Monts d’Or trails via Mont Verdun and Mont Py

Start from the lake car park.

(S/E) Walk back down through the car park. Then turn left onto the Montée du Plantin. Pass the château on your left at the top of the hill and continue straight on. Pass the orientation board, then ignore the path branching off to the right.

(1) At the fork in the road, take the path on the left.

(2) Take the path on the left. Follow the gently sloping path; at the end of the path, turn right at the hairpin bend. Continue along the path, which runs almost parallel to the one you have just taken, and cross a small, barely visible bridge (see photo); the stream it crosses runs dry in dry weather.
Take care: there are a few narrow and slippery sections in wet weather.
Ignore the paths to the right and left

(3) Turn left, then right at the hairpin bend and turn left at the next hairpin bend.

(4) Turn left to reach La Madone. Retrace your steps.

(4) Take the path branching off to the left. Pass several hairpin bends, ignoring the paths branching off to the left and right. When you reach a T-junction, turn right. After a steep climb, you’ll reach the geological trail; turn left towards Poleymieux.

(5) Turn right onto the path that climbs; this is a narrow, thorny section.

(6) Follow the path to the right. When you reach a junction, turn right.
You’ll reach the Limonest road; turn right and head downhill. Cross the road a few metres further down. Take the path marked by a large stone which branches off to the left.

(7) Turn left, pass through the small clearing and take the path on the right at the far end of the clearing – watch out for the stony path. You’ll reach the summit of the Col du Mont Verdun.

(8) Leave the tarmac and take the path under the fir trees (not shown on the IGN map) to the right of the sign marked ‘Croix du Mont Verdun, Poleymieux au Mont-d’Or’.

(9) Take the path leading down to the left. Cross a small road and rejoin the path opposite.
You’ll come to a track; follow it to the left. You’ll reach Route des Gambins. Turn left, towards Poleymieux. Take the second track on the left.

When you reach a T-junction, turn left and follow the path to the Chemin de la Maby. Turn left onto the Chemin de la Maby. There’s not much traffic, but do be careful all the same – some drivers go fast

(10) Turn right onto the footpath. You’ll reach Route de Limonest.

(11) Turn left onto the tarmac road. At the first junction, turn right towards Mont Py. Head towards the quarry and follow the path that branches off to the left, just before the entrance to the quarry.
When you reach a tarmac road, turn left towards Chasselay. Ignore the path branching off to the left.

(12) Visit the Hermitage of Saint Antoine. Retrace your steps and head back towards Chasselay.
Ignore the path branching off to the left.

(13) Turn left.

(14) Turn left. Continue along the Chemin de Poleymieux towards Chasselay. You’ll reach the Chemin de la Forêt. Turn right. Follow the Chemin de Génévreant. At the next junction, turn left onto Rue des Darbonnières. Take the first right towards the lake car park to return to the starting point (S/E).