A loop hike from col du Chatoux in the Haut Beaujolais region

From Col du chatoux (or col du Chêne), this hike goes through woods along the ridge line offering wonderful views:
-over the Saône and eastern Beaujolais valleys
- over Azergues Valley to the west.

Technical sheet

4098350
A Sainte-Paule walk posted on 26/02/16 by Tamtraductions. Last update : 22/01/18
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.56 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 5h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 417 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 416 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 862 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 611 m

Description

Car park at col du Châtoux or col du Chêne on the right-hand side coming from Saule d'Oingt (avoid using the restaurant car park on the left, or ask for permission!).

(S/F) To the right-hand side of the pass coming from Saule d'Oingt, take the GR76 waymarked Red and White heading up through the woods due north-west it's the first trail to the left-hand side of the road). You'll reach fontaine des Ânes crossroads.

(1) Keep heading straight along the GR76 reaching a viewpoint indicator.

(2) Head north-north-east downhill reaching a 5 path crossing at the bottom.

(3) Keep heading straight along the GR76 reaching a trail crossing.

(4) Carry on, slightly to the right, keeping to the GR76, reaching Saint-Cyr-le-Chatoux.

(5) Don't enter the village, instead, take the hairpin turn left onto the forest trail. Remain on the forest trail reaching another trail crossing.

(6) Keep to the forest trail which turns on the other side, ignore a large path on the right and reach "la source de Font Froide".

(7) Carry on along the path heading south-west.

(8) When la Cantinière hamlet is within sight, leave the trail to take the path heading uphill on the left-hand side.

(9) Cross the D116 (be careful), go twenty odd metres to the right then head on the road below to the left towards la Bonnaire.

(10) At la Bonnaire, go across the farm at the end of the road (potentially muddy) and continue on the path at the other end. Keep going straight until Col du Joncin.

(11) Cross the road taking the path on the other side (hiking signpost) going along the D116 towards Châtoux.

(12) When you get to the Châtoux signpost in a left-hand turn on the D116, take the road below on the right which goes through a "lieu-dit".

(13) Coming out of the "lieu-dit", in front of a stone house in a curved corner, leave the road, which turns slightly to the right and head along the path going uphill to the left-hand side of the house.

(14) At the crossroads, go left reaching your starting point at Col du Châtoux (S/F).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 711 m
  2. 1 : km 0.77 - alt. 753 m - Fontaine des Anes
  3. 2 : km 2.59 - alt. 862 m - Viewpoint indicator + picnic tables
  4. 3 : km 3.11 - alt. 826 m - Straight along the GR76
  5. 4 : km 4.31 - alt. 750 m - Slightly to the right on the GR76
  6. 5 : km 5.04 - alt. 688 m - Leave the GR76, take the forest trail on the left
  7. 6 : km 7.49 - alt. 613 m - Keep to the forest trail on the other side
  8. 7 : km 8.74 - alt. 635 m - "Source de Fontfroide" with memorial stone
  9. 8 : km 10.28 - alt. 637 m - La Cantinière uphill (path on the left)
  10. 9 : km 11.06 - alt. 643 m - D116, head left towards la Bonnaire
  11. 10 : km 11.44 - alt. 618 m - Go across la Bonnaire
  12. 11 : km 12.31 - alt. 696 m - Col du Joncin, cross, path on the other side
  13. 12 : km 13.95 - alt. 674 m - D116, go right towards le Châtoux
  14. 13 : km 14.12 - alt. 671 m - Uphill path outside the village
  15. 14 : km 14.45 - alt. 701 m - Crossroads, go left
  16. S/E : km 14.56 - alt. 712 m

Useful Information

(2) Picnic area with view!
(7) Source de Font Froide, drinkable water.

(4) Potential short cut taking the path on the left (not marked) which links to (6).

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

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