Hiking the Trails and Camping in France
Plan a hike with friends, follow the trail markings, check in at a campsite and handle the weather in the mountains.
France has thousands of kilometres of waymarked trails: the long-distance GR paths are marked with a red and white stripe, local loops (PR) with yellow. Wild camping is banned in many places, but in national parks you may usually bivouac for one night from evening to morning, away from roads; otherwise you book a pitch (emplacement) at a camping or a bed in a mountain refuge, which fills up in July and August. Hikers greet each other with « Bonjour » on the trail, and the mountain weather forecast (météo montagne) is worth checking every morning.
- 1
On fait une rando ce week-end ?
Shall we go hiking this weekend?
- 2
La balade fait combien de kilomètres ?
How long is the walk?
- 3
Il y a 800 mètres de dénivelé.
There's 800 metres of climbing.
- 4
Suis le balisage rouge et blanc.
Follow the red and white markings.
- 5
Je crois qu'on a perdu le sentier.
I think we've lost the path.
- 6
T'as assez d'eau ?
Have you got enough water?
- 7
J'ai besoin d'une pause.
I need a break.
- 8
La vue est magnifique !
The view is amazing!
- 9
J'ai mal aux pieds.
My feet are killing me.
- 10
Il y a un orage qui arrive.
A storm is on the way.
- 11
On ferait mieux de faire demi-tour.
We'd better turn back.
- 12
Vous avez un emplacement pour une tente ?
Do you have a pitch for a tent?
- 13
Pour deux nuits.
For two nights.
- 14
Il y a l'électricité sur l'emplacement ?
Is there electricity on the pitch?
- 15
Où sont les sanitaires ?
Where are the toilet and shower blocks?
- 16
On a le droit de bivouaquer ici ?
Is wild camping allowed here?
- 17
Les feux sont interdits.
Campfires are forbidden.
- 18
Il faut monter la tente avant la nuit.
We need to set up the tent before dark.
- 19
J'ai oublié le duvet !
I forgot the sleeping bag!
- 20
Je suis crevé mais content.
I'm exhausted but happy.