Forêt De La Petite Gouffern is a 950-hectare forest region in Normandy, France, characterized by its hilly "vallonné" landscapes and elevations of approximately 330 feet (100 meters) between valley bottoms and plateaus. This area features numerous streams and around 200 ponds, contributing to its rich biodiversity and ecological significance as a Zone Naturelle d'Intérêt Écologique, Faunistique et Floristique (ZNIEFF). The forest is primarily composed of deciduous trees like sessile oaks and beeches, offering varied terrain suitable for several sports like…
81
Routes
4.7
(45)
Average rating
455
People visited

4.7
(6)
10
riders
44.6km
02:43
380m
380m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(3)
8
riders
45.7km
02:40
240m
240m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

10
riders
45.3km
03:43
420m
420m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
5
riders
29.6km
01:52
290m
300m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.6
(5)
16
hikers
7.96km
02:09
110m
110m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
hikers
11.7km
03:08
150m
150m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
7
hikers
6.19km
01:41
90m
90m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
4
hikers
4.97km
01:19
50m
50m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.7
(3)
23
riders
27.2km
01:08
160m
160m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

9
riders
61.8km
02:44
480m
480m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

9
riders
70.2km
02:57
380m
380m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

10
riders
58.4km
02:30
320m
320m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.0
(1)
18
riders
46.3km
03:42
400m
410m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.0
(2)
13
riders
34.9km
02:46
320m
320m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
21
riders
41.9km
03:15
450m
450m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5.0
(1)
9
riders
37.1km
02:42
350m
350m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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6
runners
9.15km
00:57
40m
40m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
runners
10.8km
01:18
90m
90m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
3
runners
7.34km
00:51
80m
70m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
runners
11.3km
01:16
80m
80m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5
riders
95.2km
06:45
1,050m
1,050m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
74.1km
05:18
600m
600m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
47.0km
03:22
390m
390m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
2
riders
49.9km
03:06
400m
410m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Forêt De La Petite Gouffern offers a range of outdoor activities including touring cycling, mountain biking, road cycling, hiking, jogging, and gravel biking. The region features 21 routes across these sports. These routes have been explored by more than 4,000 visitors.
Yes, the forest features numerous signposted footpaths for hiking, including peaceful strolls along streams and ponds. Specific guides are available for Hiking in Forêt De La Petite Gouffern and Easy hikes. The Sentier Sainte Eugénie is an easy 0.6-mile (0.9 km) trail in the natural sensitive area of Orne.
The area is suitable for touring cycling, road cycling, and mountain biking. Pathways and quiet roads are available for touring and road cyclists, while dedicated trails with varied challenges cater to mountain bikers. Guides like Cycling in Forêt De La Petite Gouffern provide route information.
Yes, Forêt De La Petite Gouffern offers dedicated mountain bike trails, including areas with steep slopes for varied challenges. The commune of Gouffern-en-Auge provides details on several mountain biking circuits. More information can be found in the MTB Trails in Forêt De La Petite Gouffern guide.
The forest offers options suitable for families, particularly with easy hiking paths along streams and ponds. For specific family-oriented hiking routes, consult the Family-friendly hikes in Forêt De La Petite Gouffern guide.
The forest is characterized by hilly landscapes with elevations of about 330 feet (100 meters) between valleys and plateaus. It features numerous streams and around 200 ponds, contributing to its rich biodiversity. The area is designated as a Zone Naturelle d'Intérêt Écologique, Faunistique et Floristique (ZNIEFF).
The forest contains a medieval feudal motte and ancient vestiges. It also played a role in World War II, being part of the 'Couloir de la mort' (Corridor of Death) related to the Falaise-Chambois pocket. The 12th-century Donjon de Chambois is a nearby attraction.
The forest's tranquility is enhanced by the absence of forest roads open to public car traffic. For specific routes, refer to guides such as Traffic-free bike rides in Forêt De La Petite Gouffern for touring bikes and Traffic-free bike rides for road cycling.
The terrain is 'vallonné' (hilly), with varied elevations. Road cycling routes often feature mostly well-paved surfaces, while mountain biking trails include dedicated areas with steep slopes. The forest is primarily composed of deciduous trees.
Information about the forest can be found on the Office National des Forêts (ONF) website, onf.fr, which manages state-owned parts. The local commune's website, gouffernenauge.fr, also offers details on trails and activities.
For inquiries related to the forest, the Office National des Forêts (ONF) can be reached at 02 33 82 55 00. For local information, the Mairie de Gouffern en Auge can be contacted at 02 33 67 56 62.
Yes, the forest provides suitable terrain for jogging and running. Information on specific routes can be found in the Running Trails in Forêt De La Petite Gouffern guide.

