Long traverse Massif Central · Centre and Loire Valley · Atlantic coast
GR3GR3 Loire Trail
The oldest of the GRs follows one of Europe’s last wild rivers, from the volcanic plateau of the Ardèche to the Guérande salt marshes and the seafront at La Baule.
1,299 km57 stages12,800 m ascentHigh point 1,609 mMont Gerbier-de-Jonc → La Baule
From Mont Gerbier-de-Jonc to La Baule, over 1,299 km.
0 m500 m1,000 m1,500 m2,000 m0 km200 km400 km600 km800 km1,000 km1,200 km11020304050High point 1,609 m
Elevation profile: from 1 m to 1,585 m over 1,299.1 km.
The GR3 at a glance
The GR3 follows the Loire from its source, at the foot of Mont Gerbier-de-Jonc in the Ardèche, to the Atlantic Ocean. It originally ended in Guérande and has been extended to the seafront at La Baule. It crosses three regions and twelve departments, and can also be walked in the opposite direction. The FFRandonnée presents it as the first “official” GR: the idea came from a naturalist in Orléans in the late 1930s, and a first section was opened in 1947.
The trail begins on the volcanic plateaux of the Velay, where Puy green lentils are grown, then descends the Loire gorges to the outskirts of Saint-Étienne. It then leaves the river to cross the slopes of the Monts du Forez and the hedged farmland of the Bourbonnais and Burgundy, before rejoining the Loire near Nevers and Gien. Then comes the great Loire of the châteaux: Orléans, Beaugency, Blois, Amboise, Tours, Chinon, Saumur, then Nantes.
After Nantes, the trail climbs onto the Sillon de Bretagne ridge, skirts the Brière, enters the medieval town of Guérande and crosses its salt marshes before reaching the sea.
Apart from the upper section, which is more mountainous, the GR3 offers gentle terrain and towns close together. It lends itself well to being discovered in sections of a few days, ideal for a first long-distance walk.
Highlights
The start at Mont Gerbier-de-Jonc, the volcanic mountain at whose foot the Loire rises, protected since 1933.
The wild Loire gorges in the Haute-Loire, between the Monts d’Ardèche and Saint-Étienne.
The slopes of the Monts du Forez and the hedged farmland of the Bourbonnais, where the trail leaves the river.
The Loire Valley of the châteaux, from Orléans to Saumur via Blois, Amboise, Tours and Chinon.
The Brière, the town of Guérande and its salt marshes before the finish facing the ocean.
The pleasure of walking the oldest GR in France.
Practical information
Start
Mont Gerbier-de-Jonc
Mont Gerbier-de-Jonc stands isolated on the Ardèche plateau and no regular public transport service to the site could be confirmed: check with the Montagne d’Ardèche tourist office or plan on a taxi.
Finish
La Baule
La Baule-Escoublac has an SNCF station on the Nantes – Le Croisic line, served by Pays de la Loire TER trains and by TGVs from Paris.
When to go
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MonGR considers the GR3 walkable all year round. The high plateaux at the start, around Gerbier-de-Jonc, and the Monts du Forez can be under snow in winter; the Loire Valley and the estuary remain walkable all year round.
Difficulty
Moderate
The upper section (Velay plateaux, Loire gorges, Monts du Forez) is hilly and calls for stamina; the rest of the route, on the flat along the river, is suitable for any regular walker.
Accommodation
3 refuges, 23 gîtes, 1 unstaffed hut and 2 youth hostels
Hotels, B&Bs, gîtes and campsites can be found in the riverside towns and villages. In the upper section, the Montagne d’Ardèche tourist office publishes a guide, “Où dormir en itinérance” (where to stay on a multi-day walk).
Rules to know
Mont Gerbier-de-Jonc has been a protected site since 1933, at the heart of the Monts d’Ardèche UNESCO Global Geopark: stay on the waymarked path to climb to the summit.
Water and supplies
When there is a weather warning, some sections may be closed: the Loire-Atlantique department advises checking with the tourist offices that the route is open all the way. In the valley, stocking up is easy; on the plateaux at the start and in the Forez, carry water and food for the day.
The GR3 on the map
The 57 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 12 November 2026). All live updates →
Our advice
At the start, take the time to see the three sources of the Loire signposted at the foot of Mont Gerbier-de-Jonc.
Do not swim or venture onto the sandbanks: the Loire’s current remains dangerous, even when the water is low.
For a first taste, choose a section of the Loire Valley well served by train, such as Blois – Tours or Tours – Chinon.
Take the topoguide or an up-to-date GPS track: upstream, the GR3 often leaves the riverbank to go over the high ground.
Bring warm clothes for the start, even in summer: Gerbier-de-Jonc rises to 1,551 m.
Frequently asked questions
Does the GR3 start at Mont Gerbier-de-Jonc or Mont Mézenc?
At Mont Gerbier-de-Jonc, at the source of the Loire, according to the FFRandonnée and MonGR. The neighbouring Mont Mézenc forms, together with the Gerbier, the massif where the river rises, but it is not the starting point of the GR3.
Does the GR3 end in Guérande or La Baule?
The GR3 historically ended in Guérande, at the Porte Saint-Michel. It has been extended to La Baule, where it ends on the seafront, facing the ocean.
Why is the GR3 said to be the first GR?
The idea of a trail along the Loire was put forward in 1937 by a naturalist from Orléans. Delayed by the war, the project came to fruition in 1947 with the opening of a first section, which makes it the first “official” GR according to the FFRandonnée.
Does the GR3 always follow the Loire?
No. Upstream, it leaves the valley to cross the Monts du Forez and the hedged farmland of the Bourbonnais. Towards the estuary, it goes via the Sillon de Bretagne, the Brière and Guérande rather than along the riverbank.
Which sections of the GR3 should you choose for a few days?
MonGR offers several suggestions in the Loire Valley, such as Orléans – Beaugency, Blois – Tours, Tours – Chinon or Chinon – Saumur, as well as sections towards the ocean, between Guérande and La Baule.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on 10 November 2026.
Other GR trails: Massif Central, Centre and Loire Valley
