Stroll along the Canal du Forez

fr

An open-to-the-sky Sunday stroll in the sun Canal du Forez.

Technical sheet

n°200546
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.05 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 7 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 7 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 393 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 383 m
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Photos

Canal du Forez: between the canal bridge and Frécon Neuf
Canal du Forez in winter.
Forez canal

Description of the walk

Park in the car park next to the David Pond.

(S/F) Cross the road and follow the side of the canal avoiding the path to David Pond marked with a fish symbol.

(1) Cross the road and continue on the same bank.

(2) At a stone bridge, cross over to the left and move to the other bank. Otherwise you will be unable to get over the Bonson river. Continue along the canal.

(3) After Frécon Neuf farm with a pond where a small windmill is located, turn right. Cross at the bridge and take a left to return to the right bank.

(4) Cross the D102 departmental road and continue straight on the same bank.

(5) Arrive at the old Estivarelle rail bridge, turn back on yourself and return by the same route to reach the car park (S/F).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 390 m - Car park next to the - Etang david
  2. 1 : km 1.49 - alt. 392 m - Road crossing
  3. 2 : km 2.11 - alt. 392 m - Obligation to change banks. Close to - Bonson (rivière) - Affluent de la Loire
  4. 3 : km 3.06 - alt. 391 m - Change banks.
  5. 4 : km 3.63 - alt. 393 m - Road crossing
  6. 5 : km 4.98 - alt. 391 m - Half a lap.
  7. S/E : km 10.05 - alt. 390 m - Departure car park - Canal du Forez

Practical information

This Sunday stroll is family-friendly. Take extra care with young children because the canal banks do not have barriers.

In the nearby area

Between (4) (5) and you will likely see a good number of egrets which are to be found here.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 21 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.8 / 5
Route interest
3.7 / 5
yro
yro

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

Start of a pleasant circuit along the Forez canal, with plenty of tarmac roads.

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teedom42
teedom42

Lots of walkers on the path

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MSL43
MSL43

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

A simple, easy afternoon ride along the canal with no difficulties and a return trip. Children can follow on their bikes without any worries.

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Daniel Brignon
Daniel Brignon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

It wasn't a complicated circuit. Quite the opposite, very cool. The safe route is particularly popular with mountain bikers, family groups and even large numbers of accompanied children.

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LA BROSSE 42
LA BROSSE 42

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very easy walk along the canal, discovering its engineering structures, in particular the canal bridge.
Possibility of returning via Etang David and its birdlife: wild ducks, coots and numerous little egrets.
Note: both banks of the canal bridge were open on this day. (2/4/2021)

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Little Bob
Little Bob

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk for a summer Sunday with the family, with both people on foot and others on bikes. A little short, but you could add the tour of the pond David.

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st hil
st hil

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 31, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

for a day after reveillon it was perfect, we completed by the etang david which unfortunately was .... empty!
there are also with the egrets many grey herons
merci pour ce tracé

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42Sylvie
42Sylvie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Easy walk as it's all flat.
Shame to have to make a return trip.
Thanks to the person who suggested this hike, I didn't know it.

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gegerando42
gegerando42

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 05, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A great idea for a bucolic walk.

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Collette
Collette

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 06, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant, easy and scenic route, even on hot days. You can picnic by the river with a little cover at the canal bridge.

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BRET chantal
BRET chantal

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A pleasant walk for all ages! It's good to see nature awakening and waking us up from this long winter!

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JCSABATIER
JCSABATIER

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 04, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

CLEAR

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SZCZOTA
SZCZOTA

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 02, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Why to choose this route: flat
Ideal for children or people who don't do much walking.
Quite a monotonous route, perhaps a loop would be more pleasant.

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JLB42650
JLB42650

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The route is a little monotonous in winter, but should be brighter in spring with the presence of numerous egrets.
It ends at a dead end on a main road. A loop via the old St Marcellin railway seems possible, with the route returning to the Frécon farm. Passing the lock above the Bonson is pleasant. Etang David is worth a look at at the end of the return journey.

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JJ_42
JJ_42

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 19, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Nice ride along the canal, very flat terrain.
I went there on a mountain bike with 2 children and they found some parts a little too close to the canal (they were new to cycling and were a little afraid of falling off).

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