Parc de Lacroix-Laval Woodland Loop

The Parc de Lacroix-Laval is a large forest park west of Lyon, spread across the communes of Marcy-l'Etoile and Charbonnieres-les-Bains in the Rhone department, in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region of France. The main address is Parc de Lacroix-Laval, 69280 Marcy-l'Etoile. The park is among the most convenient places near Lyon to walk in woodland by public transport: a TCL bus serves the park, with the line departing from Gorge de Loup, and timetables are available at tcl.fr and in the TCL app. Car parking is available at the park entrances, and entry to the grounds is free, with no permit required. Marked loops of different lengths, from about 3 km to 8 km, cross the park, and the climb is gentle, under 100 m, which makes the walk easy and suitable for families and first-time walkers. The surfaces are forest tracks, gravel paths and grass, and some sections turn muddy after rain, so waterproof shoes are useful. Shade is plentiful under mature trees, and there is no exposure. Landmarks include the chateau at the heart of the park, ponds and meadows, picnic areas, play areas and open lawns, along with the woodland paths that link the different parts of the estate. Turn-around points are easy to choose, since the loops return to the main areas near the chateau and parking. Drinking water and toilets are available near the main facilities, and food can be brought for picnics. There are no refuge huts, but buildings near the chateau and the covered areas give some shelter in rain. Routes are signposted by color and length, so a short or long loop can be chosen on arrival. Allow 1 to 2 hours for a typical visit, longer with a picnic.