Tour of the Saint-Bonnet and Morat ponds

In the heart of the Tronçais Forest, a family walk along the ponds, navigating among the oak trees of the Colbert reserve.

Details

377463
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.52 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 22 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 30 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 246 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 215 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the car park opposite the beach and the Saint-Bonnet-Tronçais campsite.

(S/E) Cross the road towards the beach. Turn right along the beach and the campsite. Continue on the path that goes around the northern part of the lake, following it more or less closely.

(1) Continue along the lake and leave theGR®303trail on your right.

(2) Continue on the path on the right (the path on the left, not shown on the map, takes you closer to the edge of the pond, see photo) and continue along the pond.

(3) At the crossroads, head south on the left-hand path which leads to the end of the pond. After about 250m, turn left, cross a stream and head north-northeast towards the pond. Cross a wooden bridge.
N.B. On this section from the crossroads, you will cross numerous wooden pontoons that span the wetlands.

(4) At the end of the bridge, take the path on the right and follow it to a tarmac road at a place called Sologne.

(5) Follow the road to the left. After about 250 metres, take a grassy path on the right. Shortly afterwards, cross a stream. At the end of this path, follow a forest lane on the left.

(6) Join theGR®303and continue straight ahead. Ignore a path leading off to the right and walk along the Étang du Morat on your left until you reach the Rond du Vieux Morat.

(7) Then take the tarmac road furthest to the left. Immediately ignore a path branching off to the left. At the next intersection, turn left.

(8) Cross the crossroads and after 15 metres turn left onto Rue des Maures (take a look at the fresco painted on the gable of the house). Continue along Rue de la Mairie and turn left onto Rue Conrad Valéri until you reach the roundabout. Then take the second left and pass in front of the retirement home. Turn right at the first street and you will find the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 230 m - Car park opposite the beach and campsite
  2. 1 : km 1.34 - alt. 225 m - Fork
  3. 2 : km 1.92 - alt. 225 m - follow the path on the right
  4. 3 : km 2.66 - alt. 225 m - Crossroads
  5. 4 : km 3.24 - alt. 224 m - Wooden bridge
  6. 5 : km 3.97 - alt. 224 m - Sologne
  7. 6 : km 5.06 - alt. 230 m - Crossroads (elevation 231)
  8. 7 : km 6.3 - alt. 225 m - Rond du Vieux Morat
  9. 8 : km 6.74 - alt. 215 m - Mural at the intersection
  10. S/E : km 7.52 - alt. 230 m - Car park opposite the beach and campsite

Worth a visit

Stop before reaching the Rond de Morat to take a look at the Chêne Saint-Louis (one of the very old oak trees in the Colbert reserve).
Information on the site

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
moulipat
moulipat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy route for families, the tour of the St Bonnet lake is popular because the campsite is nearby. If you choose to continue on to the Morat lake, you will enter the Toret de Tronçais forest, where you will be accompanied by peace and quiet and beautiful oak trees

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User 26901428

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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pierre huraux
pierre huraux

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant short hike, mainly through woodland. Not very busy at the end of May, but certainly very popular in summer, as there is a campsite, a swimming spot and leisure activities. Large shaded car park before the campsite (may be very busy in summer).
The route is not marked but is easy to follow with the Visorando app.
We took our time. GPS: 8.31 km, 2 hours 55 minutes, elevation gain: 31 m.
There are some nice spots for a snack along the Morat pond.

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lamycatherine 75@gmail.com
lamycatherine 75@gmail.com

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 26, 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 and varied walk around the ponds. The route is easy to follow, partly following marked trails. Walkers around Lake Morat.
The only downside is the mud in many places along the path, except for the last part

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Christophe1
Christophe1

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 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 hike that is accessible to all, well laid out, with benches here and there, where you can even have a picnic, in a very pleasant environment.

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ODNAR1819MW
ODNAR1819MW

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We really enjoyed this walk, which not only takes you along the ponds but also through the forest.
There are lovely picnic areas and photo spots by the ponds.
One inconvenient aspect... the midges.

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Bernard VELUT
Bernard VELUT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very interesting walk, with no difficulty, almost entirely off-road and through forest. The route can be done in wet weather as numerous duckboards have been installed at difficult points.
However, don't be misled by the title, as the route does not run alongside the ponds and simply offers a few views of them.
This walk in a peaceful, shaded setting is very pleasant, especially at this time of year when the falling leaves create beautiful colours. I imagine that this route is certainly very popular in summer.

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Martinmichel036355
Martinmichel036355

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant hike, starting at the beach at the Saint Bonnet campsite, then heading towards the Durat lake and the Saint Louis oak tree, before arriving at the village of Saint Bonnet.
An easy hike of about 9 km, with just a slight incline to reach the Durat lake.

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BARRET Christian
BARRET Christian

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Pleasant, well-maintained course; there are beautiful views of the ponds!

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viviane granseigne
viviane granseigne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

pleasant, shaded route, well signposted. Very well maintained

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Nicole guillaume
Nicole guillaume

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant route suitable for all ages, well-maintained paths, excellent descriptions. We thoroughly enjoyed it

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rando du mardi
rando du mardi

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

we had a lovely time. We found the course to be in good condition and very clean

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claudebuisson
claudebuisson

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A pleasant walk around St Bonnet lake, where you can swim. The walk around Morat lake is slightly less interesting, but it is still very enjoyable to stroll through the forest and admire the magnificent trees, including the ancient St Louis oak.

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mj18
mj18

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

At point 6, you can take a short detour to the Oak of the Resistance and Stebbing Oak.

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