Circular Loop of the Échelles de la Mort via Le Refrain and the three belvédères.

The departure point is located in the car park at Échelles de la Mort, near the Refrain hydroelectric plant.

(S/E) Head towards the plant and look for the directional signs. Take the^GR®5Variante trail on the left as you exit the car park. The slope gradually becomes steeper until you reach the start of the via ferrata. Continue along this trail until you reach the foot of the first ladder.

(1) Climb it and continue on to the second section. Follow the safety instructions for crossing these two passages: no more than two people at a time on the ladder and priority to hikers descending. Follow the trail on the right once you reach the top and head towards the Échelles viewpoint, which overlooks the via ferrata passages. Then continue climbing through the hedges, leaving the path on the left (return from the via ferrata) and heading towards "Chez France". Before the picnic shelter, look for the intersection at the entrance to the dry lawn.

(2) Take the path on the left that enters the pasture. Continue along this pleasant, gently sloping path for quite some time until you reach a crossroads between two pastures.

(3) Follow the slightly wider track that climbs gently to the right. Walk along the meadow and return to the entrance gate.

(4) If the gate is closed, there is no need to go through it. A small path through the grass runs alongside the fence and climbs directly into the meadow to reach the edge of the woods and then the Chemin des Côtes, which you will take on your left.
Then leave this path on the left at a sharp right-hand bend to quickly reach a crossroads.

(5) Go straight ahead towards the Cendrée viewpoint, ignoring the two side tracks. Continue along this path which runs along the cliff and can be slippery in places: take care. You will reach a large crossroads near a remarkable tree with multiple trunks.

(6) Follow the signs for the Cendrée viewpoint. Enjoy the view from the viewpoint, then return in the opposite direction to the fork. Turn left onto the beautiful track that does not appear on the IGN map, but is shown on OpenStreetMap randonnée. Walk along the meadow and join the Route de la Fauconnière.

(7) Turn right and follow the road to the Bois de la Biche restaurant. Go around it and you will reach a car park.

(8) At the entrance to the car park, look for the path that leads into the pasture. Walk down through the grass and you will reach the edge of the forest. At the crossroads in the pasture, leave Chemin des Côtes and turn left, following the path shared by hikers and cows. Cross the meadow heading towards the Boulois farm.

(9) Cross the fence at the designated crossing point, walk along the building, cross the courtyard and go up the path.
Be discreet, courteous and polite to any farmers you meet who are tolerating your passage on their property.

(10) At the junction with the D292, turn right, cross the hamlet of Vaudey and continue on to the Refuge de Vaudey a little further on.

(11) Continue straight ahead on the road and enter the woods. A little further on, follow the signs for the Belvédère de la Crampoulotte.

(12) Enjoy the view of the gorges and then head back to the refuge.

(11) Turn left and follow the clearly visible path that crosses the pasture towards the forest.

(13) At the crossroads, leave the descending path to cross the fence on the left and enter the woods. Further on, turn left onto a slightly wider path and you will reach a major crossroads.

(14) Turn sharply left and continue along this path. At the edge of the pasture, follow the path on the left and cross the ravine via the footbridge. Reach the edge of the woods and enter the meadow. The trail follows the edge of the forest to leave the animals in peace and spare the pasture. You will then reach the Piolotte farm.

(15) Go around the farm and follow the path towards the corner of the pasture. Join the path that leaves to the right of the watering trough and enters the forest. A little further on, ignore the faint path on the right, then the one that goes up to the left. You will soon reach a white path and continue on the right. Enter the fields and look for the^GR® crossroads^.

(16) Head straight ahead to walk along the woods and head towards the Belvédère des Vieilles Femelles.

(17) Enjoy the view and turn back.

(16) Turn left into the woods onto the^{GR® trail}, which descends towards Charbonnières du Haut. The actual trail does not always correspond to the IGN map. Don't hesitate, there is no other path. Descend and join the^GR®5variant.

(18) Enjoy the Charbonnières du Haut site, then head north-east towards Les Essarts Cuenot. After a few metres, you will immediately see a path that descends quite steeply to the right, just at the corner of the square. Take this path and descend. Follow the winding path to reach the riverbank.

(19) Enjoy the Charbonnière du Bas site and the landscape shaped by the Doubs. Turn right to follow the riverbank upstream. A little further on, you will reach the Ulysse stream, which you can cross via a footbridge. If there is water, walk a few metres to your right to admire the waterfall coming from the top of the cliff. Continue along the river to reach the power station further on.

(20) Walk along the turbine canal with its impressive current and the pipes bringing water from the dam further upstream. Return to the car park (S/E).

Sheltered picnic tables between the Belvédère des Échelles and the dry lawn.
Large picnic area with barbecues and dry toilets at the Charbonnière du Haut site.
Bar and snack bar open in season in the car park at the start of the trail.

Échelles de la Mort site.
Via Ferrata towards the car park.
Charbonnières du Haut and Charbonnières du Bas sites.
Waterfall at the Ulysse bridge.
Bois de la Biche restaurant (booking recommended).