This year, Paris is hosting 10,500 athletes and nearly 600,000 spectators for the 2024 Summer Olympics. And while crowds that big can provide a unique sort of energy and atmosphere, many of the outdoors-lovers among us may find ourselves in need of a quick escape at some point during the visit. Whether you’re in Paris now for the Olympics—or planning to visit well after the festivities conclude—remember your options for a mid-week jaunt extend well beyond the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. There are plenty of secluded, green paths just a short drive or public transportation ride from Paris. Here are a few of our top picks. 

Mont Aigu

Hike to the top of Mont Aigu to rise above a sea of oak, Scots pine, and European beech trees below. A popular area for rock climbing, there are lots of small boulders along the trail, and sometimes hopping from one to another is your only way forward. This trail is great for families with children old enough to do some light scrambling. You can reach the Forest of Fontainebleau, which surrounds Mont Aigu, via public transportation. Coming by car? The trailhead conveniently is in a parking lot about an hour’s drive south of Paris. Note: This is a very popular hike—and it shows. The Fontainebleau forest is fragile, due to natural and human-caused erosion, so stay on trail and leave no trace.

La Coulée Verte

History buffs will love this urban hike, which was the inspiration for New York City’s High Line. This is an extremely customizable route because there are several public transportation stations along the trail, so you can start or end the hike wherever you want. No matter where you start, this mostly paved trail passes historic buildings and neighborhoods, such as the Place de la Catalogne. The first 3 or 4 miles feel relatively urban, but as you walk away from the city center, the trail opens up to rolling hills and green parkland.

Circuit des 25 Bosses

In French, “bosses” means bumps—which makes this hike extraordinarily well-named. On this hike in the Trois Pignons massif (about an hour’s drive south of Paris), you’ll cross 25 rolling hills. This area is famous for its rock climbing, and the hiking trail is also pretty rocky. Along the way, you’ll pass a couple of light scrambling sections. These sections get very slick during wet weather, so check the forecast before you go. The good news: If the weather is bad or if you have mobility issues, there are on-trail alternates to the scrambling sections. This trail is on the western side of the forest, far from train access points, so arriving by car is the best option. The good news is that the Croix Saint-Jérôme parking lot is by the trailhead. 

Forêt de Meudon

Wander through the largest forest in the Hauts-de-Seine region, about 8 miles southwest of Paris’s city center, on this hike that’s easily accessible via train or car. Wooded paths guide you to ponds within the forest, where you can stop for classic Parisian picnic mid-hike. At the edge of the water, the trail climbs and descends for several miles. Hikers also share the trail with a few squirrels, lizards, field mice, ducks, and moorhens, so it’s common to spot local wildlife along the way. At one point, the main trail runs along city roads, which can be a bit distracting for those seeking solace, but there are alternate routes within the heart of the forest to avoid this.

Etangs de Bonnelles

Need more than just a dayhike? Get a taste of classic European hut-to-hut backpacking on this overnight through the forest. Some highlights: Sharing the trail with some Camino de Santiago de Compostela hikers and passing a bird observatory near the Etangs de Bonnelles Nature Reserve. Just under 10.5 miles into the hike, stop at the Le Barn Hotel, which is in the middle of a stud farm in Bonnelles. The whole property is so big that you can spend two nights riding horses, exploring via rental bike, swimming in the Bonnelles ponds, and getting pampered at a spa.