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The route starts from the small car park at the foot of the Pierre d’Appel in Étival-Clairefontaine.
Coming from Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, turn left onto Rue de l’Abbaye (towards Rambervillers), cross the railway line and pass the Clairefontaine paper mill on your right. Continue towards the abbey church, which can be seen from a distance, then, immediately after the village centre, turn right onto Promenade de la Pierre d’Appel, a narrow lane with a 30 km/h speed limit. The car park is 800 m further on, on the left.
(S/E) Go through the barrier to the left of the information sign and follow the forest track for 300 m, leaving the return path on your left.
Then head up to the left along the path signposted ‘Pierre d’Appel’ (Red Cross). The second part of the path requires a degree of agility, as there are a few rocks to climb over. Just before reaching the summit, take care not to continue straight on but follow the path (Red Cross) which, at a certain point, climbs sharply to the right at a 180° angle.
Note that on this climb there are several large rocks where you can take a break (including a bench).
(1) At the summit of the Pierre d’Appel, after taking in the view, continue towards the Deuxième Sapinière (Yellow Disc).
(2) After a few minutes, you’ll come to an information board about the Celtic camp that once stood here. Take the path on the right, still heading towards Deuxième Sapinière (Yellow Disc).
At the Deuxième Sapinière, you’ll come across a small road with a car park; ignore this and head up the path opposite (Red Cross).
When you reach a picnic area, take the path on the left (Roche du Renard – Tête de Répy).
Continue in the same direction (Red Cross) until you reach the Roche du Renard via a somewhat challenging stony track.
(3) At the Roche du Renard, take the path which climbs immediately to the left, signposted Tête de Répy.
(4) Arrival at Tête de Répy (580 m). Orientation board. View of Raon l’Étape.
Continue towards La Roche du Coucou (Yellow Disc), which you will see on your left after a few minutes.
(5) Pass under a high-voltage power line with its huge pylon.
After the Roche des Corbeaux, carry on (Blue Cross) and make sure you don’t miss a small path on the left (marked with a Blue Diamond and a Green Ring). Markings confirmed (Blue Cross) 10 m further on.
Carry on and pass the Chaudron des Fées on your right.
(6) At the bottom of the descent (Bellevue junction), veer slightly to the right then immediately left onto the path leading uphill, towards Pierre d’Appel (Blue Cross).
(7) When you reach a mobile phone mast, take the path that branches off immediately to the right (Red Ring, Yellow Disc).
Note that from this mast, you can see in the distance the information sign about the Celtic camp that you passed on the way there (the Pierre d’Appel promontory is therefore 300 m further on).
Continue to the right, following the same markings, along this path which descends and leads out onto a forest track. After 200 m, the path continues down to the left (towards Roche du Bouc, Blue Triangle).
(8) La Roche du Bouc. A bench with a view over Étival-Clairefontaine.
Continue downhill until you reach a crossroads of paths. Turn right towards Beaulieu (Blue Triangle).
(9) At the bottom of the path, turn left towards Étival (Red Triangle). You are now on the fitness trail (also marked with Green Discs).
(10) Stay on the fitness trail by turning left (ignore the wide, unmarked path that goes straight on towards Étival).
Carry on for 250 m until you reach another junction.
(11) Go straight on down the slope (Green Disc, Green Saltire). You’ll pass through the hamlet of La Vigne.
(12) At the end, turn left (Green Saltire) and ignore the path (Green Disc) leading down to the right, as it has been damaged by forestry workers.
You’ll reach the forest track you took at the start to climb up to the Pierre d’Appel. Turn right downhill to reach the Pierre d’Appel car park, less than 200 m away (S/E).
); a bit of forest road but mostly trail – it’s brilliant!
Visorando Member
Easy 
