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Loop Trails in France

There are 5,441 hikes in France in our database that fit. They average 11.4 km and 279 m (915 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 373 km.

That is 47 percent of the 11,497 routes we map in France.

Circular routes: park once, finish where you started, and never walk the same section twice. The mix is broad: 1522 are rated easy and 628 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day. A good share of them are loops, so you can park once and finish where you started.

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
Moderate

La Dauphine

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
12.7 km
/ 7.9 mi
Elevation gain
434 m
Typical duration
3 hr 17 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Forest
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
Moderate

Cassini

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
9.2 km
/ 5.7 mi
Elevation gain
323 m
Typical duration
2 hr 24 min
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
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 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

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
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

Massevaques

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
15.7 km
/ 9.8 mi
Elevation gain
721 m
Typical duration
4 hr 23 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Moderate

Le pas de l'ane

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
12.0 km
/ 7.4 mi
Elevation gain
521 m
Typical duration
3 hr 17 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Hard

Le Pont du Tarn

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
18.6 km
/ 11.6 mi
Elevation gain
716 m
Typical duration
5 hr 4 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Forest
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
Moderate

Col de la Planette

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
6.9 km
/ 4.3 mi
Elevation gain
323 m
Typical duration
1 hr 55 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Les Cascades d'Orgon

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
9.3 km
/ 5.8 mi
Elevation gain
460 m
Typical duration
2 hr 38 min
  • Waterfall
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Les lacs de Crupillouse

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

Distance
16.4 km
/ 10.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,351 m
Typical duration
5 hr 28 min
  • Waterfall
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Aire-de-Côte

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
7.8 km
/ 4.8 mi
Elevation gain
223 m
Typical duration
1 hr 57 min
  • Coastal
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
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
Moderate

La Flandonenque

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
9.2 km
/ 5.7 mi
Elevation gain
497 m
Typical duration
2 hr 39 min
  • Waterfall
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Moulin du Bougès

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
8.9 km
/ 5.6 mi
Elevation gain
561 m
Typical duration
2 hr 42 min
  • Forest
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Tour du Pic du Midi d'Ossau

Parc national des Pyrénées (cœur) · Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Distance
17.4 km
/ 10.8 mi
Elevation gain
382 m
Typical duration
4 hr 16 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Gourdouze

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
13.7 km
/ 8.5 mi
Elevation gain
904 m
Typical duration
4 hr 12 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Mont Gravières

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

Distance
14.4 km
/ 8.9 mi
Elevation gain
720 m
Typical duration
4 hr 4 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Mont Gros

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

Distance
7.6 km
/ 4.7 mi
Elevation gain
167 m
Typical duration
1 hr 50 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Mont Mounier

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

Distance
18.4 km
/ 11.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,100 m
Typical duration
5 hr 35 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Lac des Pises

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
65 m
Typical duration
43 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Le Pont du Tarn

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
14.6 km
/ 9.1 mi
Elevation gain
510 m
Typical duration
3 hr 49 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Malpertus

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
136 m
Typical duration
57 min
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Bézuc

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
16.4 km
/ 10.2 mi
Elevation gain
535 m
Typical duration
4 hr 15 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Col de la Caumette

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
7.2 km
/ 4.4 mi
Elevation gain
216 m
Typical duration
1 hr 49 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Fontmort

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
6.3 km
/ 3.9 mi
Elevation gain
425 m
Typical duration
1 hr 58 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

L'Aves

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
12.4 km
/ 7.7 mi
Elevation gain
677 m
Typical duration
3 hr 35 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

La forêt de l'Aigoual

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
11.7 km
/ 7.3 mi
Elevation gain
520 m
Typical duration
3 hr 14 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

La forêt du Lingas

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
77 m
Typical duration
50 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Le Col du Cheval de Bois

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

Distance
18.6 km
/ 11.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,024 m
Typical duration
5 hr 31 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Les Merveilles par la Gordolasque

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

Distance
13.1 km
/ 8.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,221 m
Typical duration
4 hr 34 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Les corniches de l'Hospitalet

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
236 m
Typical duration
1 hr 13 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Les ruisseaux

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
337 m
Typical duration
1 hr 35 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Le Villaret

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
5.4 km
/ 3.3 mi
Elevation gain
266 m
Typical duration
1 hr 31 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Moderate

Boucle de Vignols

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

Distance
10.2 km
/ 6.3 mi
Elevation gain
400 m
Typical duration
2 hr 44 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Cabanes de Talon - Preinier

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

Distance
20.3 km
/ 12.6 mi
Elevation gain
750 m
Typical duration
5 hr 30 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Circuit de Lugny

Parc national de forêts (cœur) · Bourgogne – Franche-Comté

Distance
10.9 km
/ 6.7 mi
Elevation gain
239 m
Typical duration
2 hr 37 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Circuit de Tortisse

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

Distance
17.5 km
/ 10.9 mi
Elevation gain
950 m
Typical duration
5 hr 9 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Circuit des Lacs

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

Distance
8.8 km
/ 5.5 mi
Elevation gain
500 m
Typical duration
2 hr 36 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Col de Gialorgues

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

Distance
19.0 km
/ 11.8 mi
Elevation gain
600 m
Typical duration
4 hr 59 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Col de Salidès

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
10.3 km
/ 6.4 mi
Elevation gain
441 m
Typical duration
2 hr 48 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Col de la Boucharde

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

Distance
16.7 km
/ 10.4 mi
Elevation gain
870 m
Typical duration
4 hr 50 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Eldorado ! Le col de Vallonpierre

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

Distance
23.9 km
/ 14.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,317 m
Typical duration
7 hr 13 min
  • 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
Tour du Mont AigoualParc national des Cévennes (cœur)83.0 km1,825 m22 hrExpertApril to October
La DauphineParc national des Cévennes (cœur)12.7 km434 m3 hr 17 minModerateApril to October
Les 4000 marchesParc national des Cévennes (cœur)23.6 km1,388 m7 hr 16 minHardApril to October
CassiniParc national des Cévennes (cœur)9.2 km323 m2 hr 24 minModerateApril to October
GR R1Parc national de La Réunion (cœur)58.0 km1,276 m15 hrExpertApril to October
GR R3Parc national de La Réunion (cœur)41.3 km909 m10 hrExpertApril to October
Tour de l'Oisans et ÉcrinsParc national des Écrins (cœur)192 km4,224 m51 hrExpertApril to October
Tour du Parc National des ÉcrinsParc national des Écrins (cœur)373 km8,211 m100 hrExpertApril to October
MassevaquesParc national des Cévennes (cœur)15.7 km721 m4 hr 23 minHardApril to October
Le pas de l'aneParc national des Cévennes (cœur)12.0 km521 m3 hr 17 minModerateApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Tour du Mont Aigoual, La Dauphine, Les 4000 marches. 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

Related guides

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