VERSOIX TO GOUILLE MARION NATURE RESERVE (VAUD)

We set off from Centre sportif de Versoix towards this easy nature escape. Walking along Route de l'Etraz, a small road which borders the sports centre, we soon entered the woods. The transition was immediate—birds replacing traffic, and tall trees enclosing the path ahead.
The trail gently carved its way through the Bois de Veytay (Veytay Woods), leading us deeper into a calm, shaded forest. Several minutes later, we reached our destination: the Gouille Marion pond. Tucked away in this 14-hectare nature reserve just across the Geneva–Vaud border, it feels surprisingly remote for somewhere so accessible.
The reserve, in which the tranquil pond lies at its heart, was shaped in the early 1970s when small islands and a surrounding channel were added to help regulate water levels. Since being protected in 1973, it has become a haven for wildlife.

Gouille Marion pond

We took our time along the path, scanning the water and trees. The area is rich in biodiversity, with over a hundred bird species recorded, along with amphibians, dragonflies, and grass snakes. The pond also attracts larger animals—deer, foxes, and wild boar—as a water source.

Further around the pond, a notice on a tree informed us that during nesting season (March to August), it’s important to stay on the main trail to protect the wildlife. Even outside this period, the clearly marked path offers the best way to explore without disturbing the reserve.

On the other side of the pond, we reached a small wooden observation hut, a perfect spot to slow down and take it all in. It’s easy to lose track of time here, listening to the calming sounds of nature.

After completing the loop around the pond, we retraced our steps back through the forest to the sports centre. It’s a simple walk, but one that delivers a real sense of escape—proof that you don’t have to go far from Geneva to find quiet, wild places.

The observation hut

Veytay Woods