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Park in the car park at the Auberge du Col de la République.
(S/E) Start on the wide forest path that climbs gently to the right, opposite the cross, and enters the forest. Leave all the paths on your left until you reach the junction of two Y-shaped paths.
(1) Take the path that climbs to the left. Stay on this path until you cross the GR®7.
(2) Cross the GR® and continue straight ahead on the wide path. Continue south to reach the four-way intersection at the road (signs).
(3) Turn right and continue for 200 metres to quickly reach the crossroads with a path opposite the Lodge des Chaumasses (signposts). Leave the road and descend the path on the left through the pastures. Remember to close the gates behind you. Continue south-west on the path that descends gently through fields and a small forest.
(4) Please note: this fork is not easy to see (there is no "real" track across the field), so keep a close eye on your GPS! If you miss it, don't worry (see note below).
At some point, you will see fields below you on your left and a small forest above you on your right. Watch for the moment when the forest becomes a field, because that's where you need to turn off: climb to the top of this field and, in the opposite corner, you will find a wide path through the forest. Cross the hamlet of Le Châtelet. Then join the road and follow it for just 50 metres.
Note: if you have not spotted this fork (4) and you end up on the road (with the Gimel sawmill on your left), then go up this road on your right, pass the Châtelet, and at the top of the bend (just after the tennis court), you will find the next point.
(5) Cross the road and leave it by going down to the left towards the ponds. Follow one of the paths to reach the last one. There are several possible paths and plenty of places to take a pleasant break. Be careful, some passages may be muddy!
(6) Once you are in front of the main pond (the last one), turn right and follow it along the eastern bank. At the end, you will come to a wide, stony forest path; take it uphill to the left (west).
(7) Don't miss the turn-off onto a small, somewhat hidden path in the middle of the 90° bend to the left of the forest track, after a steep climb, opposite a low signpost on the left (see the two photos labelled "Virage"). This pleasant little path climbs gently towards the hamlet of Prélager until it crosses a wide track.
(8) Turn right and cross the hamlet, then stay on the left-hand side as you leave it.
(9) Cross the road (D28) and continue along the main path to the north-east, which returns to the forest; the climb is a little long but never steep. Return to the junction you passed on the way there.
(1) Go down to the left and, following the same route as on the way there, return to the Col de la République car park (S/E).
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