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Moderate Hiking Trails in France

6,404 routes in France qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 9.9 km and 246 m (807 ft) of ascent.

That is 41 percent of the 15,466 routes we map in France.

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

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
  • Lake
  • Forest
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
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

Sommet de Finiels

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
9.6 km
/ 6.0 mi
Elevation gain
292 m
Typical duration
2 hr 27 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Forest
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
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
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

Ventalon

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
7.3 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
442 m
Typical duration
2 hr 12 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
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
  • Forest
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
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
  • 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

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
  • 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
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Sentier des morts

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
9.2 km
/ 5.7 mi
Elevation gain
335 m
Typical duration
2 hr 26 min
  • River
  • Forest
  • 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

Cassini

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
9.2 km
/ 5.7 mi
Elevation gain
323 m
Typical duration
2 hr 24 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Prunet

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
262 m
Typical duration
1 hr 20 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Trace Rivière Quiock

Guadeloupe National Park · Guadeloupe

Distance
7.6 km
/ 4.7 mi
Elevation gain
166 m
Typical duration
1 hr 49 min
  • River
  • 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

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
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Sentier de grande randonnée 9A

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
12.8 km
/ 8.0 mi
Elevation gain
282 m
Typical duration
3 hr 6 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
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 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 Caumette

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
7.2 km
/ 4.4 mi
Elevation gain
216 m
Typical duration
1 hr 49 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

PR25

Parc national de La Réunion (cœur) · Réunion

Distance
7.8 km
/ 4.8 mi
Elevation gain
171 m
Typical duration
1 hr 53 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Pointe de Colombart

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

Distance
8.1 km
/ 5.0 mi
Elevation gain
200 m
Typical duration
1 hr 59 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Rocher de Bayard

Parc national des Cévennes (cœur) · Occitania

Distance
9.7 km
/ 6.0 mi
Elevation gain
302 m
Typical duration
2 hr 28 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Sentier du Cap Canaille

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

Distance
8.6 km
/ 5.3 mi
Elevation gain
188 m
Typical duration
2 hr 4 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Sentier du Pic de Labigouer PNP

Parc national des Pyrénées (cœur) · Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Distance
11.3 km
/ 7.0 mi
Elevation gain
249 m
Typical duration
2 hr 44 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Tour du Grand Capelet - Etape 2

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

Distance
9.4 km
/ 5.9 mi
Elevation gain
207 m
Typical duration
2 hr 17 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
Les Cascades d'OrgonParc national des Cévennes (cœur)9.3 km460 m2 hr 38 minModerateApril to October
Via Alpina Red R122Vanoise National Park11.7 km257 m2 hr 49 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
Sommet de FinielsParc national des Cévennes (cœur)9.6 km292 m2 hr 27 minModerateApril to October
La FlandonenqueParc national des Cévennes (cœur)9.2 km497 m2 hr 39 minModerateApril to October
Col de la PlanetteParc national des Cévennes (cœur)6.9 km323 m1 hr 55 minModerateApril to October
VentalonParc national des Cévennes (cœur)7.3 km442 m2 hr 12 minModerateApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with SPHC, étape 04, Via Alpina Stage 112 Refuge de Nice ou Victor de Cessole - Refuge Merveilles, Via Alpina Red R122. 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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