10 Best Outdoor Adventures in and Around Lyon

Grand Parc Miribel Jonage is an outdoor lover’s dream destination full of activities on land and lake. Set in Vaulx-en-Velin, 15 minutes from Lyon, the expansive park is between the Miribel and Jonage canals and offers 2,200 hectares of unspoiled nature, including 4 beaches. If you want to hire bikes, stand-up paddle boards and other equipment, head to L’atol centre by Eaux Bleus Lake or stop by the tennis courts or 9-hole golf course for fun.

Water activities are also worthwhile at Grand Parc Miribel Jonage. You can go kayaking or take sailing lessons and fish, among other things. For those who want to cycle or run around the park, you will find lovely trails surrounded by greenery.

Les Grottes de la Balme offers a stunning geological world to explore. Hidden away, a little more than 2 hours from Lyon in Isère, this natural site boasts a beautiful underground collection of caves. There is much to see within this rich mineral landscape, including gorgeous geological formations, such as striking stalagmites and stalactites and colourful pools of water.

As you make your way through the caves of Les Grottes de la Balme, you’ll see a marvellous main room and maybe even get a glimpse of bats. There’s also a maze, and you can learn more about the site’s fascinating history, including the site being the hideout for a notorious smuggler.

Animal Park of Courzieu (Parc de Courzieu) is an inviting, preserved natural area where you can get up close and learn all about its special residents. Less than an hour from Lyon in the town of Courzieu near the Monts du Lyonnais in the Rhône-Alpes region, the park boasts incredible fauna and flora of the forest.

The highlight of the Animal Park of Courzieu (Parc de Courzieu) is none other than the animals with grey and arctic wolves, marmots and birds of prey. You can learn more about these creatures at one of the animal encounters or feedings. Other activities to enjoy are nature trail walks and events, such as nights under the stars and tree climbing.

City Adventure - Lyon Sainte Foy has attractions for all ages throughout its woodland theme park. Located 15 minutes from the city centre, this family-friendly destination in a century-old forest offers rides, nature trails and outdoor activities. You can immerse yourself in the experience on unique attractions such as The Hut’s Pathway, an elevated footbridge in the trees, or Mission: Ultimate, a challenge in the canopy.

At City Adventure - Lyon Sainte Foy, there are serene places to relax or have a picnic. After a break, check out other experiences such as the Family Slide and The Hut, a hanging hut in the trees. There’s also the Gigaball and The Little Trapper’s Path accordion bridge for the kids.

Pilat Natural Regional Park offers a beautiful setting to enjoy an outdoor adventure. Less than 50 minutes by car from Lyon, the protected area of mountainous countryside is in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France and spans 65,000 hectares. Active types are in for a treat with so many ways to discover the destination, including paragliding.

Ideal for a visit any season, Pilat Natural Regional Park features numerous trails to hike and take in the diverse scenery. Mountain bikers have 1,500 km of trails and tracks for every level, with the Crêt de la Perdrix passage a notable highlight. During the winter, it’s time for sledging and skiing. Year-round, there are nature workshops and family activities.

Via Ferrata of Planfoy offers the ultimate mountaineering experience for all levels. The protected climbing route is 50 minutes from Lyon in the regional natural park of Pilat. As you make your way through the routes, you’ll see gorgeous views, and you may catch a glimpse of the Gouffre d’Enfer waterfalls.

At Via Ferrata of Planfoy, there are two climbing routes, and you can arrange for guided instruction. The children’s route is an excellent introduction to climbing for kids ages 6 and older and has fun features such as footbridges. The adult’s course takes you across a ridge above the dam of Rochetaillé and provides a memorable mountaineering experience.

Lyon river cruises are a fabulous way to explore the scenery of France’s third largest city. Whether you decide to take a tour or hire a canoe to paddle your way around, some companies offer a range of experiences. Given that Lyon straddles the Rhône and Saône Rivers, there is much to see.

As far as operators of Lyon river cruises, Les Bateaux Lyonnais offers several sightseeing excursions with views of the Renaissance District, Old Lyon, and Ile Barbe, an oasis of greenery. If you prefer to explore via canoe or stand-up paddle, Lyon Canoë has rentals and instructions.

Vercos Massif, a scenic mountain plateau, is home to Vercors Natural Regional Park, which has more than a dozen canyons to discover. The park is great for a day trip and is a little more than 2.5 hours from Lyon between Isère and Drôme in the French pre-Alps.

If you are new to canyoning, Vercors Massif in the Vercors Natural Regional Park offers more manageable descents, such as Les Carmes and Le Betton. More experienced canyoning enthusiasts will want to explore Le Ruzand and the upper section of Les Ecouges, which features a 68-metre waterfall abseil. Several outfitters have canyoning experiences.

Lyon helicopter tours give an incredible bird’s-eye view of the French metropolis to experience during your holiday. If you are considering exploring France’s third-largest city and its scenic surroundings high in the sky, several travel companies offer exciting experiences.

One of the Lyon helicopter tours to try is through tour operator Manawa, which has a helicopter flight over the historic castles in the nearby Beaujolais region. Mont Blanc Helicoptere provides a panoramic flight over Lyon as well as the surrounding mountains and vineyards.

Monts d’Or offers a scenic exploration of the countryside in the Lyon metropolitan area. There are several routes you can take around the landscapes that are below the Monts d’Or massif. The Saint-Romain-au-Mont-d’Or is just over 3 miles. During this leisurely excursion, you can see the hamlet of Salagon and the remains of a Roman aqueduct.

Another option to explore Monts d’Or is the 3.5-mile path Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or featuring panoramic views of the Saône valley and the Dombes plateau. If you take the Poleymieux-au-Mont-d’Or route, you’ll see stone huts and panoramic views of forests and valleys.