Nature Reserve Guide
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is home to more than 30 nature reserves, established to conserve the region's significant biodiversity. These protected areas span from the volcanic massifs of the Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne to the high alpine peaks of the French Alps. The landscapes encompass glacial valleys, limestone canyons, dense forests, and high-altitude plateaus. The region offers extensive networks of trails for human-powered activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and mountaineering.
This list of nature reserves in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes aggregates more than 4,000 routes for hiking, cycling, and mountaineering. More than 251,000 visitors have contributed ratings, with an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Among the top nature reserves in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is the Réserve Naturelle des Contamines-Montjoie, France's highest nature reserve, offering terrain from glaciers to forests. In the Sancy massif, the Réserve naturelle de Chastreix-Sancy provides routes across volcanic peaks and alpine meadows. Near Mont-Blanc, the Réserve naturelle des Aiguilles rouges features more than 70 hiking trails with varied alpine terrain. The Réserve Naturelle de Sixt-Passy also provides dozens of hiking and cycling routes in Haute-Savoie. These reserves offer opportunities to experience protected ecosystems where conservation is the primary objective.
4240
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4.5
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232K+
Explored with komoot
Last updated: April 23, 2026

4.5
(1044)
20,270
hikers
Réserve naturelle du vallon de Bérard is a national nature reserve in the French Alps, offering hiking and jogging routes amidst dramatic glacial landscapes.
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4.5
(995)
18,932
hikers
Réserve naturelle des Aiguilles rouges offers diverse landscapes opposite Mont-Blanc, with varied terrain for mountain biking, hiking, jogging, and road cycling routes.
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4.5
(879)
16,131
hikers
Réserve Naturelle de Sixt-Passy is a national nature reserve in Haute-Savoie, France, offering diverse terrain for hiking, mountain biking, and road cycling routes.
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4.6
(955)
15,753
hikers
Réserve naturelle de Passy offers diverse landscapes in the Mont-Blanc massif for hiking and cycling, with varied terrain from forests to alpine meadows.
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4.6
(821)
14,216
hikers
Réserve naturelle de Carlaveyron is a national nature reserve in the Aiguilles Rouges massif, offering diverse alpine landscapes for hiking, cycling, and jogging.
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4.4
(1100)
10,614
hikers
Réserve naturelle de la vallée de Chaudefour is a glacial valley in the Sancy massif, offering diverse terrain for hiking and cycling routes.
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4.3
(1249)
9,834
hikers
Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche is a national nature reserve in southern France, offering diverse terrain for hiking, cycling, and jogging through a deep canyon and limestone plateau.
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4.6
(767)
8,466
hikers
Réserve naturelle de Chastreix-Sancy offers diverse routes for hiking, mountain biking, and road cycling across its volcanic peaks, glacial valleys, and alpine meadows.
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4.6
(378)
8,253
hikers
Réserve Naturelle du Plan de Tueda in the French Alps offers diverse alpine environments, from forests to high-altitude landscapes, ideal for hiking, cycling, and jogging.
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4.3
(340)
7,933
hikers
Réserve Biologique Dirigée De La Montagne Des Frêtes is a biosphere reserve in the Bornes massif, offering diverse routes for hiking, cycling, and jogging amidst forests and panoramic views.
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4.6
(634)
7,700
hikers
Réserve naturelle des Hauts de Chartreuse is a national nature reserve in France, offering diverse terrain for hiking, cycling, and jogging routes.
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4.5
(374)
7,377
hikers
Réserve Naturelle des Contamines-Montjoie is France's highest nature reserve, offering diverse terrain from glaciers to forests for hiking, biking, and mountaineering.
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4.5
(334)
7,197
hikers
Réserve Biologique Intégrale De Merdassiers Nant Pareux is an integral biological reserve in the French Alps, offering diverse routes for hiking, road cycling, and mountain biking.
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4.7
(326)
6,832
hikers
Réserve Naturelle de la Grande Sassière offers diverse alpine terrain in the French Alps for hiking, road cycling, and mountain biking routes.
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4.6
(317)
6,585
hikers
Réserve Naturelle des Hauts de Villaroger offers diverse landscapes for road cycling, hiking, and mountain biking across forests, alpine pastures, and high mountain environments.
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4.3
(359)
6,138
hikers
Réserve naturelle des Isles du Drac is a national nature reserve near Grenoble, offering diverse landscapes and routes for jogging, cycling, and other outdoor activities.
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4.2
(640)
5,767
hikers
Réserve Biologique Intégrale De Bois Sauvage is a biosphere reserve in Ardèche offering diverse terrain for hiking, road cycling, and mountain biking across cliffs, plateaus, and valleys.
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4.6
(442)
5,491
hikers
Réserve naturelle des Hauts Plateaux du Vercors is France's largest terrestrial nature reserve, offering diverse terrain for hiking, road cycling, and mountain biking routes.
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4.7
(198)
5,383
hikers
Réserve Naturelle de la Bailletaz is a national nature reserve in the French Alps, offering high-mountain landscapes and routes for hiking, cycling, and jogging.
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4.5
(860)
5,337
hikers
Réserve naturelle nationale du Haut-Rhône français is France's largest forest river reserve, offering diverse terrain for hiking, cycling, and jogging routes along the Rhône.
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Nature reserves in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes are protected areas established to conserve the region's significant biodiversity. The region contains over 50 national and regional nature reserves, protecting landscapes that range from volcanic massifs and limestone canyons to high alpine peaks and glacial valleys. This page aggregates routes and information for over 30 of these reserves.
The primary activities are human-powered outdoor sports. The region's nature reserves offer more than 4,500 routes for hiking, mountain biking, and cycling. Other available activities include trail running and mountaineering, with trails suitable for various skill levels.
Notable reserves include the Réserve Naturelle des Contamines-Montjoie, France's highest nature reserve, and the Réserve naturelle de Chastreix-Sancy in the volcanic Sancy massif. The Réserve naturelle des Aiguilles rouges provides alpine terrain opposite Mont-Blanc. The Hauts Plateaux du Vercors is the largest metropolitan nature reserve in France.
The nature reserves in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes offer a wide variety of hiking trails. These range from family-friendly walks in valleys to challenging multi-day treks in high alpine environments. For example, the Réserve Naturelle de Sixt-Passy contains over 60 designated hiking routes through its varied terrain.
Yes, many reserves offer routes for both road cycling and mountain biking. The terrain varies from gentle valley roads to steep mountain passes and technical singletrack. The Réserve naturelle des Aiguilles rouges, for instance, includes dozens of routes suitable for road bikes, touring bicycles, and mountain bikes.
The Réserve naturelle de la vallée de Chaudefour is a glacial valley located within the Sancy volcanic massif. It is known for its distinctive U-shape, steep cliffs, and rich alpine flora. The reserve offers over 140 routes for hiking and cycling, allowing exploration of its unique geological formations.
Yes, many reserves contain routes suitable for families and beginners. These are typically shorter, with less elevation gain, and often located in lower-altitude valleys or around lakes. For example, the Réserve Naturelle du Plan de Tueda offers accessible trails around its lake and through a protected forest of Swiss pine.
Regulations vary by reserve but generally exist to protect wildlife and ecosystems. Common rules include staying on marked trails, prohibiting dogs or requiring them to be on a leash, and restrictions on camping or bivouacking. It is essential to check the specific regulations for each reserve before visiting.
The main season for hiking and cycling is from late spring to early autumn, typically May through October. High-altitude trails may remain snow-covered until July. Winter offers opportunities for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in many areas, such as the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors.
Policies regarding dogs vary significantly between reserves to protect wildlife. In some reserves, like the core zones of national parks or sensitive wildlife areas, dogs are not permitted, even on a leash. In others, they may be allowed on specific trails if kept on a leash. Always verify the rules for the specific reserve you plan to visit.
The landscapes are highly diverse, reflecting the region's complex geology. They include the ancient volcanoes and glacial valleys of the Massif Central, such as in the Réserve naturelle de Chastreix-Sancy. In the Alps, landscapes feature high limestone plateaus, dense forests, glaciers, and dramatic peaks, as seen in the Réserve naturelle du vallon de Bérard.

