Chèvre Roche circular loop

From Le Syndicat, leave the D43 by turning left onto the D243, Route de Remiremont, and follow signs for Chèvre Roche via the Route du Haut du Tot, then along the Route de Chèvre Roche to the car park at the foot of the summit of Chèvre Roche.

Red Ring markings throughout the route

(S/E) Follow the small tarmac road to Chèvre Roche for 500 m to the left. Turn right onto a forest track climbing parallel to the road, marked with the Red Ring. Join a wider forest track.

(1) Turn right onto it for about 50 metres, then veer left, still following the Red Ring markings, until you reach the four-way junction.

(2) Continue straight on for a circular loop that will take you back to the same spot.
The path quickly becomes a small tarmac road at the “Grandes Gouttes” lodge.

(3) At the bend next to the lodge, leave the road and continue straight on along a small, barely visible path through the grass, which will allow you to cut across the small road a little further down. Continue straight ahead along the Red Ring forest path (IGN route marked incorrectly here). Further on, ignore the two paths leading down to the right towards Plaine Cleurie and continue uphill to reach the site of the old Plaines quarry.

(4) Turn left: there is a picnic table here, but it’s better to wait for the next one a little further on for a break at a very pretty viewpoint. Take a short detour straight ahead to the interesting quarry site, where there are a few information boards. Retrace your steps and climb up the path behind the picnic table (still marked with the Red Ring). The path winds its way through the rocks of the old quarry.

(5) Overlooking the quarry, you’ll reach a lovely spot ideal for a break or a packed lunch, complete with a picnic table, offering a magnificent view over the Tholy valley. Continue the climb to the junction you passed earlier.

(2) Continue straight on along the wide forest track towards Chèvre Roche for a good kilometre.

(6) As you come out of a left-hand bend, turn sharply right onto a very stony, uphill path, which is then littered with roots for about 500 m, and join a wider path at the top.

(7) Do not follow the signposted route to Chèvre Roche on the left to avoid a short stretch of road, but instead take the unmarked path leading uphill between the fir trees, opposite and to the right of the water reservoir. It runs alongside the fence of a sheep pen on the left. Continue straight on through the grass between the sheep pens until, at the top of the pen, you reach a stony path climbing upwards, winding through the trees and then the blueberry bushes. It leads you to the summit of Chèvre Roche and its sweeping panorama over Vagney. There are several benches.

(8) From the summit, a small path descends to the left towards the car park. There is a picnic table at the start of the descent, followed by a second one under a shelter at the bottom of the path. There is also a drinking fountain at this spot. Return to the car park (S/E).

(S/E) Covered picnic table and drinking fountain very close to the car park.
(4) Picnic table at the site of the former Plaine quarry and a second one (viewpoint) overlooking the quarry (5).
(8) Picnic table and benches at the summit of Chèvre Roche.
Paths are quite stony in places; sturdy footwear is required.