Are There Places to Hike Near Paris? Try This 14km Forest Route to Rambouillet

 Are There Places to Hike Near Paris? Try This 14km Forest Route to Rambouillet

Some weekends, I want drama — peaks, ridgelines, switchbacks.

 Other times, I just want to walk through trees and hear nothing but birdsong. This was one of those weekends.

I didn’t go far. Just 45 minutes on the TER train from Paris to Le Perray, and I was out of the city noise and into the kind of landscape that doesn’t ask for attention but holds it anyway.

A Forest Trail That Doesn’t Loop Back

The route I chose started at Le Perray and ended at Rambouillet station — about 14km, one-way. I didn’t want a circular hike this time. I wanted to walk forward, not in circles.

The path was easy: a lakeside start, a patch of rapeseed fields glowing yellow in the sun, then into the forest. Flat, simple, and mostly shaded. No heavy climbs, no technical sections, just rhythm and light.

There were signs, though not too many. But the trail was clear enough. The Visorando app helped where markers disappeared.

Why I Chose This Route

No mountain, no summit shot — and that was the point.

 This trail offered just enough: water, fields, trees, birdsong, and a finish line at a train station where you could head straight back to Paris (or stop for a coffee first, like I did).

What made it work? I didn’t overpack. My 20L hiking backpack was light but covered all the bases: water, snacks, windbreaker, bug spray. The trail has no restrooms or shops, so once you’re out, you’re out. I liked that.

A Quiet Gift of a Day

Around the lakes and the flower fields, I crossed paths with a few people — an older man with binoculars, two cyclists, and a couple fishing at the far end of the trail. That was it.

No cafés, no hikers talking loudly on speakerphone. Just a quiet forest walk near Paris, with spring air and the low hum of insects.

A Few Tips If You Go

- Wear long sleeves — the bugs are not subtle.

- Go early or late — the light is better, and the trail is more empty.

- Use the bathroom at Le Perray station — there’s nothing mid-route.

- If you have time, bring a mat and a picnic. The lakeside sections are worth sitting still for.

There are wilder hikes in France. But for a day hike from Paris that lets you disconnect without a full escape plan, this one worked better than expected.

 🎒Used: Waterproof Backpack for Hiking – 20L, Lightweight, Ready for Quiet Trails