Geneva City Walks - Nant d'Avril, Satigny
This is one of my regular walks because it’s got a bit of everything! It runs along the stream of Nant d’Avril which the dogs can splash around in on a hot summer’s day, as well as a section that goes through the woods.
Please note that the section through the woods is restricted during the fawning season of 1st April - 15th July every year, meaning that your dog must be kept on a lead.
Total Walking Time: 1.5 hours
For a full GPS map of the route, click here.
First section along the Nant d’Avril, which is a leash-free zone
The starting point for the walk is a public car park on Route d’Air-La-Ville. It’s free, but just remember to display your blue macaron on the dashboard. It is also accessible by public transport, buses S and 54 stop here, bus stop Satigny, Peney-Dessous. The bus stop drops you just by the metal gates which is the start of the walk. You will see a small car park opposite the bus stop and the gates with the path straight ahead of you. Alternatively you could also walk here from Satigny train station. I’ve never walked from the train station but I would imagine it would only be around a 10 minute walk to join the route half-way along.
If you have a dog (or child, for that matter) that doesn’t like crossing bridges, I would advise against this walk as there are two along the route.
Off the gravel road and into the woods will lead you onto this hiking path
You stay walking along the stream, you will cross one paved road and occasionally cars do come along here so be vigilant with your children and dogs when crossing this road. It is a concrete road with a metal barrier before you reach it, so you will see it coming up.
As you stay walking along the river, there are some splits along the way but stick to the path running along the river until you pass the vegetable fields under the power lines and hit a paved road. This road is occasionally used, mainly by other dog walkers so best to keep your dog on a lead for this section. You turn a right immediately after the metal barrier, then right again which effectively has you walking back along the river on the other side. You are walking past the vegetable fields which are on your left here, I normally let Luka off since very rarely any cars come down here. Be sure your dog doesn’t go onto the fields when they are growing vegetables so as to not disturb the plantation.
Then you follow the concrete road all the way turning left, then right until it turns into a gravel road. Turn left along the gravel road, and before it turns right again, you will see a big log and a path going into the woods to the left of it. Enter the woods here, and follow the hikers sign until you hit the big bridle path (there are a number of paths through the woods, and I normally take a long loop around but most of the paths will eventually lead you back to the bridle path)
Deeper into the woods just before we hit the bridle path
As it is currently fawning season, I put a long line on Luka and give him the command to stay on the path (a command he knows as “chemin”; something a dog trainer taught me when he was a puppy and surprisingly useful when hiking!). This way, I am sure he will not run into the woods and disrupt wildlife in the area.
Along the bridle path, which leads you past the vineyards and back to the main road
You will hit the bridle path, turn right and follow it all the way until you go past the vineyards and back out to the paved road at which point the dogs go back on the lead and turn right, which you brings you out to the main road by Café de Peney. I hear this restaurant serves excellent food, so you could lunch here if it’s open, but I normally just stop here after a walk and enjoy a drink! There is even a potable water fountain there and a small play park if your little ones want to have a play.
I normally carry Kai (or now Miya) here when I walk, so have never actually attempted to do it with a pram, but I would say with a good running/all-terrain pram, it would be doable. Just a few sections through the woods that are uneven and a couple of metres of slopes that are somewhat steep. I would however advise against bringing a pram if it has been raining or snowing as it gets extremely muddy!
Fun factor for child: 3/5 - A nice walk along the river and through the woods. Stop at the play park at Café de Peney!
Fun factor for dog: 5/5 - Run, swim and sniff!
Pram-friendly: Yes (unless it is wet)
Water Access for dogs: Yes, there are multiple entry points to the river along the route
Potable water: Yes, outside Café de Peney
Baby changing facilities: No
Other Notes: Wellies or good hiking boots are recommended after rain/snow as the section through the woods gets extremely muddy and slippy.
Please observe the fawning season rules which runs between 1st April and 15th July of every year. The wildlife is rife here and our dogs can easily harm/disrupt them.
Please review the Disclaimer before attempting any walk or activity mentioned on this website.
