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Best Forest Hikes in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

There are 472 hikes in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in our database that fit. They average 6.0 km and 175 m (574 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 270 km.

That is 21 percent of the 2,280 routes we map in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. They are shorter than the local average, 6.0 km against 9.2 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 175 m (574 ft) against 260 m (853 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Forest trails are the dependable choice: shade when it is hot, shelter when it is not, and a completely different character once the leaves turn. The mix is broad: 334 are rated easy and 25 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day.

Trails

Expert

De Néris-les-Bains à Chabanne

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
146 km
/ 90.6 mi
Elevation gain
3,208 m
Typical duration
39 hr
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Sur les pas des Huguenots

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
87.2 km
/ 54.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,919 m
Typical duration
23 hr
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

Le plateau du Guéry

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
13.1 km
/ 8.1 mi
Elevation gain
288 m
Typical duration
3 hr 9 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Expert

Boucle Longue du Sancy

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
80.6 km
/ 50.1 mi
Elevation gain
3,410 m
Typical duration
23 hr
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Easy

Les Vans - Brahic

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
99 m
Typical duration
1 hr 5 min
  • Forest
Hard

Les Cascades

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
16.9 km
/ 10.5 mi
Elevation gain
372 m
Typical duration
4 hr 9 min
  • Waterfall
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Les Gorges de la Loire

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
21.0 km
/ 13.0 mi
Elevation gain
462 m
Typical duration
5 hr 15 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Expert

Boucle des Dômes

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
48.2 km
/ 29.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,124 m
Typical duration
12 hr
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Chalet Rochette

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
9.6 km
/ 6.0 mi
Elevation gain
212 m
Typical duration
2 hr 20 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Les Gorges de Thurignin

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
13.9 km
/ 8.7 mi
Elevation gain
240 m
Typical duration
3 hr 16 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Les Gorges de la Sioule

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
16.8 km
/ 10.4 mi
Elevation gain
369 m
Typical duration
4 hr 6 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Croix d'Albiez en aller-retour

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
7.8 km
/ 4.8 mi
Elevation gain
385 m
Typical duration
2 hr 12 min
  • Forest
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Lac et sous Bois

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
5.4 km
/ 3.3 mi
Elevation gain
118 m
Typical duration
1 hr 18 min
  • Lake
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Les Balcons du Lac de Nantua

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
26.2 km
/ 16.3 mi
Elevation gain
577 m
Typical duration
6 hr 40 min
  • Lake
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Les caves de Saint-Julien

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
9.0 km
/ 5.6 mi
Elevation gain
198 m
Typical duration
2 hr 10 min
  • Forest
  • Cave
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Fort du Mont

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
12.3 km
/ 7.6 mi
Elevation gain
270 m
Typical duration
2 hr 58 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Castle and ruins
Easy

À l'assaut du Fort du Mont

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
5.6 km
/ 3.5 mi
Elevation gain
123 m
Typical duration
1 hr 21 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Castle and ruins
Easy

La Thuile

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
5.5 km
/ 3.4 mi
Elevation gain
122 m
Typical duration
1 hr 20 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Easy

Les Gorges d'Enval

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
33 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Moderate

Les Gorges de l'Artiere

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
7.0 km
/ 4.3 mi
Elevation gain
154 m
Typical duration
1 hr 41 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Easy

Les Gorges de la Monne

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
46 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Easy

Mas Giraud - Bois de Berg

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
65 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

Mont de Grésy

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
8.6 km
/ 5.4 mi
Elevation gain
189 m
Typical duration
2 hr 5 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

B11 - Les Hauts de Tourmentier

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
9.2 km
/ 5.7 mi
Elevation gain
203 m
Typical duration
2 hr 14 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

B12 - Les Ardoisiers

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
59 m
Typical duration
39 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Bois de Motaillas

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
4.4 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
96 m
Typical duration
1 hr 3 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Bois de la Masse

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
12.1 km
/ 7.5 mi
Elevation gain
267 m
Typical duration
2 hr 56 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Bourdezac - Le Grand Bois

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
140 m
Typical duration
52 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Chanéac - Les Alleyrets

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
31 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Circuit du Bois du Thym

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
6.8 km
/ 4.2 mi
Elevation gain
150 m
Typical duration
1 hr 39 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Croix de Pralognan

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
8.1 km
/ 5.0 mi
Elevation gain
203 m
Typical duration
2 hr
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Croix du Planas - Les Vernets

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
41 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Digon - Les Combes

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
62 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

EN05 - Les Resses d'en bas

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
80 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Foret de Bunlay-les-Rouchons

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
6.2 km
/ 3.8 mi
Elevation gain
136 m
Typical duration
1 hr 29 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
De Néris-les-Bains à ChabanneAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes146 km3,208 m39 hrExpertApril to October
Sur les Pas de Charles IX et Catherine de MédicisAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes270 km5,951 m72 hrExpertApril to October
Sur les pas des HuguenotsAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes87.2 km1,919 m23 hrExpertApril to October
Le plateau du GuéryAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes13.1 km288 m3 hr 9 minModerateApril to October
D'Evaux-les-Bains à Néris-les-BainsAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes26.1 km574 m6 hr 38 minHardApril to October
Boucle Longue du SancyAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes80.6 km3,410 m23 hrExpertApril to October
Le Bourbonnais, de Moulins à Montcombroux-les-MinesAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes51.9 km1,142 m13 hrExpertApril to October
Les Vans - BrahicAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes4.5 km99 m1 hr 5 minEasyApril to October
Les CascadesAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes16.9 km372 m4 hr 9 minHardApril to October
Les Gorges de la LoireAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes21.0 km462 m5 hr 15 minHardApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Sur les pas des Huguenots, De Néris-les-Bains à Chabanne, Sur les Pas de Charles IX et Catherine de Médicis. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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