A walk in the Montmorency forest

A pleasant circular with a moderate elevation gain, in the chestnut grove of one of the green lungs of the Ile-de-France region. In autumn, families can come and collect chestnuts.

Details

1943161
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.55 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 69 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 69 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 188 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 138 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The starting car park is on the D192, which connects Saint-Leu-la-Forêt to Chauvry. When approaching from Saint-Leu, pass the first crossroads where you will find the large circular car park of Les Quatre Cèdres. At the next intersection, turn right onto the road leading to the forest houses. Park immediately on the right, opposite the Chemin des Fourmis barrier.

(S/E) Turn back on foot and cross the D192p departmental road.

(1) Take the path on the right. You will then arrive at an open space planted by the ONF.

Yellow and red markings

(2) Cross the forest road and continue straight ahead on the path that descends. From there, follow the Randonnée de Pays trail called: Ceinture Verte de l'Ile-de-France. Reach the bottom of the descent.

(3) Turn right. Please note: this section can be a little muddy when it rains. You will reach a sandy hill that is occasionally used as a mountain biking training ground.

(4) Climb up, following the markings that veer left halfway up the hill. At the top of the hill, cross the sandy clearing to find the markings that veer left, then right. Cross the road carefully and find the marked path opposite.
Turn left onto a slight incline, then turn right onto the forest road to reach the Carrefour de la Cailleuse.

(5) Cross straight ahead and follow the forest road that veers to the right. You will reach a new trail junction where a sign indicates the name of the Route Tournante du Bois du Roi.

No markings

(6) Leave the yellow and red markings and climb the path that branches off to the right. At the top, turn immediately right onto Route du Milieu. Continue on to Carrefour du Milieu.

(7) Take the left fork. At the next fork on the plateau, turn right onto Chemin des Fourmis. Cross the clearing to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 179 m - Car park at the Chemin des Fourmis barrier
  2. 1 : km 0.14 - alt. 182 m - Route D192p
  3. 2 : km 0.66 - alt. 188 m - ONF area
  4. 3 : km 0.99 - alt. 164 m - Bottom of the descent
  5. 4 : km 1.48 - alt. 177 m - Côte Saleuse
  6. 5 : km 2.74 - alt. 159 m - Carrefour de la Cailleuse
  7. 6 : km 4.03 - alt. 138 m - Sign for the Bois du Roi roundabout
  8. 7 : km 5.68 - alt. 185 m - Carrefour du Milieu
  9. S/E : km 6.55 - alt. 180 m - Car park at the Chemin des Fourmis barrier

Worth a visit

(Between S/E and 1) As you pass, admire the twin oak trees in the car park. Along the path, a strange chimney surrounded by wire mesh seems to spew forth the furnace of the earth's bowels. It is in fact a ventilation shaft for the largest underground gypsum quarry in Europe, located 80 metres below your feet.

(Between 5 and 6) On the right-hand slope, the chestnut trees, which were affected by ink disease, were cut down during the winter of 2018-2019 and replaced by oak trees, which are resistant to this fungus.

(Between 6 and 7) Logging has cleared the view from this forest road towards the opposite slope. On the left side of the road, you will now see beech trees, recognisable by their smooth grey bark. You can admire a beautiful specimen on your right, in a bend in the road.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
lemarcheur65
lemarcheur65 ★
• Edited:

Hello Eric Piat

You should post comments like this in the forum.
https://www.visorando.com/forum-randonne...
By creating a new topic.

I find it unacceptable that this type of bug exists and I regret having paid £24

You may be able to request a refund

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eric piat
eric piat

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Due to a bug, it was impossible to print the map this week. Luckily, I had done a reconnaissance walk last week because I was leading a walking group and stress was guaranteed.
So I find it unacceptable that this type of bug exists, and I regret paying €24

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cpoupard
cpoupard

Thank you SuperMario for the photo! Glad you liked it.

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SuperMario
SuperMario

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Some parts of the route are in a dead zone
the tracker sometimes gets a little lost
there are some magnificent photos to be taken
but it comes back fairly quickly

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jean-pierre.aizac
jean-pierre.aizac

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk. The varied but gentle terrain makes for a picturesque route. The route is indeed more difficult to follow between 4 and 5, but with the app and GPS, you'll find your way back without any trouble.

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Kaki
Kaki

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The sections through the forest are very pleasant, but for my taste, this route includes too many paths outside the undergrowth. Thank you for designing it, though!

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Kaki
Kaki
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The sections through the forest are very pleasant, but for my taste, this route includes too many paths outside the undergrowth. Thank you for designing it, though!

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Thierry95100
Thierry95100

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed on the afternoon of Sunday, 23 October 2022.
An easy circular loop with some nice views, alternating between woodland and more open areas. The forest paths and roads are very clear.
On this Sunday, we encountered many chestnut and mushroom pickers.
Highly recommended!

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cbonnemoy
cbonnemoy

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely early morning walk.

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BonnetCuenot
BonnetCuenot

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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Murielle Guichard
Murielle Guichard

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk, especially with your dog.

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agrandspas
agrandspas

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Pleasant and varied

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guigwilly
guigwilly

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2020
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 children!
Great with the GPX track if you're unsure
Perfect for a half-day trip not too far from Paris!

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Randokiki93
Randokiki93

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hello.
This was my first hike with a map and detailed itinerary. Everything seemed clear at the start, but I got lost between points 4 and 5 after crossing the D 192p. Perhaps I am not yet experienced enough for this type of activity.

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cpoupard
cpoupard

Hello,

I'm glad this hike allowed you to "break out" of lockdown in complete serenity! Sorry for the minor difficulty you mentioned. I'll let you in on a secret: i've been caught out by this "turn left" before, because you're on a marked path that seems to continue straight ahead, and it's easy to miss the fork when you're chatting with friends, which is what happened to me! Anyway, the main thing is that you found your way back, and that's all part of the fun of hiking

See you soon on the trails.

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