From the Square Darcy in Dijon to the estuary at Le Havre, the GR2 follows the Seine from its source to the Channel, through Burgundy, Champagne, Paris and Normandy.
869 km 540 mi38 stages10,250 m 33,629 ft ascentHigh point 577 m 1,893 ftDijon → Le Havre
0 m250 m500 m750 m0 km100 km200 km300 km400 km500 km600 km700 km800 km15101520253035High point 577 m
Elevation profile: from 1 m to 557 m over 868.6 km.
The GR2 at a glance
The GR2 “Along the Seine” follows the river for almost its entire length. Created in 1970, it originally started from Sainte-Foy, in the Val Suzon; it now starts from the Square Darcy in Dijon, so as to begin close to a railway station. Via the Suzon valley, it reaches the source of the Seine on the Langres plateau, then follows the river through the Châtillonnais, Champagne and Troyes, Île-de-France and Paris, and finally Normandy as far as Le Havre. In all, it crosses twelve departments.
The landscape changes as the river flows on. In the Côte-d’Or, the Seine is still only a stream winding between forests and combes; at the source, a grotto built under Napoleon III shelters the statue of a nymph who personifies the river. Châtillon-sur-Seine holds the Vix Treasure, a bronze krater dated to around 530 BCE, on display at the Musée du Pays Châtillonnais. Further on, the trail crosses the Paris conurbation via Meudon and Chaville, then reaches Giverny, the Seine cliffs, Rouen, the Boucles de la Seine Normande Regional Nature Park, the Brotonne forest, the Marais Vernier and the Pays de Caux plateau.
The terrain is gentle and the trail has no technical difficulty: it is its length that makes it a great long-distance crossing. Well connected by train, especially in Île-de-France and Normandy, it is easy to split into sections of a few days, from Dijon to the source of the Seine, from Fontainebleau to Le Coudray-Montceaux or from Mantes to Vernon.
Highlights
The source of the Seine and the infant river, still a mere stream, in the Côte-d’Or.
The Vix Treasure, at the Musée du Pays Châtillonnais in Châtillon-sur-Seine.
Crossing Île-de-France and the Paris conurbation on foot, from Fontainebleau to Meudon.
The meanders of the Seine in Normandy, from Rouen to the Brotonne forest and the Marais Vernier.
A route well connected by train, easy to split into sections.
Practical information
Start
Dijon
The GR2 starts from the Square Darcy, very close to Dijon station, served by TGV from Paris.
Finish
Le Havre
Le Havre has an SNCF station served by Normandy TER trains, with connections to Rouen and Paris.
When to go
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
The GR2 can be walked all year round. In winter and spring, the paths can be wet and muddy; during the hunting season, find out about driven hunts, especially in the Burgundy forests.
Difficulty
Moderate
Gentle terrain and paths with no technical difficulty; only the overall length and a few forest stages in Burgundy call for stamina.
Accommodation
16 gîtes, 29 B&Bs, 405 hotels, and 17 campgrounds
In the upper Seine valley, there are gîtes, B&Bs, hotels and campgrounds, mostly in the small towns. In Île-de-France and Normandy, the towns along the way offer more choice. In the Châtillonnais, it is best to book ahead.
Rules to know
Camping is allowed away from roads and public highways, but only with the consent of whoever has the use of the land (Urban Planning Code, article R111-32); it may also be prohibited locally by planning documents and in listed or registered sites. In the Châtillonnais, the trail crosses the Forests National Park: follow its rules.
Water and supplies
In the Côte-d’Or, find out which shops are open before each stage and set off with water for the day. In Île-de-France, many stations let you stop walking at any point; schedules are on Vianavigo, and those for Normandy on the TER website.
The GR2 on the map
The 38 stages
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
No current alerts for this GR (checked on November 12, 2026). All live updates →
Our advice
Check the weather forecast before setting off and wear footwear suited to muddy paths in winter and spring.
During the hunting season, find out about any driven hunts under way and wear visible clothing in the forest.
For a first taste, the section from Dijon to the source of the Seine and on to Châtillon-sur-Seine introduces you to the infant river.
Split the crossing of Île-de-France into stages using the stations close to the route.
When the Seine is in flood, check before taking the riverbank paths.
Frequently asked questions
Does the GR2 start at the source of the Seine or in Dijon?
The GR2 starts in Dijon, at the Square Darcy, near the station: the FFRandonnée moved its starting point, formerly at Sainte-Foy, in the Val Suzon (2018 announcement). The trail then reaches the source of the Seine via the Suzon valley.
Where does the GR2 end?
The GR2 ends at Le Havre, at the mouth of the Seine, after passing through Rouen and the Pays de Caux. Le Havre is also the finishing point of the GR21, which follows the Alabaster Coast from Le Tréport.
Does the GR2 go through Paris?
Yes. The trail crosses the Paris conurbation, including Paris, the Val-de-Marne and the Hauts-de-Seine, passing through Meudon and Chaville in particular. The many stations make it easy to split this section into short stages.
What is the best season to walk the GR2?
The GR2 can be walked all year round. The paths are often wet and muddy in winter and spring; from late spring to early fall, walking is more pleasant. During the hunting season, look out for driven hunts.
Can you bivouac along the GR2?
Camping is allowed away from public highways, but with the consent of whoever has the use of the land (article R111-32 of the Urban Planning Code). It may be prohibited locally. The simplest option is to ask the landowner for permission or to sleep at a campground.
Which section of the GR2 should you choose for a few days?
MonGR suggests, among others, Dijon to Châtillon-sur-Seine via the source of the Seine, Fontainebleau to Le Coudray-Montceaux, or Mantes to Vernon via the Seine cliffs. All of them start from a town served by train.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on November 10, 2026.
