The descent of the 16 locks

A walk that first follows the Yonne river for several kilometres, then follows the descent of the 16 Collancelle locks.

Technical sheet

59169
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.55 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 85 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 87 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 270 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 215 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park by a stream in the centre of Sardy-les-Épiry.

(S/E) When you leave the car park, turn left. About 50m further on, follow the route de Blin, C3.

(1) The road bends to the left, follow it for another 1km or so. You will come to a bridge over the Rigole de l'Yonne.
(2) Turn right to follow the river on the right-hand side for several kilometres. At first, you'll walk alongside fields.

(3) You'll find yourself in the woods. A little further on, you can see the canal below. Near Port Brulée, the channel disappears and you find yourself on a gravel path.

(4) You climb up to Port Brulée to cross and make a start down the canal with its 16 locks.

(5) At the last lock, you cross the D297 and continue along the canal's green lane.

(6) After about 1km, you come to a bridge, cross it and continue along the path opposite. It turns first right and then left. You'll come to an old railroad with a station.

(7) Cross the railroad and enter the wood opposite. Turn right. It's not really a path, but an opening several metres wide. It follows the railroad. At the end of the wood, in front of a field, turn left (very small path) and follow the field until you come to a path which takes you to the right. Continue straight ahead.

(8) Cross the D985 road and continue straight ahead. You pass a place called Les Buits. The road bends to the right.

(9) At the crossroads, turn right. Cross the D985 again and continue straight ahead to return to Sardy-les-Épiry.

(10) You'll also come across the railroad you crossed earlier. Follow the church to get back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 222 m - Car park in the centre of Sardy-les-Épiry
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 228 m - Left turn
  3. 2 : km 1.3 - alt. 265 m - Rigole d'Yonne
  4. 3 : km 2.12 - alt. 265 m - Entering the woods
  5. 4 : km 6.8 - alt. 267 m - Towards Port Brûlé - Canal du Nivarnais
  6. 5 : km 10.32 - alt. 224 m - Crossing the D297
  7. 6 : km 11.42 - alt. 219 m - Bridge
  8. 7 : km 11.9 - alt. 227 m - Crossing the old railway line
  9. 8 : km 12.85 - alt. 246 m - Crossing the D985
  10. 9 : km 13.41 - alt. 222 m - Right towards the D985
  11. 10 : km 14.24 - alt. 237 m - Crossing the old railway line
  12. S/E : km 14.55 - alt. 222 m - Car park in the centre of Sardy-les-Épiry

Practical information

The route is not signposted, but it is well marked out on the hiking maps. It's very easy to find your way and there are no difficulties. The grass is sometimes a little high at the start when you enter the gully.

In the nearby area

Étang de Baye and Étang de Veau are just a few kilometers away.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 29 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Denis26
Denis26 ★

Thank you corbirando for your comment, I've just pointed out that the route is signposted in Blue in the description.

Automatically translated

corbirando
corbirando

Since April 2025, this route has been signposted in BLUE. Enjoy your walk!

Automatically translated

Marianne et Heidi
Marianne et Heidi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very pleasant walk, which can be shortened by leaving it at point (5) to go straight to the village (the part from (5) to (10) is the least interesting). At the start, the path along the gully is a little muddy. There are lots of people along the locks. The rest of the walk is not very busy.

Automatically translated

Sellig58
Sellig58

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

There is no signposting at the start, then you just have to follow the watercourses.

Automatically translated

lagger martine
lagger martine

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk, a little muddy but very nice

Automatically translated

cocolabra71
cocolabra71
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

It makes no difference which side of the small feeder canal (called the Rigole de l'Yonne in the description) you take, as there are numerous bridges that do not appear on the IGN maps.
At point 1, you are tempted to take the right-hand path that joins the channel on the map: at the very end, this path is closed off for 100 metres between 2 vehicle barriers.

Automatically translated

rpf
rpf

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Our group completed this route on Thursday. Relaxation and a change of scenery guaranteed.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful tour with us.

Automatically translated

Sherine
Sherine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk, very pleasant route. We did it as a family and the children loved it.

Automatically translated

guib
guib

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk along the Montreuillon aqueduct.

Automatically translated

Claude-Meignen
Claude-Meignen

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful walk...
No difficulties
The first part is very pleasant (you follow the Rigole de l'Yonne)
The second part is very pleasant along the Canal du Nivernais with all the locks.
A walk worth doing.

Automatically translated

Coviaux
Coviaux

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 01, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

This hike was a lovely discovery, and can be enjoyed after a lot of rain (except perhaps the start of the gully, which can be very muddy). There's a lovely section along the channel, still on the right bank, no doubt about it (at point 2 you don't cross the bridge), and the descent of the ladders is very pleasant. It can be done with the whole family without any worries (it's not very steep and can be shortened at point 5).

Automatically translated

Netra
Netra ★

Hello mart, and thank you for your comments.

For the bend to the left of the road, at the beginning I added a crossing point (WP) and reworded the description: I think there's no longer any ambiguity.

As far as following the gully is concerned, the route does in fact indicate a change of bank at point (2) but, on the map, there is no symbol representing a bridge or footbridge. And on the satellite view, there are too many trees there to see anything.

Perhaps the author can provide an answer...

Automatically translated

mart.
mart.
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

At the beginning: "the road turns, go straight on" means follow the road (and turn), not take the path opposite (straight on).

From point 2, the route shows the path on the other side of the ditch. This is impossible.
You will have to cross at some point, but this is never indicated.

What's more, the "old railway" is a track in perfect condition that doesn't seem to have been abandoned: so be careful.

Thank you, however, for this hike.

Automatically translated

1400389025030
1400389025030

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk, especially along the Yonne channel.
Half way along the locks, I took the right bank of the canal,
on grassy, shady ground, which was very pleasant on such a hot day.
I shortened the route to 11km by returning along the D297 after Lock 16.

Automatically translated

provence13
provence13

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very nice walk
Poorly signposted from the outset

Automatically translated

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of the author. Do not copy them without permission.