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Moderate Hiking Trails in France

4,875 routes in France qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 10.0 km and 246 m (807 ft) of ascent.

That is 42 percent of the 11,497 routes we map in France. They are shorter than the local average, 10.0 km against 13.2 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day.

Moderate routes are the sweet spot for most regular walkers: enough climbing to feel like a proper day out, never enough to turn into an ordeal. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit. A good share of them are loops, so you can park once and finish where you started.

Trails

Moderate

SPHC, étape 04

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
10.6 km
/ 6.6 mi
Elevation gain
399 m
Typical duration
2 hr 49 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Via Alpina Red R122

Vanoise National Park · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Distance
11.7 km
/ 7.3 mi
Elevation gain
257 m
Typical duration
2 hr 49 min
  • Lake
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
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
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
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
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
Moderate

HRP Variante 14.2

Parc national des Pyrénées (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
15.3 km
/ 9.5 mi
Elevation gain
337 m
Typical duration
3 hr 42 min
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
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
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
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
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

Canalisation des Orangers Trail

Parc national de La Réunion (cœur) · Réunion

Distance
11.7 km
/ 7.3 mi
Elevation gain
540 m
Typical duration
3 hr 15 min
  • River
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

Les Ferrailles - Montjustin

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
10.1 km
/ 6.3 mi
Elevation gain
222 m
Typical duration
2 hr 26 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

GR 20 Variante via Monte Incudine

Corsica · France

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

Boucle des Lacs

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

Distance
9.3 km
/ 5.8 mi
Elevation gain
577 m
Typical duration
2 hr 48 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Chemin de l'Énergie - Étape 1

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

Distance
7.5 km
/ 4.7 mi
Elevation gain
870 m
Typical duration
2 hr 52 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Circuit de Fontanalbe

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

Distance
7.9 km
/ 4.9 mi
Elevation gain
670 m
Typical duration
2 hr 39 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
Moderate

Circuit de Trécolpas

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

Distance
12.5 km
/ 7.7 mi
Elevation gain
500 m
Typical duration
3 hr 21 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Circuit des Adus

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

Distance
11.5 km
/ 7.1 mi
Elevation gain
700 m
Typical duration
3 hr 27 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
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
Moderate

Col de la Cuarde par Aumet asp55

Parc national des Pyrénées (cœur) · Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Distance
10.3 km
/ 6.4 mi
Elevation gain
810 m
Typical duration
3 hr 21 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

La Tufière d’Amorey

Parc national de forêts (cœur) · Grand Est

Distance
10.5 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
232 m
Typical duration
2 hr 33 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Lacs de Prals

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

Distance
6.8 km
/ 4.3 mi
Elevation gain
530 m
Typical duration
2 hr 13 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Montavoir et Pont Griselin

Parc national de forêts (cœur) · Grand Est

Distance
10.4 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
229 m
Typical duration
2 hr 30 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Cratère Dolomieu Trail

Parc national de La Réunion (cœur) · Réunion

Distance
6.1 km
/ 3.8 mi
Elevation gain
500 m
Typical duration
2 hr 1 min
Moderate

Jacky Inard Trail

Parc national de La Réunion (cœur) · Réunion

Distance
6.8 km
/ 4.3 mi
Elevation gain
265 m
Typical duration
1 hr 49 min
Moderate

Zèbre Trail

Parc national de La Réunion (cœur) · Réunion

Distance
5.0 km
/ 3.1 mi
Elevation gain
700 m
Typical duration
2 hr 5 min
Moderate

Le lac de l'Eychauda

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

Distance
5.8 km
/ 3.6 mi
Elevation gain
823 m
Typical duration
2 hr 27 min
  • Lake
Moderate

Chemin d'Amiens à Compiègne

Hauts-de-France · France

Distance
11.4 km
/ 7.1 mi
Elevation gain
251 m
Typical duration
2 hr 45 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

SPHC, étape 01

Occitania · France

Distance
8.4 km
/ 5.2 mi
Elevation gain
342 m
Typical duration
2 hr 16 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
SPHC, étape 04Parc national des Cévennes (cœur)10.6 km399 m2 hr 49 minModerateApril to October
Via Alpina Red R122Vanoise National Park11.7 km257 m2 hr 49 minModerateApril to October
La DauphineParc national des Cévennes (cœur)12.7 km434 m3 hr 17 minModerateApril to October
CassiniParc national des Cévennes (cœur)9.2 km323 m2 hr 24 minModerateApril to October
Via Alpina Stage 112 Refuge de Nice ou Victor de Cessole - Refuge MerveillesParc national du Mercantour (cœur)9.3 km205 m2 hr 15 minModerateApril to October
Via Alpina Stage 113: Refuge des Merveilles - Camp d’ArgentParc national du Mercantour (cœur)13.1 km289 m3 hr 10 minModerateApril to October
Le pas de l'aneParc national des Cévennes (cœur)12.0 km521 m3 hr 17 minModerateApril to October
Col de la PlanetteParc national des Cévennes (cœur)6.9 km323 m1 hr 55 minModerateApril to October
Les Cascades d'OrgonParc national des Cévennes (cœur)9.3 km460 m2 hr 38 minModerateApril to October
Aire-de-CôteParc national des Cévennes (cœur)7.8 km223 m1 hr 57 minModerateApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with SPHC, étape 04, Via Alpina Red R122, La Dauphine. 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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