450 kilometres of waterways run through the Val-d'Oise département. Its natural side includes numerous protected landscapes and trails; the Musée archéologique du Val d’Oise offers a very different perspective on the region’s long history. Here, nature and culture can be explored through a variety of places and themes.
Nature areas and trails in Val-d'Oise
The département’s 59 Espaces Naturels Sensibles (ENS) cover a total of 2,000 hectares. They are home to 1,321 recorded plant species, including 46 protected species. The ENS concept combines the protection of habitats and landscapes with public access. This means that alongside the size of the nature areas, their recorded biodiversity and how visitors can experience them are also central.
An interactive map of the département shows accessible ENS sites and helps you find your way when choosing one. Valdoise MyBalade also lists more than 180 detailed circular routes and walks. The app also points to farms that sell local products directly to visitors. This means digital guidance covers everything from possible routes to direct sales of regional produce. Routes and farm listings may change; check the information before making specific plans.
Forests and regional routes
The Parc naturel régional Oise–Pays de France covers 60,000 hectares and includes 59 municipalities in the Oise and Val-d’Oise départements. At its heart is a 20,000-hectare forest area known as the Massif des Trois Forêts. The park has a total of 1,300 kilometres of trails for hiking, horse riding and cycling. The size of the forest and the range of activities offer different ways to plan an excursion in this landscape.
The Vexin français has a different kind of trail network, with more than 1,100 kilometres of hiking trails. The Avenue Verte Paris–Londres and La Seine à Vélo cross the Vexin; additional loops run around Auvers-sur-Oise and Théméricourt. Created in 2021, the 100-kilometre Traversée du Vexin connects Auvers-sur-Oise with Mantes-la-Jolie. These routes differ in both length and focus. When choosing, it is therefore important to consider whether you are looking for a hike, a cycling route or a longer regional connection.
Archaeology and cultural history
The Musée archéologique du Val d’Oise preserves 22,000 archaeological objects included in the Musée de France inventory. The museum covers a broad span of time: it presents nearly 90 million years of natural development and 200,000 years of human settlement. Together, these two time spans encompass both natural and human history without narrowing the focus to individual periods.
The museum’s programme includes exhibitions, workshops, conferences, performances, reconstructions and family activities. Specific events vary. If you would like to combine a museum visit with a walk, a marked route through the Bois de Morval connects to the Musée de l’outil. As of August 2026, this trail was listed as open.
The interactive ENS map and Valdoise MyBalade offer starting points for choosing places to visit. Check route and farm listings, which may change, before using them to plan a specific day out.
Discover more destinations: Vienne, Taverny, Survilliers, Sarcelles, Sannois, Saint-Witz, Saint-Ouen-Lʼaumône, Saint-Brice-Sous-Forêt, Roissy-En-France, Pontoise, Maffliers, Le Thillay, Herblay, Goussainville, Gonesse, Garges-Lès-Gonesse, Éragny, Enghien-Les-Bains, Écouen, Eaubonne, Chaumontel, Ennery, Cergy, Luzarches, Bezons, Labbeville, Auvers-Sur-Oise, La Frette-Sur-Seine, Bray-Et-Lû, Saint-Prix, Andilly, Méry-Sur-Oise, Saint-Gratien, Argenteuil, Cormeilles-En-Parisis, Le Plessis-Luzarches, Villers-En-Arthies, Gouzangrez, Soisy-Sous-Montmorency, L'isle-Adam, Aincourt, Avernes, Chaussy, Vigny, Ermont, Ronquerolles, Génicourt, La Roche-Guyon, Boisemont, Vétheuil, Belloy-En-France, Seraincourt, Osny, Baillet-en-France, Fosses, Pierrelaye, Theuville, Magny-en-Vexin, Omerville, Saint-Cyr-en-Arthies, Deuil-la-Barre, Presles, Longuesse, Franconville
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