Trail around Saint-Martin-la-Plaine Zoo

de fr

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).

Details

n°240511
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.50 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 160 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 165 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 597 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 424 m
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Photos

Orchards
Low wall
Saint-Martin-La-Plaine
Nice climb

Description of the walk

(S/E) Starting from the MJC in the centre of Saint-Martin-la-Plaine, take Rue René Charre and walk along the football pitch

(1) At the crossroads, continue straight ahead on the dirt track (an old disused railway platform). Follow this track, making a wide loop to the right, then crossing a small road near Grénod.

(2) At the fork, turn left towards Le Fraisse. When the road turns right towards Le Fraisse, continue straight ahead on a path.

(3) At the cross (on the right), turn left onto the path that climbs towards Grand-Croix. Walk between the fields, first west-northwest, then southwest.

(4) At the Grand Croix, follow the path climbing opposite (take care when crossing the road). Ignore a path coming from the left.

(5) At the top of this climb, turn left and head west-southwest, ignoring two paths on the left.

(6) Leave the path going straight ahead towards Servarin and turn left (south) onto the path going down to La Bourdiniére. Ignore the paths branching off to the sides.

(7) At La Bourdiniére, turn right onto the tarmac road and, after 30 metres, turn left towards the zoo.

(8) When you reach the zoo, turn left and follow the concrete path. You will walk alongside the zoo with the goat and ostrich enclosure on your right. Continue towards Saint-Martin-la-Plaine. When you reach the tarmac road, continue straight ahead towards a sheet metal company, then straight ahead towards the fire station and the MJC (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 473 m - MJC de Saint Martin la Plaine
  2. 1 : km 0.48 - alt. 477 m - Old railway platform
  3. 2 : km 2.41 - alt. 424 m - On the left, head towards Le Fraisse
  4. 3 : km 2.96 - alt. 440 m - Croix de la Fraisse
  5. 4 : km 4.45 - alt. 509 m - Grand-Croix crossroads
  6. 5 : km 5 - alt. 590 m - Le Crêt, on the left
  7. 6 : km 5.9 - alt. 583 m - At the foot of Crêt Fréchet. Close to the source of the - Le Bozançon
  8. 7 : km 7.53 - alt. 489 m - La Bourdinière
  9. 8 : km 7.69 - alt. 468 m - Saint Martin la Plaine Zoo
  10. S/E : km 9.5 - alt. 473 m - MJC Saint Martin la Plaine

Notes

We did not see any water sources on the hike.
No specific equipment is required.

Worth a visit

At the end of the hike, you can see the animals in the Saint-Martin-la-Plaine park (ostriches, goats and wolves).

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 25 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
marsattack
marsattack

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We completed the route on a beautiful sunny but very cold day in the middle of winter. We encountered quite a few icy sections, particularly the two short climbs (around a third of the way along the route), which were a little steep in these conditions. Be sure to follow the route in the recommended direction in winter weather, or in the opposite direction if the ground is icy, as the descents can become dangerous. We completed the route in 2 hours and 40 minutes despite the conditions, taking the time to admire the beautiful views of Pilat.

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liliane.clarens
liliane.clarens

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

On a beautiful sunny day, discover a varied, undulating route with panoramic views of the Pilat massif and a glimpse of Mont Blanc.
Superb residences, stone walls, orchards and diverse crops round off this route, which ends with a fitness trail if you're still feeling energetic!
Thank you to the author for this country walk.

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Sud 8
Sud 8

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with beautiful views of the Pilat massif and hamlets nestled in a hilly environment, ending with a view of the zoo and a well-designed educational play area.
Thanks to the author.

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schelker
schelker
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with beautiful views of the Monts du Lyonnais and Pilat mountains. No particular difficulty. This walk ends by the zoo.

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Philippe S5.
Philippe S5.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy walk completed in 2 hours and 10 minutes, with a short climb to reach the ridge, following the rear of Saint Martin la Plaine Zoo. Thank you for the route

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Christian42
Christian42

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A pleasant walk, best in good weather as it is cool at the top.
A fairly steep and slippery climb over rounded rocks in the shade for half of the distance between 4 and 5

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Chrisk
Chrisk

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A simple and easy circuit for beginners. There are no breathtaking views, but it's a nice walk that takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes. I don't walk very fast! You can see the animals in the wildlife park at the end of the loop, which is quite nice!

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renaudier
renaudier

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

easy route to follow on the app, doesn't offer very beautiful scenery, but an interesting route
.

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Natalye
Natalye

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk.

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bader
bader

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Completed in 2 hours 30 minutes, moderately interesting, desolate landscapes suffering from abnormal drought for this time of year.

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Canard 1
Canard 1

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

beautiful landscapes

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So1710
So1710

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed outside of the 2022 heatwave, with little shade and some tarmac roads. Nothing extraordinary, but nice views of Pilat and Mont du Lyonnais. At the end of the route, before the zoo, part of the descent is on a path with large rocks on the ground, so be careful if you have weak knees. Must be more pleasant in spring when everything is green. A pleasant hike to do with the family ^^

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Fz6anne
Fz6anne

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The end of the route has been changed; you no longer cross the zoo, but walk along the top, but it's still a nice walk, taking around 2½ hours maximum.

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baladindesrues
baladindesrues

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

hike completed on Wednesday, 3 March 2021. Beautiful views, very well described, good signposting, only the sun was missing.
thank you.
enjoy your hike!

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Jean Claude Adrian
Jean Claude Adrian

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

As with the hike around Saint Joseph, this is an easy route with pleasant views. It makes you want to go further west to discover the rest of this unique landscape north of the A47 motorway. It should be noted that on the day of the hike, the light was particularly beautiful: white, grey and black clouds against a turquoise sky.

The hike was cut short in its eastern section in order to return before lockdown.

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