Baume les Dames - On the ridges of the Doubs

This hike offers beautiful panoramic views of the Doubs river loops. The route passes through the picturesque site of the Cuves de Bléfond.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 23.35 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 9h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 919 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 918 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 556 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 266 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Head to the Baume-Les-Dames exit on the D492, towards Pontarlier. Park your vehicle in the car park at the hairpin bend at the junction with the RD33 leading to Villers St-Martin.

(S/E) Cross the main road and take theGR®59, which climbs up the road embankment. The white/red markings are doubled here by a yellow and blue rectangle pointing towards Croix de Chatard, towards the memorial to Georges Meunier, a great hiker. The climb sets the tone for the day. With a little discretion and a bit of luck, chamois will accompany you to Roche de Châtard, which offers the first views of the Doubs valley and Baume-Les-Dames.

(1) The first squills have appeared along the gently sloping path, which now crosses a carpet of periwinkles. Leave theGR® trail, which descends to the left.

(2) Cross the D112 and take the path opposite. Same yellow and blue markings. Follow the ridge with numerous openings onto the Doubs to climb to the summit of Mont Dommage.

(3) Military geodesic marker. Continue along the ridge marked with green-flowered hellebores.

(4) Leave the country path that descends to the right (return to Baumes-Les-Dames) and turn left to the south-west, towards Silley-Bléfond. After 100 metres, turn right to go to the viewpoint over the Doubs.

(5) Turn around and take the path on the right to reach the intersection with theGR®59(white and red markings).

(6) Turn left heading east then south to reach the village of Silley-Bléfond.

(7) Cross the village, following theGR® markings, which turn left.

(8) In the centre of the village, opposite the bus stop, leave theGR® and take the tarmac road on the left (RD364 - Rue de Baume).

(9) Cross the D112 and take the grassy path opposite. At the entrance to the woods, turn left and descend into the valley. Here you may once again see a herd of chamois.

(10) Leave the path on your left that passes under the rocks carved out by the erosion of the ancient glacier and continue downhill to reach the Moulin de Bléfond and its chapel.

(11) Please note that this is private property. You will need to ask the owners for permission to enter the property on your return to cross the stream that the mill's resurgence has filled with water.
Continue on the left, heading north-east, following the left bank of the stream through the pasture to reach the Bléfond waterfalls and pools.

(12) Note the movement of the water in the tanks. Turn around and return to the mill.

(11) Cross the property with due respect and head back up towards the bottom of the valley through the pasture. At the bottom of the valley, cross the dry stream to reach theGR®59. You can also continue a little further into the valley to see dry vats in a mini-canyon carved out by the stream, then retrace your steps back to the GR®. Take care in this difficult and tricky section. Pass through the gap in the cliff and then under the rocks carved out by erosion. You will arrive at the carriage road under a tunnel of young fir trees.

(13) Turn left onto the GR®.

(14) At the intersection, continue straight ahead, pass the hamlet of Bois Rodolphe and, at the end of the straight line, continue straight ahead on theGR®, which takes a path through the woods along the edge of the cliff. after about 600 metres, at the end of the straight line, leave theGR®59and take the country path on the left, marked with red and yellow markings, which continues along the ridge. Follow this path to the end of the ridge.

(15) Turn right onto an unmarked forest trench, which leads back to theGR®59at the edge of a white cut, but not before noticing two large quartzite sinkholes on your right.

(16) Turn left onto theGR®, which leads to Pont-les-Moulins via a fairly steep descent.

(17) Turn right onto the D21 towards Guillon.

(18) At the fork, turn left onto the D331 and head towards the hamlet of Belle Rive. Turn right just after the bridge.

(19) At the next fork, turn left and follow the pleasant, quiet tarmac road that leads to the hamlet of La Lavaine. This brings you to another tarmac road, the D19, at a hairpin bend.

(20) Turn right and climb gently.

(21) At the end of the straight stretch, at the entrance to the bend towards La Vierge, take the path straight ahead (signposted Roches de Babre). You will rejoin theGR®59. After a steep climb, you will arrive at La Roche de Babre, a rock detached from the massif and ready to fall on Baumes-Les-Dames at the first small earthquake. View of the route taken in the morning. Follow the ridge path, which continues to climb.

(22) At the bend in the path, stop at the viewpoint over the valley, which resembles a model railway. The descent begins along the canal and the Doubs. Leave the path to the right that leads to Villers-Saint-Martin and continue the steep descent until the path turns 90° to the left.

(23). Leave theGR®59by turning left to descend into the valley via the blue and yellow marked trail, which leads to the banks of the Doubs and the canal.

(24) Take the towpath in the direction of the current on the left, until you reach the first suburb of Baumes-Les-Dames. Before the dam, turn left and walk alongside the buildings of a factory, the former Ropp pipe factory. Walk alongside the factory and the workers' housing estate and, after taking a quick look at the green waters of the Cusancin, return to your vehicle by crossing the bridge on the right (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 272 m - Car park at the Baume-Les-Dames exit on the D492
  2. 1 : km 2.31 - alt. 390 m
  3. 2 : km 2.67 - alt. 363 m
  4. 3 : km 4.59 - alt. 541 m
  5. 4 : km 5.36 - alt. 533 m
  6. 5 : km 5.71 - alt. 490 m
  7. 6 : km 6.5 - alt. 493 m
  8. 7 : km 7.25 - alt. 421 m
  9. 8 : km 7.43 - alt. 404 m
  10. 9 : km 8.01 - alt. 381 m
  11. 10 : km 8.25 - alt. 347 m
  12. 11 : km 8.6 - alt. 307 m - Sesserant (rivière)
  13. 12 : km 9.25 - alt. 307 m
  14. 13 : km 10.71 - alt. 380 m - Towards the - Audeux (rivière)
  15. 14 : km 10.9 - alt. 379 m
  16. 15 : km 12.66 - alt. 340 m
  17. 16 : km 12.97 - alt. 378 m
  18. 17 : km 13.32 - alt. 281 m
  19. 18 : km 13.59 - alt. 281 m - Turn right just after the bridge at - Cusancin (rivière)
  20. 19 : km 14.25 - alt. 299 m
  21. 20 : km 15.73 - alt. 318 m
  22. 21 : km 16.08 - alt. 333 m
  23. 22 : km 17.34 - alt. 427 m
  24. 23 : km 19.24 - alt. 377 m
  25. 24 : km 20.35 - alt. 270 m - Towpath along the - Doubs (rivière)
  26. S/E : km 23.35 - alt. 272 m - Car park at the Baume-Les-Dames exit on the D492

Notes

Large motorhome parking area 1 km from the start.
Campsite at Pont les Moulins
Some sections require good equipment. Good shoes and walking sticks are strongly recommended.
Groups can book the Pont les Moulins community hall to eat their packed lunch sheltered from the weather. Tel: 03.81.84.20.03. A small financial contribution helps maintain good relations between owners and hikers.
Refreshments are available in Pont les Moulins.
This hike is best done at the beginning of the season, in March and April, before the leaves have fully appeared and when the spring flowers are in bloom (scillas, periwinkles, wood anemones and hellebores, etc.)
This hike can be split into two parts.
Croix de Chatard. Mont Dommage and Cuves de Biéfond (16.800 km).
Roches de Babre and banks of the Doubs (8.7 km);

(20) If you are tired, you can return to the starting point by turning left; the car park is at the bottom of the descent.

Worth a visit

At Baumes les Dames, at the port, you can take a mini boat cruise on the Doubs. Meals are available on board.
For the record, it is worth noting that it was on the section of the Doubs between WP23 and the dam that the first steam and rowing boat, the Pyroscaphe, was tested between 1776 and 1778 by Jouffroy d'Abbans and the boilermaker Pourchot.
The former Ropp pipe factory is soon to be converted into an eco-museum, and it will then be possible to plan a visit to this century-old former factory at the end of the hike. In the meantime, you can see an old steam engine under the hangar.

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 20 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Elisa77
Elisa77

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed in 6 hours with a lunch break and at a good pace.
Very beautiful views.
We lost track between points 15 and 17, but that didn't matter too much as we just walked along the road a little longer.

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Jul70
Jul70

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty hike with beautiful views, very varied, easy to follow the route, completed in 5 hours and 45 minutes

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juju2583
juju2583

Yes, the section after the tanks is difficult to find, so GPS is highly recommended...
The final section should be done during daylight hours if possible 😊

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ManuFran
ManuFran

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I really enjoyed the beginning of the hike, up to a little over halfway, the mill.
After that, the trail was difficult to find, with lots of fallen trees🙁
It was a difficult hike, which took 7 hours, but we had a great time. Many thanks to you👏

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Pierrot DAVID
Pierrot DAVID

From memory (this hike was about ten years ago), I think there is a bridge opposite the mill with a path that goes up to point 14, I believe.
Let me know the date you've chosen. If it's available and you agree, I could join your group. It would be an opportunity for me to update the route and description.

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juju2583
juju2583

Hello Pierre,
Thank you for your reply, Pierre. I am planning to go on this hike with a group at the end of October. In case the water level has risen, which I doubt, do you know if there is a bridge in the area?

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Pierrot DAVID
Pierrot DAVID

Hello,
First of all, thank you for your interest in the site.
From the mill, simply follow the hollow of the valley, climbing up close to the stream bed. At the bottom of the valley, you can cross the stream, which is usually passable as it is often dry (except during periods of heavy rain and snowmelt). Next, you will need to pay close attention to find the path that climbs up the cliff on the left. The GR trail has been modified and only old paint marks remain, which are difficult to see.
Enjoy your hike!

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juju2583
juju2583
• Edited:

Hello,
sorry to bother you, but in the valley where the Bléfond tanks are located, is it easy to find point 13? Is it easy to cross the small river? I'm a little worried
apparently there has been a small GPS issue at this location, there is a straight line on the map!?

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Mariefifi90
Mariefifi90

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We really enjoyed this route, the views are magnificent and what can we say about Sesserant, this timeless place... our only regret is having to return to the tarmac. It's true that we stopped at point 20 because we ran out of time (we left too late and took photos). However, we'll be back to complete it and fill in this little gap . Thank you very much for introducing us to these little corners of paradise

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yvon25
yvon25

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike today with my 11-year-old son. It is magnificent, with superb views. It is difficult but well worth the effort. there are two places where it is difficult to find your way: first, after Bois Rodolphe, to find the Bléfond tanks, and then to find La Lavaine, because after Pont Les Moulins, in the middle of the climb, the sign indicates to turn right when you should continue straight ahead.
We were lucky enough to come across several herds of chamois, so don't hesitate to set off early.
The views from the Chatard, La Grange Vuillotey and La Fente de Babre viewpoints are breathtaking.
With plenty of breaks, especially for lunch, we completed the hike in 8 hours.

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CECE25
CECE25
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful hike with stunning views.
However, it's a shame that we wasted time looking for the path at various points along the hike.
Signage was missing in several places.
We completed the hike in 5½ hours without rushing!

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to give your opinion.

You rated:

Reliability of description: Average
Reliability of the map route: Average

Did you encounter any problems with the description or route? If so, how could we improve it? Do you have any suggestions?

The path after the Bléfond tanks is difficult to find

Finding your way while hiking is not easy, as it is sometimes difficult to match the map to the terrain. In this specific case, we recommend using a GPS app in addition to the description and map.

This tool, offered free of charge by Visorando, allows you to validate waypoints and thus remove any doubts about your orientation.

See you soon!

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jlimhof
jlimhof

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very beautiful hike. Some parts are a bit slippery when it rains.
It is difficult to find the path again after the Bléfond vats. We ended up following the dry riverbed.

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zazabebert
zazabebert

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hike completed on a beautiful autumn day, with several stunning views of the Doubs valley. It wasn't easy to find the trench marking the boundary above Pont les Moulins. There was a fairly long stretch of tarmac, but it was fine in the end, especially as it led to the surprising Babre rock. A beautiful hike to do with good footwear. Thank you

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kaola123
kaola123

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk in sunny weather despite fairly strong winds
The first part is magnificent, with various viewpoints over the Doubs and its valley
then descent to the mill and chapel. Difficult to find the GR at the bottom of the meadow
a bit too much road to reach the second part, but a magnificent viewpoint
overlooking the entire valley, then return via the cycle path
To be repeated in summer
best regards

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