Créé par Emilie, le 1 juil. 2026
Votre guide Ryo
15 Hikes to do around Lyon to get back to nature!
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Heatwave alert! It's too hot and you dream of shaded trails along fresh rivers... It's autumn and you want to walk through dead leaves and pick mushrooms... Winter is coming, and you think a walk in the snow would do you the world of good... Spring is returning and you can't wait to go for a stroll among the wildflowers...
Whether you're visiting Lyon or live there, there's a good chance you have irrepressible desires for freshness and greenery, calm and silence, to see trees and listen to the lapping of rivers!
It's normal, even though the city is full of surprises, it's always nice to get a bit of greenery, especially in summer!
It's even been scientifically proven! Seeing green is good for your brain! So, let's not wait any longer to make it happy and set off to discover the most beautiful hikes to do around Lyon!
The 5 best hikes accessible by public transport!
You don't have a car, or don't want to use it (and rightly so), don't panic, Lyon has this significant advantage of landing you in the middle of nature in just a few bus stops.
Here are some ideas for spending a day of total disconnection without traveling miles!
1. The Limonest loop:
Duration: 5 km, Level: Easy, Elevation gain: 138, Max altitude: 408 m TCL bus stop: line 21 or 942 / "Limonest Centre"
We start gently for those who aren't too used to it. This small 5 km hike takes you through the fields of Limonest dotted with old washhouses and beautiful viewpoints over the Monts du Lyonnais.
2. The Yseron valley
Duration: 5 km, Level: Easy, Elevation gain: 98, Max altitude: 281 m TCL bus stop: line 73 / "Francheville Bel-Air"
The valley carved by the Yseron offers beautiful possibilities for peaceful hikes just steps from Lyon. An easy and quick loop, ideal for a half-day excursion or a picnic followed by a nap by the river.
3. The surroundings of Saint-Didier
Duration: 11 km, Level: Medium Difficulty, Elevation gain: 381, Max altitude: 560 m TCL bus stop: line 20-22-23 / "Saint-Didier Église"
If there's one unmissable place to escape in Lyon, it's the beautiful nature of the Monts d'Or! This walk lets you discover the very pretty village of Saint-Didier-aux-Monts-d'Or, while revealing sublime views of Lyon!
And if you want to go further, continue to Poleymieux-au-Mont-d'Or (bus 84) and climb to the summit of Mont Thou, the second highest of the Monts d'Or culminating at 625 meters altitude! View of Lyon of course, but also of the Alps!
4. The Banks of Ratier and Ribes
Duration: 8.3 km, Level: Easy, Elevation gain: 128, Max altitude: 303 m TCL bus stop: line 72 / "Croix Muriat"
South of Saint-Genis-les-Ollières flows the small Ratier stream. The hike then continues along the Ribes. A beautiful day ahead with children who will discover all the hidden life of a pond thanks to the educational circuit set up by the metropolis.
5. The Beffe Valleys
Duration: 10.6 km, Level: Medium difficulty, Elevation gain: 196, Max altitude: 328 m TCL bus stop: line 3 / "Dardilly le bas"
Come discover the woods of Western Lyon with this beautiful walk through varied landscapes. You cross the valleys of Beffe and Charbonnière, the woods of Serre and Lune and alternate between nature and urban areas. You can even take the opportunity to visit the beautiful Lacroix-Laval park and its castle!
5 hikes a bit further, but not too far either!
Photo Page Facebook Savoie Mont-Blanc
This time, we forget TCL (Lyon's public transport network) and take the car (or train) to go a bit further to see what's happening.
Lyon is a very well-located city, steps away from the Alps, Beaujolais and the Pilat mountains.
Here's a small selection of the best hikes to get away less than 1h30 from Lyon!
1. The Paladru lake loop
Duration: 22 km, Level: Medium+ difficulty, Elevation gain: 695, Max altitude: 675 m
About 80 km from Lyon, towards Grenoble and Chartreuse, lies the beautiful glacial lake of Paladru. You can walk around it for a pleasant day hike, long but without technical difficulty. It allows you to discover the lake from all angles, while offering beautiful viewpoints of the Chartreuse and Vercors massifs. Not to mention the possibility of ending your day with a well-deserved dive in summer (unless you're motivated and don't mind cold water!).
2. The Dent du Chat
Duration: 4.6 km (round trip), Level: Difficult, Elevation gain: 750, Max altitude: 1390 m
Here's a star hike of the region, the climb to the summit of the famous Dent du Chat! The classic departure is from Col du Chat and immediately plunges you into forest. Past Mollard Noir, the trail becomes more technical with a finale requiring ladders and cables (not to do with young children!). More impressive than difficult, and the game is worth the candle. The view from the summit is breathtaking. You're not very high, yet you have a panorama extending to Lyon on clear days (see if you can spot Fourvière or the Part Dieu pencil?!). Mountain-wise you'll see (among others, we won't list them all!): Mont Blanc, Bornes-Aravis, Massif des Beauges, Mont Revard, Belledonnes chain, Chartreuse massif etc. (if you like knowing mountain names, try the "Peak finder" app)
It's also the perfect opportunity to try Via Ferrata with the great Roc du Cornillon circuit. Ideal for discovering climbing sensations safely, it's classified as easy while being vertiginous and overlooking Lac du Bourget!
3. The Croix du Nivolet
From Le Sire: Duration: 6 km, Level: Easy, Elevation gain: 300, Max altitude: 1545 m
If you want a beautiful mountain view without going through ladders on steep ridges, you can go see what's happening across (from Dent du Chat, I mean) and climb to the summit of Nivolet to reach the famous cross that Chambéry residents know well. This time no problems, you can come with your children! It's a very popular family walk.
A great classic, you have 4 possible starting points: from Le Sire, from Pragondran, from Lovettaz, from Les Favres. The paths meet for a final climb to reach the famous viewpoint. Watch out, the view is incredible!
4. The 3 castles
Duration: 14 km, Level: Medium difficulty, Elevation gain: 300, Max altitude: 560 m
Spending the day in Beaujolais inevitably involves vineyards, castles and why not, wine tastings! The three castles circuit offers you vineyards as far as the eye can see, pretty undergrowth and the discovery of (oh surprise), three castles: Château du Souzy, Château de Varennes and Château de la Palud. An excursion combining nature and culture, not forgetting beautiful discoveries of local gastronomy!
5. The Pilat ridge trail
Duration: 10 km, Level: Medium difficulty, Elevation gain: 325, Max altitude: 1430 m
The great must-see of this magnificent regional natural park, located 60 km from Lyon, is undoubtedly the Pilat ridge trail! This route traverses the classified summits of the "crêts" for a splendid hike, all panoramic views striking on the surrounding massifs! The Jura mountains, Alpine chain, Ardèche summits, Velay, chain of puys, Monts du Lyonnais and Monts d'Or. Don't forget your camera!
5 hikes to do over a weekend!
If you're an experienced hiker, it's certainly not these little 5 km loops around Lyon's rivers that made you want to go on an adventure!
Don't panic, we thought of you too, by concocting a little list of the best big hikes to do in the region!
Bivouac in the middle of the mountains, refuge (staffed or not), Airbnb in the valley... The possibilities are multiple to enjoy a real nature break a few hours from Lyon.
1. The Grand Tour du Beaujolais
Duration: 40 km over 2 days of walking, Difficulty: Medium, Elevation gain: 530m, Max altitude: 863m
Here's a beautiful hike to do less than an hour by train from Lyon! Come explore the green valleys of Beaujolais. Everything's there, vineyards of course, but also fields, undergrowth, numerous magnificent viewpoints and a multitude of charming little villages to stop in.
A nature and tasting weekend ahead for a timeless break!
For the night, you can stop in a gîte or Airbnb, in Sainte-Paule or Ternand.
2. The Vercors crossing
Duration: 30 km over 2 days of walking, Difficulty: Medium, Elevation gain: 1,365 m, Max altitude: 1629 m
There are several ways to cross the Vercors regional natural park. If you only have a weekend and don't want to do 4 days of walking, you can quite well go bivouac one night and cross the Vercors via the High Plateaus starting from Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors.
You can sleep in the unstaffed cabin of Refuge de la Jasse du Play or bivouac nearby, before continuing the next day to Col du Rousset.
If you can come with two cars, you can drive to Col du Rousset, leave one vehicle and return to Saint-Agnan to start the hike.
Otherwise, you can connect Die and Clelles stations via Col des Bachassons (sleep or bivouac at Chaumailloux cabin).
3. Lac du Grand Doménon in the Belledonnes
Duration: 14 km, Difficulty: Difficult, Elevation gain: 1700 m, Max altitude: 2400 m
Direction Belledonne and one of their nicest hikes: Lac du Grand Doménon! Departure from Pré Raymond parking, direction Lac du Crozet via GR549a then head to Refuge du Pra (reservations required) where you can spend the night. You can obviously bivouac if you prefer (following proper rules, as always, I'm not teaching you anything).
On the program: superb views of Chartreuse followed by splendid high mountain landscapes and a night under the stars. Life.
4. Col de la Vanoise
Duration: 12 km, Difficulty: Medium, Elevation gain: 900 m, Max altitude: 2517 m
We push a bit further and drive 2h30 to reach Pralognan-la-Vanoise. With this magnificent national park only 200 km away, it's hard to omit the possibility of a high mountain weekend from Lyon! The possibilities are multiple and sublime! But to start, here's the great classic of the area, Col de la Vanoise via Lac des Vaches!
The views are breathtaking (plus it climbs!), ibex, marmots and chamois are there, alpine chalets sell cheese and you can even spend the night enjoying Savoyard specialties at Refuge du Col de la Vanoise (reservations required). What more could you ask for a weekend in total disconnection!
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 visiting the village or a new quick little hike before hitting the road!
5. Lac Blanc de Chamonix
From Col des Montets, Duration: 9.4 km, Difficulty: Difficult, Elevation gain: 890 m, Max altitude: 2350 m
Well, if we go all the way to Vanoise, we can go to Chamonix! About 200 km separates the former capital of Gaul from the roof of Europe. You'll notice that on clear days, you can see Mont Blanc very well from Lyon! Why not go see up close what's happening there? Especially since Chamonix is accessible by train with a stop in Annecy, ideal for ending the weekend beautifully!
You have a thousand hiking possibilities but if there's one that really puts everyone in agreement, it's Lac Blanc!
Famous worldwide, you have it right next to you, so why deprive yourself!
This exceptional hike delivers a stunning panorama of the Mont Blanc and Aiguilles Rouges massifs reflected in the crystal-clear waters of the lake.
Good news, if you're with young children or can't walk too long, this mythical landscape remains within reach thanks to the Flégère cable car that drops you 2 hours' walk from the lake (paid of course). Others, start from Col des Montets in Argentière, for a hike you'll tell us about!
Here we bivouac, or sleep at Refuge du Lac Blanc, otherwise, you have a whole range of accommodation available in Chamonix! Your choice.
Conclusion
Photo Page Facebook Pilat Tourism
Whether you're beginner walkers, dreamers seeking a nap under apple trees or great adventurers missing mountains, Lyon is an ideal base for discovering the surroundings.
Micro-adventure is within reach, you just need to make it happen!
Go get some fresh air, feel the wind on your face, meet local artisans, smile at marmots or admire a sunrise alone in the world, and you'll be refreshed like never before!
Don't hesitate to research hiking routes using specialized sites like VisoRando, AllTrails or AltitudeRando, where you'll find all the necessary information for your preparations.
If you prefer to be completely guided, you can also call on a specialized agency like "Mes pieds sur Terre", a Lyon ecotourism agency that creates day walking excursions, tested and approved!
