For planning a trip to Ardon, two very different walking routes provide a useful starting point: the Sentier botanique d’Ardon lets you discover tree species from the region and beyond, while the Circuit de la Michaille is a moderately difficult 12-kilometre circular route. There is also the restored Chapelle Saint-Michel and a history of stoneworking. This makes it possible to plan your stay around your preferred interests, without treating the routes as the same kind of outing.
Choose a route by length and theme
The Sentier botanique d’Ardon is a 2.6-kilometre walk that takes 1.5 hours. It starts above the centre of Châtillon-en-Michaille, on the road to the Plateau de Retord. Its distance and duration provide a clear framework, while discovering different tree species is the focus of this botanical trail.
The Circuit de la Michaille offers a different kind of outing: the circular route is 12 kilometres long, of moderate difficulty and includes 327 metres of ascent. Compared with the botanical trail, it is significantly longer and also involves climbing. In clear weather, the Circuit offers views of the Alps and the Jura. If the views are an important reason for choosing this route, take this weather condition into account when planning. The route follows the Chemin de la Combe de Vaux to Ardon; before that, it passes a quarry on the left.
Running events and dated routes
The 2026 edition of the Trail de la Michaille was its 11th edition. In the Tour des Prés, the 12-kilometre race in that edition took place on 22 March 2026, along the foothills of the Plateau de Retord and through the hamlet of Ardon. The final kilometre ran downhill on the road to the salle polyvalente; future editions may follow a different route. The same distance of 12 kilometres therefore refers to two different formats: a moderately difficult circular route with 327 metres of ascent for the Circuit, and a race for the Tour des Prés. When choosing, consider not only the distance but also the format and the route features described here.
Chapelle Saint-Michel and stoneworking
At the heart of the hamlet of Ardon stands the restored Chapelle Saint-Michel, part of the heritage of the Pays bellegardien worth discovering. The history of the stonemasons is another cultural aspect of the area. An account from 2013 describes how local residents worked particularly hard blocks of stone from Ardon’s quarries by hand, then transported them on horse-drawn trailers. The former quarry site bears witness to this historic activity.
An account from 2015 also tells of century-old trees at the start of the Arboretum d’Ardon trail: schoolchildren had planted them to raise money for their school. Unlike the Sentier botanique, which focuses on discovering tree species, the emphasis here is on the history of this planting.
Discover more destinations: Treffort-Cuisiat, Jasseron, Curciat-Dongalon, Cerdon, Pont-D’ain, Gex, Bellegarde-Sur-Valserine, Segny.
For the broader travel overview: Ain.
