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Hiking Trails Over 20 km in France

We track 1,175 routes that match this search in France. They average 66.6 km and 1,502 m (4,928 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 588 km.

That is 10 percent of the 11,497 routes we map in France. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 66.6 km against 13.2 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,502 m (4,928 ft) on average versus 319 m (1,047 ft) across the wider area.

Full-day and multi-day routes for walkers who want the distance to be the point. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Expert

Tour du Mont Aigoual

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
83.0 km
/ 51.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,825 m
Typical duration
22 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

SPHC, variante étape 05

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
29.3 km
/ 18.2 mi
Elevation gain
399 m
Typical duration
7 hr 8 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

SPHC, étape 05

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
20.2 km
/ 12.5 mi
Elevation gain
739 m
Typical duration
5 hr 28 min
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Sentier de Grande Randonnée 98

Parc national des Calanques (cœur) · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Distance
62.4 km
/ 38.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,373 m
Typical duration
16 hr
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Les 4000 marches

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
23.6 km
/ 14.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,388 m
Typical duration
7 hr 16 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Forest
Expert

GR 55 La Vanoise

Vanoise National Park · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Distance
56.1 km
/ 34.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,233 m
Typical duration
14 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR R1

Parc national de La Réunion (cœur) · Réunion

Distance
58.0 km
/ 36.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,276 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR R2

Parc national de La Réunion (cœur) · Réunion

Distance
144 km
/ 89.3 mi
Elevation gain
3,163 m
Typical duration
38 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR R3

Parc national de La Réunion (cœur) · Réunion

Distance
41.3 km
/ 25.7 mi
Elevation gain
909 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

La Trace des Alizés

Guadeloupe National Park · Guadeloupe

Distance
83.8 km
/ 52.1 mi
Elevation gain
4,400 m
Typical duration
26 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Tour de l'Oisans et Écrins

Parc national des Écrins (cœur) · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Distance
192 km
/ 119 mi
Elevation gain
4,224 m
Typical duration
51 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Tour de l'Ubaye (variante)

Parc national du Mercantour (cœur) · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Distance
25.7 km
/ 16.0 mi
Elevation gain
566 m
Typical duration
6 hr 32 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Tour du Parc National des Écrins

Parc national des Écrins (cœur) · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Distance
373 km
/ 232 mi
Elevation gain
8,211 m
Typical duration
100 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Via Alpina Blue D53

Parc national du Mercantour (cœur) · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Distance
20.5 km
/ 12.7 mi
Elevation gain
450 m
Typical duration
5 hr 6 min
Hard

Via Alpina Blue D54

Parc national du Mercantour (cœur) · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Distance
20.0 km
/ 12.4 mi
Elevation gain
440 m
Typical duration
4 hr 59 min
Hard

Via Alpina Red R123

Vanoise National Park · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Distance
20.5 km
/ 12.7 mi
Elevation gain
451 m
Typical duration
5 hr 7 min
Expert

Le versant nord de l'Aigoual

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
35.9 km
/ 22.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,239 m
Typical duration
9 hr 58 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Forest
Expert

Les Sagnoles - Villefort

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
38.7 km
/ 24.1 mi
Elevation gain
852 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Forest
Expert

Tour du Chaillol

Parc national des Écrins (cœur) · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Distance
97.0 km
/ 60.2 mi
Elevation gain
2,133 m
Typical duration
25 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

CSG 08 : Meyrueis - L'Espérou

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
21.9 km
/ 13.6 mi
Elevation gain
482 m
Typical duration
5 hr 30 min
Hard

UV 04 : Barjac - Lanuéjols

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
31.5 km
/ 19.6 mi
Elevation gain
694 m
Typical duration
8 hr 6 min
Expert

E5, Ballon d'Alsace - Montreux-Château

Bourgogne – Franche-Comté · France

Distance
41.4 km
/ 25.7 mi
Elevation gain
911 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

E5, Montreux-Château - Réchésy

Bourgogne – Franche-Comté · France

Distance
21.0 km
/ 13.0 mi
Elevation gain
462 m
Typical duration
5 hr 15 min
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Northern Route (Basque Country)

Nouvelle-Aquitaine · France

Distance
230 km
/ 143 mi
Elevation gain
5,050 m
Typical duration
61 hr
  • Coastal
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Camino Francés - 01

Nouvelle-Aquitaine · France

Distance
163 km
/ 101 mi
Elevation gain
3,593 m
Typical duration
43 hr
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Chemin d'Amiens

Normandy · France

Distance
168 km
/ 104 mi
Elevation gain
3,696 m
Typical duration
45 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Chemin de Barfleur

Normandy · France

Distance
161 km
/ 100.0 mi
Elevation gain
3,540 m
Typical duration
43 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Chemin de Caen

Normandy · France

Distance
165 km
/ 103 mi
Elevation gain
3,640 m
Typical duration
44 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Sentier Littoral Nord Atlantique

Martinique · France

Distance
47.6 km
/ 29.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,048 m
Typical duration
12 hr
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Sentier du Littoral

Hauts-de-France · France

Distance
299 km
/ 186 mi
Elevation gain
1,523 m
Typical duration
73 hr
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Traversée des Mont du Beaujolais

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France

Distance
183 km
/ 113 mi
Elevation gain
4,017 m
Typical duration
49 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Baztan Way

Nouvelle-Aquitaine · France

Distance
104 km
/ 64.6 mi
Elevation gain
2,288 m
Typical duration
27 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Chemin d'Assise, La Chaise - Cluny

Bourgogne – Franche-Comté · France

Distance
142 km
/ 88.4 mi
Elevation gain
3,130 m
Typical duration
38 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path

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
Tour du Mont AigoualParc national des Cévennes (cœur)83.0 km1,825 m22 hrExpertApril to October
SPHC, variante étape 05Parc national des Cévennes (cœur)29.3 km399 m7 hr 8 minHardApril to October
SPHC, étape 05Parc national des Cévennes (cœur)20.2 km739 m5 hr 28 minHardApril to October
Sentier de Grande Randonnée 98Parc national des Calanques (cœur)62.4 km1,373 m16 hrExpertApril to October
Les 4000 marchesParc national des Cévennes (cœur)23.6 km1,388 m7 hr 16 minHardApril to October
GR 55 La VanoiseVanoise National Park56.1 km1,233 m14 hrExpertApril to October
GR R1Parc national de La Réunion (cœur)58.0 km1,276 m15 hrExpertApril to October
GR R2Parc national de La Réunion (cœur)144 km3,163 m38 hrExpertApril to October
GR R3Parc national de La Réunion (cœur)41.3 km909 m10 hrExpertApril to October
La Trace des AlizésGuadeloupe National Park83.8 km4,400 m26 hrExpertApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Tour du Mont Aigoual, SPHC, étape 05, SPHC, variante étape 05. 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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