TOP 5 trail running routes in Lyon and the surrounding area

For those who live in Lyon or the surrounding area, or for those who are visiting the Lyon region, where can you find trail running trails near the capital of the Gauls? Good news, you're spoiled for choice. Just choose which mountain range or mountains you want to run on to escape, from the Monts d'Or overlooking Lyon to the Monts du Lyonnais to the west of the city to the Pilat Massif to the south and all the way to Haut-Beaujolais. And once a year, there's even the opportunity to run in Lyon with the 'Lyon Urban Trail' race to discover the famous Lyon hills (Fourvière and Croix-Rousse) in a different way. In short, the range of trail running trails is varied and very rich. Here's a quick overview of our TOP 5 trail running trails in Lyon and the surrounding area.

Lyon Urban Trail

Once a year, you have a rare opportunity in early spring to discover Lyon by running from hill to hill on a trail run during the Lyon Urban Trail or the LUT (there is also a night version with the Lyon Urban Trail by Night in the fall). Lyon will open its doors to you and you can run in famous places like its Roman arenas on Fourvière hill or climb the famous Sarra trail. You can also follow the Saône and cross the town hall during a unique trail run, right in the center among the city's monuments. Running in the alleys of the Presqu'Île and Vieux-Lyon without any cars is possible one day a year, on the day of the LUT. Be careful, you will be going up and down endless stairs to go from the top of Fourvière hill with the superb view of the city near the Basilica of Fourvière to the banks of the Saône before going back up to Croix-Rousse hill and then again after the plateau to go back down along the slopes of Croix-Rousse (the aptly named). You will end up on Place Saint-Jean at the foot of the Cathedral in Old Lyon. Note that there are several routes from 10 km to 37 km. To discover during a trail weekend like no other.

Lyon Urban Trail: www.lyonurbantrail.com

The Golden Mountains

The Monts d'Or are a small hilly massif very close to Lyon in the northwest. They are not very high, the highest point being Mont Verdun at 626 m, but they offer a marked relief and a pretty incredible playground for trail running right on the outskirts of a big city like Lyon. You will find woods, meadows and pass over panoramic ridges with superb views of Lyon, the Saône valley, the Alps (and even Mont Blanc on a clear day) and on the other side, the Monts du Lyonnais. There is really something to have fun and even to run for a long, very long time up to 85 km with 4034 m of D+ starting from Saint-Cyr au Mont d'Or on a demanding Ultra-Trail course and almost all the time in the middle of nature, crossing the main peaks of the Monts d'Or. There is also a 'KV' or vertical kilometer version starting from Couzon-au-Mont-d'Or for 1006 m of D+. There are also, fortunately, more accessible routes like the Monts d'Or loop with 7.3 km and 261 m of D+ starting from Poleymieux-au-Mont-D'or. The Monts d'Or: a real little treasure for Trail running just a stone's throw (or almost) from Lyon.

The Monts du Lyonnais

The Monts du Lyonnais are the last (or first) foothills of the Massif Central just before arriving in Lyon. The Monts du Lyonnais are an ideal playground just 30 minutes from the city for trail running, hiking, and also mountain biking or road cycling. There are several possible trail or hiking departures to explore this massif of medium hills (with a peak just below 1000m altitude). From the hikers' car park in Vaugneray, you have access to 4 marked trails (green-blue-red-black like for ski slopes) ranging from 9 km and 300m of D+ to 25 km and 1200m of D+. From Courzieu on the other side or on the eastern slope of the Monts du Lyonnais, you also have access to 4 trail-hiking trails from 7 km and 350 m of D+ to 22 km and 1150 m of D+. For the tireless or the more daring, there is an ultra-trail course on a very large loop, the Grand Tour des Monts du Lyonnais (GTML) with 180 km and 4500 m of D+ starting from Brignais or Vaugneray. There is also a variant, the Tour de Monts du Lyonnais, in 100 km format. Enough to wear out the soles (of your trail shoes).

The Pilat Massif

The Pilat Massif is a bit like the last natural frontier before heading south to the south of France and the Ardèche. This massif is south of Lyon and east of Saint-Étienne. It is a regional natural park in the mid-mountains with plateaus, panoramic granite ridges, and still wild valleys. The highest point is the Crêt de la Perdrix at 1,432 m above sea level. Crossing the Pilat from north to south offers a superb trail (or hiking or mountain biking) route. It is both a demanding route, with distances of up to 75 km (starting from Chavanay in the Loire and going as far as Annonay in the Ardèche), and a beautiful route with magnificent panoramic views. Note that the passages on the ridges are very exposed and that resupply opportunities (water or food) are rare. Therefore, you should plan accordingly for water and food, as well as several layers of clothing. A great adventure in perspective and superb views (with a little preparation beforehand).

Upper Beaujolais

The Haut Beaujolais region is located northwest of Villefranche-sur-Saône. This region offers a guaranteed change of scenery and immediate greenery, about an hour from the center of Lyon. It is home to the highest point in the Rhône department, Mont Saint Rigaud, just over 1,000 meters above sea level, and its 360° panorama of the Alps and the Massif Central. The landscapes vary between vineyard hillsides, pastures, and forests. Several distance options are possible, from 15 km and 470 m of elevation gain with the Haut Beaujolais discovery loop, starting and finishing at Les Ardillats, or 27 km and 1,330 m of elevation gain with the Trail du Sanglier, starting from Saint-Igny-de-Vers, and up to 120 km (potentially a multi-day itinerary) on the Crêtes du Haut Beaujolais circuit, starting from Deux-Grosnes.

This Top 5 trail running trails in and around Lyon illustrates the wealth and diversity of options in and around the city for trail running or hiking adventures and a breath of fresh air while discovering beautiful natural landscapes and magnificent views of the Alps to the east, the Massif Central to the west, or the Ardèche to the south. In short, don't come to Lyon without your trail running shoes (and plan some time to escape to trail running).