in April and a few restored drystone shelters. Mont Thou offers beautiful views of the Saône valley and the Ain plain, and even further depending on the weather. Drystone shelters are dry stone structures found in the Monts d'Or.

A pleasant, easy circular walk, mainly through woodland. The charming church of Saint-Maurice-d'Échazeaux (or des Chasaux), which overlooks the confluence of the Valouse and Ain rivers, and the ruins of Montdidier Castle are worth exploring.

This short loop of around ten kilometres from Poleymieux church will take you on a journey through time. Go back 200 million years with the Monts d'Or geological trail. Then travel to the 19th century with the surprising drystone shelters, the Carrière battery, the magnificent lime kiln at Polyemieux and finally the Ampère Museum. And finally, return to the 21st century with the Air Base 942 site and its secret installations.

This trail allows you to discover the three rivers: the Tréfond, the Arodin and the Perna(z), the biodiversity of the site, and its geological and heritage riches, explained by six information panels.

An easy hike to discover the drystone shelters of Mont-d'Or. The cabornes are huts built of dry stone, which were used as shelters and for storing tools by farmers. They were also sometimes used as dwellings.

An easy loop starting from Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d'Or to reach the heights of the Monts d'Or towards Mont Thou. The return route passes via Mont Cindre. There are some lovely views and several drystone shelters to discover along the way.

Parking: 4 spaces for cars a few metres from the start of the path.It's rare to find a quiet walk that barely touches tarmac in the Monts d'Or. This one does just that. You get to spend two hours in the forest near Lyon without any physical challenge. Ideal for families.