Forêt d'Écouves
Just 10 km north of Alençon, the Forêt d'Écouves is the largest and most biodiverse forest in Normandy, covering 15,000 hectares of ancient oak, beech and pine on the high ridges of the Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park. It is a genuine wilderness escape within easy reach of the city.
Hiking, Wildlife and Autumn Colour
The forest shelters one of France's densest populations of red deer, and the rutting season in late September and October fills the dawn air with echoing calls — the Signal d'Écouves viewpoint, at 417 metres the highest point in western France north of the Loire, is a prime spot to hear and sometimes see them.
Well-marked trails range from gentle 5 km loops through cathedral-like beech stands to full-day 20 km circuits that cross heathland clearings bright with heather in late summer.
Autumn is the undisputed peak season: the canopy turns every shade from gold to deep burgundy, and foragers fan out to collect cèpes and chanterelles from the leaf litter under the oaks.
Practical Access and the Signal d'Écouves
The Signal d'Écouves summit is accessible by a forest road and a short walk, rewarding visitors with a panoramic orientation table looking south over Alençon and the Orne valley on clear days.
The Maison du Parc at Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei, a village on the forest's southern edge consistently voted one of the most beautiful in France, provides maps, trail information and context on the park's ecosystems.
Bring sturdy shoes year-round — the clay soils hold moisture and trails can be muddy even in summer after rain, which in Normandy is never far away.
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