15 hikes around Lyon to get in touch with nature!

Heatwave alert! It’s too hot and you’re dreaming of shady paths along cool rivers… It’s autumn and you want to go for a walk in the fallen leaves and pick mushrooms… Winter is coming, and you’re thinking that a walk in the snow would do you a world of good… Spring returns and all you want to do is go for a walk in the wild flowers…

Whether you’re just passing through or live in Lyon, chances are you’re craving freshness and greenery, peace and quiet, trees and lapping rivers!

The city may be full of surprises, but it’s always nice to get away from it all for a while, especially in summer!

It’s even been scientifically proven! Seeing green does your brain good! So don’t wait any longer to give your brain a treat, and let’s set off to discover the best walks to do around Lyon!

The 5 best walks accessible by public transport!

If you don’t have a car, or don’t want to use one (and you’re right), don’t panic. Lyon has the great advantage of getting you out into the countryside in just a few bus stops.

Here are a few ideas for spending a day totally unplugged without having to travel miles!

1 The Limonest loop :

Length: 5 km , Level: Easy , Difference in altitude: 138, Maximum altitude: 408 m
TCL bus stop: line 21 or 942 / “Limonest Centre”.

We’re off to a gentle start for those who aren’t too used to it. This short 5km walk takes you through the fields of Limonest, dotted with old wash-houses and beautiful views of the Monts du Lyonnais.

2 The Yseron valley

Length: 5 km , Level: Easy , Difference in altitude +: 98, Max. altitude: 281 m
TCL bus stop: line 73 / “Francheville Bel-Air“.

The valley carved out by the River Yseron offers some great opportunities for quiet walks just a stone’s throw from Lyon. A quick and easy loop, ideal for a half-day excursion or a picnic followed by a siesta by the river.

3. The area around Saint-Didier

Length: 11 km , Difficulty level: Medium , Ascent: 381 , Maximum altitude: 560 m
Bus stop TCL: line 20-22-23 / “Saint-Didier Église“.

If there’s one place you can’t miss in Lyon, it’s the beautiful countryside of the Monts d’Or! On this walk, you’ll discover the pretty village of Saint-Didier-aux-Monts-d’Or, while taking in the sublime views over Lyon!
And if you want to go even further, continue on to Poleymieux-au-Mont-d’Or (bus 84) and climb to the top of Mont Thou, the second highest peak in the Monts d’Or at 625 metres! The view is not just of Lyon, but also of the Alps!

4. The banks of the Ratier and Ribes rivers

Length: 8.3 km , Level: Easy , Ascent: 128 , Max. altitude: 303 m
TCL bus stop: line 72 / “ Croix Muriat

To the south of Saint-Genis-les-Ollières flows the small Ratier stream. The walk then continues along the Ribes. It’s a great day out with the children, who can discover all the hidden life of a pond on the educational trail set up by the local authority.

5. The Vallons de la Beffe

Length: 10.6 km , Level: Medium difficulty , Difference in altitude +: 196 , Max. altitude: 328 m
Bus stop TCL: line 3 / “ Dardilly le bas”.

Come and discover the woods of western Lyon on this beautiful walk through varied landscapes. You’ll pass through the Beffe and Charbonnière valleys, the Serre and Lune woods and alternate between natural and urban areas. You can even take the opportunity to visit the beautiful Lacroix-Laval park and castle!

5 hikes a little further afield, but not too far!

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This time, forget the TCL (Lyon’s public transport network) and take the car (or train) to go a little further afield to see what’s going on.
Lyon is a very well situated city, just a stone’s throw from the Alps, Beaujolais and the Pilat mountains.

Here’s a small selection of the best walks for a change of scenery, less than 1? hours from Lyon!

1.the Paladru lake loop

Length: 22 km , Difficulty level: medium + , Difference in altitude: 695 , Maximum altitude: 675 m

Around 80 km from Lyon, heading towards Grenoble and the Chartreuse, lies the beautiful glacial lake of Paladru. You can take a pleasant, long, but not technically demanding day hike around it. You’ll be able to see the lake from all angles, while enjoying beautiful views of the Chartreuse and Vercors ranges. Not forgetting the possibility of ending your day with a well-deserved dip in summer (unless you’re motivated and don’t mind the cold water!).

2 La dent du chat

Duration: 4.6 km (return) , Difficult level , Difference in altitude: 750 , Maximum altitude: 1390 m

Here’s one of the region’s star hikes, the ascent to the summit of the famous Dent du Chat! The classic start is from the Col du Chat and takes you straight into the forest. Past the Mollard Noir, the trail becomes more technical, with the final section requiring you to climb ladders and cables (not for young children!). More impressive than difficult, though, and well worth the effort. The view from the top is breathtaking. You’re not very high up, but the panorama stretches as far as Lyon on a clear day (see if you can see Fourvière or the Part Dieu pencil?!). On the mountain side, you’ll see (and we’re not going to list them all!): Mont Blanc, les Bornes-Aravis, le Massif des Beauges, le Mont Revard, la chaîne des Belledonnes, le Massif de la Chartreuse etc. (if you like to know the names of mountains, try the “Peak finder” app).
This is also the perfect opportunity to try your hand at Via Ferrata, with the super Roc du Cornillon circuit. Ideal for discovering the thrills of safe climbing, it’s rated as easy but still vertiginous, and overlooks Lac du Bourget!

3. the Nivolet cross

From Le Sire: Length: 6 km , Level: Easy , Difference in altitude: 300 , Maximum altitude: 1545 m

If you want a good view of the mountains without having to climb ladders over steep ridges, you can go and see what’s going on opposite (from the Dent du Chat, I mean) and climb to the top of Le Nivolet to reach the famous cross that Chambériens know so well. This time, no problem, you can bring your children! It’s a very popular family walk.
There are 4 possible departures: from Le Sire, from Pragondran, from Lovettaz and from Les Favres. The paths join up for a final climb to reach the famous belvedere. The view is incredible!

4.3 castles

Duration: 14 km , Level: Medium difficulty , Difference in altitude: 300 , Maximum altitude: 560 m

Spending the day in the Beaujolais region inevitably involves vineyards, châteaux and, why not, wine tasting! The three châteaux trail takes you through vineyards as far as the eye can see, pretty undergrowth and (surprise!) three châteaux: Château du Souzy, Château de Varennes and Château de la Palud. It’s an excursion that combines nature and culture, not to mention some great local gastronomy!

5. The Pilat ridge trail

Length: 10 km , Level: Medium difficulty , Difference in altitude: 325 , Maximum altitude: 1430 m

The must-see trail in this magnificent regional nature park, 60 km from Lyon, is undoubtedly the sentier des crêtes du Pilat! This itinerary takes in the peaks of the classified “crêts” site for a splendid hike, with breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding massifs! The Jura mountains, the Alps, the Ardèche peaks, the Velay, the puys chain, the Lyonnais mountains and the Monts d’Or. Don’t forget your camera!

5 hikes to do over a weekend!

If you’re a keen hiker, these short 5km loops around Lyon’s rivers certainly aren’t what got you in the mood for adventure!

Don’t panic, we’ve got you covered too, with a short list of the best big hikes in the region!
Bivouac in the middle of the mountains, refuge (guarded or not), Airbnb in the valley… There are so many ways to enjoy a real break from nature, just a few hours from Lyon.

1 – The Grand Tour of Beaujolais

Duration: 40 km over 2 days’ walking, Difficulty: Medium, Ascent: 530m, Maximum altitude: 863m

This is a great walk less than an hour by train from Lyon! Come and explore the lush green valleys of the Beaujolais region. You’ll find everything you need: vineyards, of course, but also fields, undergrowth, a host of magnificent viewpoints and a multitude of charming little villages to stop off in.
A weekend of nature and wine tasting for a timeless break!
For the night, you can stop off at a gîte or Airbnb in Sainte-Paule or Ternand.

2 Crossing the Vercors

Duration: 30 km over 2 days’ walking, Difficulty: Medium, Total ascent: 1,365 m, Maximum altitude: 1,629 m

There are several ways to cross the Vercors Regional Nature Park. If you only have a weekend and don’t want to walk for 4 days, you can bivouac for a night and cross the Vercors via the Hauts Plateaux from Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors.
You can sleep in the unguarded hut at the Refuge de la Jasse du Play or bivouac nearby, before continuing on to the Col du Rousset the following day.
If you can bring two cars, you can drive to the Col du Rousset, leave one vehicle and return to Saint-Agnan to start the hike.
Alternatively, you can link the Die and Clelles stations via the Col des Bachassons (sleep or bivouac at the Cabane de Chaumailloux).

3 Le Lac du Grand Doménon in the Belledonnes

Time: 14 km, Difficulty: Difficult , Difference in altitude: 1700 m , Maximum altitude: 2400 m

Head for the Belledonnes and one of their coolest hikes: the Lac du Grand Doménon! Leaving from the Pré Raymond car park, head for Lac du Crozet via the GR549a, then on to the Pra refuge (reservations required) where you can spend the night. You can, of course, bivouac if you prefer (in accordance with the rules, again and again, I’m not telling you anything new).
The programme includes superb views of the Chartreuse, followed by splendid high mountain scenery and a night under the stars. That’s the life.

4 The Col de la Vanoise

Duration: 12 km, Difficulty: Medium, Ascent: 900 m, Maximum altitude: 2517 m

We push on a little further and drive for 2h30 until we reach Pralognan-la-Vanoise. With this magnificent national park only 200 km away, it’s hard to overlook the possibility of a weekend in the high mountains from Lyon! The possibilities are endless and sublime! But to start with, here’s the local classic, the Col de la Vanoise via Lac des Vaches!
The views are breathtaking (and it’s uphill too!), there are ibex, marmots and chamois everywhere, the mountain chalets sell cheese and you can even spend the night feasting on Savoyard specialities in the Col de la Vanoise refuge (reservations required). What more could you want for a weekend of total relaxation?
If you don’t want to sleep up there, or if the refuge is full, you can sleep in Pralognan and return the next day after a visit to the village or another quick hike before hitting the road again!

5. the white lake of Chamonix

From the Col des Montets, Time: 9.4 km, Difficulty: Difficult, Total ascent: 890 m , Maximum altitude: 2350 m

Well, if you’re going all the way to Vanoise, you might as well go all the way to Chamonix! Some 200km separate the ancient capital of Gaul from the roof of Europe. You’ll notice that on a clear day, you can see Mont-Blanc very well from Lyon! So why not take a closer look? What’s more, Chamonix can be reached by train, with a stopover in Annecy, making it the perfect way to end the weekend!
There are a thousand possibilities for hiking, but if there’s one that really gets everyone talking, it’s the Lac Blanc!
Famous the world over, you’ve got it right next door, so why deprive yourself!
This exceptional hike offers a breathtaking panorama of the Mont Blanc Massif and the Aiguilles Rouges, reflected in the crystal-clear waters of the lake.
The good news is that if you have young children or can’t walk for too long, this mythical landscape is within easy reach thanks to the Flégère cable car, which takes you up to 2 hours’ walk from the lake (for a fee, of course). For the rest of you, set off from the Col des Montets in Argentière for a hike we’d love to hear about!

Here you can bivouac or sleep at the Lac Blanc refuge, or you can choose from a whole range of accommodation in Chamonix! Take your pick.

Conclusion

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Whether you’re a beginner walker, a dreamer looking for a siesta under the apple trees, or an adventurer with a craving for the mountains, Lyon is an ideal base from which to explore the surrounding area.
Micro-adventures are just around the corner, you just have to make them happen!
Get some fresh air, feel the wind on your face, meet local craftsmen, smile at the marmots or admire a sunrise alone in the world, and you’ll be as refreshed as ever!

Don’t hesitate to find out about hiking routes on specialist websites such as VisoRando, AllTrails or AltitudeRando, where you’ll find all the information you need to prepare.
If you prefer to be completely guided, you can also call on the services of a specialist agency such as “Mes pieds sur Terre”, an ecotourism agency based in Lyon that can put together tried and tested day-long walking excursions for you!