Stream crossings near Loire-sur-Rhône

Shaded walk along the banks of streams in a Rhône ravine. A surprisingly peaceful natural area given its proximity to urban centres.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.19 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 398 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 398 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 421 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 181 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the swimming pool in Loire-sur-Rhône.
Three municipal trails are signposted. The hike follows trail no. 2.

(S/E) Take the Montée des Pérouzes and head towards the Savot neighbourhood.

(1) Take the road on the right, which is Rue du Savot.
At the end of the small paved street, a dirt track descends into the valley to reach the Morin stream.

(2) Cross it via the small bridge and follow it, first on the left bank, then crossing several fords for about 2 km. Leave the first unmarked path that climbs up to the left

(3) Turn left. After fording the stream from the left bank to the right bank, the marked trail leaves the stream and climbs steeply into the woods. On a flat section, at a stone hut, leave the path that goes straight ahead and turn right. When you come out of the woods, the path widens and becomes straight. You will reach the road called Le Polaine, which is also the name of the hamlet.

(4) Turn right onto the small paved road. At the end of the hamlet, it becomes a stony path.

(5) At the first fork, where there are no signposts, take the grassy path on the right. Further on, descend to the left. You will arrive in the undergrowth. Leave the path that climbs to the left and follow a steep descent along a rutted track.

(6) Just before reaching the Morin stream, climb up to the left. On the climb, ignore the paths leading off to the left. The path is then widened by forestry machinery and leads to a farm track, which you take to the left.
This is a high, open point on the circuit. There is a vast panorama of the Monts d'Or, the Monts du Lyonnais, Lyon and, with a bit of luck, the Alps.

(7) Continue along the path on the left at the edge of the woods to reach the paved communal road of Les Pérouzes.

(8) Follow it to the left. Do not take the first marked path on the left, stay on the road, then turn sharp right at the altitude of 407, a dead-end road, towards Chainfray. In the bend, turn onto the path on the left. It descends to the east of a small pond. Ignore the path on the left that leads there and continue straight ahead. The descent becomes steeper and ends at the Rolland stream.

(9) Ford the stream and take the path on the left that follows the right bank of the stream.
Cross further on, after a short, slightly steep climb, to the other side. Return to the right bank a little further on. This double crossing avoids the obstacles of fallen trees on the path.
Stay on the right bank, on the beautiful path through the woods overlooking the stream, marked with red dots and a few yellow lines.
These markings lead you to cross again further down. The path moves away from the stream, climbing up the left bank.
At the next intersection, continue climbing until you reach the hamlet of "Le Fatigue".

(10) Just before the hamlet, turn sharply right. The path becomes narrow and tends to be overgrown with brambles, but this section is not too long. The path then becomes steep as it descends to the Rolland stream.

(11) After crossing the stream, turn left and follow it downstream.
After a final ford, the path climbs and widens.
Cross the road and take the path that passes under a small bridge at the hamlet of Le Moriat.

(12) At the road, descend to the left, then, before an old farmhouse with multiple roofs, turn right and rejoin the road in a bend. Take it to the left downhill. Reach Loire-sur-Rhône at Savot.

(1) Return to the start of the route and follow it back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 181 m - Parking at the Loire-sur-Rhône swimming pool
  2. 1 : km 0.21 - alt. 197 m - Le Savot
  3. 2 : km 0.73 - alt. 186 m - Bridge over the Morin stream
  4. 3 : km 2.16 - alt. 240 m - Last ford on the Morin stream
  5. 4 : km 2.82 - alt. 359 m - Le Polaine hamlet
  6. 5 : km 3.4 - alt. 356 m - Turn right at the fork
  7. 6 : km 4.27 - alt. 305 m - Morin stream
  8. 7 : km 4.92 - alt. 408 m - On the left
  9. 8 : km 5.4 - alt. 419 m - Turn left at C6
  10. 9 : km 6.75 - alt. 335 m - Rolland stream, first ford
  11. 10 : km 8.41 - alt. 338 m - Hamlet of Le Fatigue
  12. 11 : km 8.93 - alt. 268 m - Return to the Rolland stream
  13. 12 : km 10.42 - alt. 247 m - Right-hand path
  14. S/E : km 11.19 - alt. 181 m - Parking at the Loire-sur-Rhône swimming pool

Notes

This hike is one of three marked trails in the municipality:
- no. 1, called "Les Roches", is 6.3 km long with an elevation gain of 160 m
- no. 3, called "Les Ruisseaux", is 15 km long with an unspecified elevation gain
- and this one is numbered 2 and called "Les Hauteurs".
In practice, the signposting is sometimes poor, which, in my opinion, justifies this more detailed description on Visorando.

This hike is ideal in hot weather as it is very shady and cooled by the streams. Avoid in rainy weather or just after, as the paths will be muddy and slippery. The numerous fords are easy to cross when the stream is not too high. Judge for yourself at the point (2) and avoid going any further in case of flooding.
Please note that I also completed this route without any difficulties in February 2015 (although the cooler temperatures were less pleasant)

There are no drinking water points, so bring what you need. High, waterproof hiking boots are recommended. Walking sticks can help on the sometimes steep descents.

The automatic elevation calculation by the Visorando software indicates a total of 290 m, but the altimeter measurement on the ground is 450 m.

If you set off mid-morning, you can picnic between the points (6) and (7). There are no tables, but the scenery makes up for it.

Worth a visit

The undergrowth along the streams is rich in plant species, some of which are quite specific to this ecosystem. You may also see some birds of prey. However, don't expect to spot the genet, a carnivore whose presence has been confirmed by the Tourist Office: it will be sure to keep out of sight.

Nearby, the museum and archaeological site of Saint-Romain-en-Gal are 6 km downstream from Loire-sur-Rhône on the right bank of the Rhône.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 53 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
igouana
igouana

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
A beautiful walk among the trees and along the streams
Our dog loved it :-)
We did it in 2½ hours, excluding breaks

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Doral'exploratrice
Doral'exploratrice

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this superb route. The heatwave is hitting hard this August and we took refuge from the scorching sun. The GPS track is reliable, we had no problems. There was a short section where we had to avoid brambles and nettles, as nature had reclaimed its rights, but nothing impossible.
Following the streams is a very pleasant way to cool off a little.

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RCT69
RCT69

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

hello
i walk this very pleasant trail once or twice a week. But I get the impression that hikers are less and less welcome. When you reach the Rolland stream, keep to the left. After about 400 metres (I didn't measure it, sorry), a section has been cut off for several months and brambles have taken over. you have to cross (the new path is visible) and then return to the other bank after 20-30 metres. I wonder what it will be like when the stream is in full flow (I've seen it at different times of year). At point 10, it's only 50 metres, but it's become very high. Next time, I'll take some secateurs. But it's still a very beautiful route in the shade, with some nice climbs and a steep descent on dry ground (I saw a comment recommending walking sticks)

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PNAV
PNAV

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that lives up to its name and takes place almost entirely in the woods. It was very pleasant because it was a sunny day. There were fords to cross, climbs and descents—in short, varied terrain—accompanied by birdsong and the sound of water. We had to climb over fallen trees (nothing insurmountable) and navigate brambles and tall grass on the path. The route is not always well marked, but we didn't get lost and completed the hike in 3 hours and 50 minutes, including breaks.
A beautiful morning in the heart of nature – what could be better?

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fabdemo
fabdemo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, very shaded walk with water in the streams, perfect for my Labrador, and lots of crossings to make. A really lovely walk. It took us 3 hours and 20 minutes with lots of breaks for the dog to have a dip. There could be a few more signposts and there are some patches of tall grass, brambles and nettles, but long live the countryside and places like this!

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TOWTTY
TOWTTY

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Really nice hike, particularly shaded. We did it 48 hours after heavy rainfall, so the "streams" were quite wide and high. This made the walk even more fun for the children! How are we going to cross? What's the best way? Well, knowing that the only risk was getting our feet wet, there was no stress! 😉

Took 3 hours and 20 minutes without breaks. No major difficulties and lots of places to stop in the forest.

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01rando
01rando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike very close to Lyon that truly deserves its name, Saute-ruisseaux (Ditch-Jumping).
At this time of year, boots would have been welcome!
The section between points 9 and 10 is a little tricky due to forestry machinery, motorbikes and quad bikes, which have left the path a bit of a mess.
Nothing serious, though; the main thing is to stay close to the stream.

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Randonneuse61!
Randonneuse61!

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

poorly marked route. Three routes were suggested at the start and one sign was seen along the route. My friend thought the suggested route was too long, so we opted for a 6 km route. But we got lost and ended up walking even further! It's a shame, as the hike had started well.

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rdouzal
rdouzal
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Starting from Loire sur Rhône, this 12-kilometre route runs through woodland with two fairly challenging climbs, particularly the second. The first takes you to a plateau with beautiful views, and the second leads to a high point where you can see the city of Lyon on the horizon. The route then descends gently back to the starting point. The hike is called Saute ruisseaux (Jump Streams) because we cross several streams, which are desperately dry at this time of year!
Watch the video on the blog 'Les randos d'Evelyne & Rémy': https://randos-e-r.blogspot.com/2023/09/...

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charpenel
charpenel

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Mostly in the woods. Nice hike, but too many midges buzzing around you. The reason is that there is no water left in the streams, so they come and drink on you. Otherwise, a very pleasant walk.

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Rossi c
Rossi c

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

With the heatwave and the very shady trails, the hike was advertised as 300 to 400 metres of elevation gain and 11 km, as indicated!

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TineDo
TineDo
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, well-shaded walk (much appreciated in hot weather!) through woodland following a series of streams, some of which are very steep-sided (unfortunately almost dry at this time of year) and which you cross several times. There are a few steep climbs and descents (to be avoided in wet weather). Beautiful views (points 3 to 7). The forest is enchanting. Charming little pond (pt 8) ideal for picnics. On this day, the path running along the right side of the stream (pt 9) was overgrown with brambles for 200 m. It is better to walk in the stream bed to avoid this inconvenience and rejoin the path a little further on.
Very diverse landscapes and vegetation. Saw one or two birds of prey, lots of red slugs and green lizards, a few butterflies.
The description AND the GPS app complement each other well, making it easy to complete this circuit without too much hesitation.
Pt 3, didn't see the stone hut
Only encountered one hiker, a jogger and a small group of 'woodcutters' who had come to chop wood.
Took 5 hours: stops for picnics, photos and snacking on blackberries and mirabelle plums along the way More like 13 km.

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masdelaraz38
masdelaraz38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed on Whit Monday in 2½ hours, walking at a leisurely pace. It's really pleasant to enjoy the woodland and walk alongside the streams when, as was the case on this day, it starts to get warm. The description and GPS track are accurate, although some of the signposts had been damaged by the weather. Bring something to drink as there are no water sources nearby or along the route. Beautiful views of Lyon and Pilat.
Thanks to the author.

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Monsieur Chupon
Monsieur Chupon
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A very pleasant hike to do with family or friends, with lots of forest trails, making it enjoyable when the weather is warm. No particular difficulty, except that it climbs more than you might expect.

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Bernadette PONTVIANNE
Bernadette PONTVIANNE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A beautiful hike, fortunately in the shade, mainly in the woods, as we did it during a heatwave with temperatures reaching 35°C
The streams were almost dry.
There were lots of climbs, and it was more like 13 km.

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