La Mer à la Marceline loop

A short, very accessible walk offering beautiful views of the 1,000 ponds plateau.

Details

2206538
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.05 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 10 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 13 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 474 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 457 m

Description of the walk

Car park at La Mer

(S/E) Leave the car park on the right and take the farm track on your left at the crossroads.
Stay on the main path which runs alongside various lakes, including the Étang des Grands Prés

(1). When you reach a clearing with buildings in front of you, follow the pond, turning left twice.
Pass between two ponds and continue straight ahead, returning to the forest

(2). Shortly after entering the forest, take the first path on your left, which slopes slightly downhill. You will cross the outlet of the Étang des Grands Prés, then take a slightly rocky path that first climbs and then descends quite steeply.
A few hundred metres further on, you will come to an old farm with old dry stone walls.

(3) Take the path between the walls on your left, pass the renovated farm and descend towards the Étang des Grands Prés with its vast reed beds.
Continue straight ahead on the same path until you return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 464 m - La Mer car park
  2. 1 : km 1.82 - alt. 467 m - La Marceline
  3. 2 : km 2.34 - alt. 466 m - Entrance to the forest
  4. 3 : km 2.83 - alt. 463 m - Low walls at the Vilory farm
  5. S/E : km 4.05 - alt. 464 m - La Mer car park

Worth a visit

You can also enjoy a "sports & nature discovery" activity with the Nat'Mouv app. It combines exercise with natural elements and nature discovery.
It is free for participants as it is funded by the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park and the Bourgogne Franche-Comté Region.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
POOTBAUDIER
POOTBAUDIER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route, with lovely ponds.

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guy marianne
guy marianne

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a short but very pleasant route, suitable for families

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Nath25
Nath25

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy hike with four dogs who didn't suffer from the heat despite the somewhat... intense weather. The trail is well protected by vegetation. Easy to follow. I recommend it for a nice walk in the Belle-Haute Saône region.

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CORNA
CORNA

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice little circuit, I agree with all the previous comments, but I would add that, unfortunately, it seems that local residents are not particularly interested in the presence of hikers. Proof of this is the large number of signs of all kinds prohibiting access along the entire route (including eight signs on a 30-metre-long property wall!!!). The route winds its way between strings, ropes and various signs. There is even a sign asking for silence.
What a shame...

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Yvan THOMAS
Yvan THOMAS

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Fairly easy hike, with no difficulties

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Paul Dervaux
Paul Dervaux

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, which we combined with the Bois d'Arfin hike. 17 km through woods and ponds along superb trails, but with somewhat sparse signage.

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Mot laid
Mot laid

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route with lovely ponds. We extended our walk to the Plate Pierre pond (about 30 minutes from La Marcelline, on a small road): a beautiful, secluded pond where we enjoyed a picnic. We returned to La Marcelline to complete the loop back to the car park at La Mer. Total duration: 2 hours 15 minutes.

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MTS21
MTS21

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant and easy route, enjoyed in beautiful sunshine. We met lots of families. We combined this route with a visit to the Bois d'Arfin. A great day out.

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Pascal Verdy
Pascal Verdy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely little walk to do on a Sunday afternoon.
We came across lots of people who were clearly out with their families.

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VisoBéné
VisoBéné

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk between ponds and foxgloves.
Quiet and without any particular difficulties.
Don't forget your mosquito repellent!

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Salackiss
Salackiss

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike in a pleasant setting with no difficulty around magnificent ponds where our dog was able to swim.

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Jedir
Jedir

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

flat and easy route

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ribeau
ribeau

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike, perfect for families.

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tournadrep
tournadrep

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely little hike to do with the family.

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Azimut71
Azimut71

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A pleasant, almost flat walk along good paths (unpaved except in the village) surrounded by unspoilt countryside. Perfect.

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