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Park at Auxelles-Haut. Go up the road that passes above the church and continue to the cemetery where there is a car park.
(S/E) Opposite, take Rue du Château, then Rue des Bruyères and continue to a Y-junction at a fountain.
(1) Take the uphill street (Rue du Mont Ménard) for 5 metres, then immediately turn right onto Rue du Coin du Bois, which ends in a cul-de-sac. From this point, the path is unmaintained and unmarked.
Note: this path can be kept clear if each hiker cuts back a few branches from the small beech trees that are beginning to overgrow it.
The trail continues uphill without changing direction (ignore a flat trail leading off to the right). You will reach the junction with the road leading from Auxelles to Col du Querty.
(2) Follow it for a few metres and continue left onto the path, which widens. Continue climbing gradually without changing direction above the road, initially running parallel to it. Higher up, you will reach a crossroads.
(3) Turn right onto the flat path, then take the first trail that climbs a little more steeply through a park towards the Chaume du Querty. Forestry work has been carried out in this area. When you reach the top of the meadow, enjoy a magnificent view of the Alps in the background, weather permitting. Find a red-marked trail here and follow it uphill to a trail junction at the foot of Roche Fendue.
(4) Now follow the Blue Triangle marked trail uphill towards the Planche des Belles Filles, reaching a meadow and a not very marked crossroads of four trails.
Do not continue along the flat marked trail towards the road that climbs to the summit of La Planche (unless you want to see the slope of this Tour de France stage finish).
(5) Take the left-hand path (unmarked) which descends straight down the slope (note: it is signposted for snowshoes in winter).
You will soon reach the marked Green Rectangle route. Pass under the Tête de Charborue, fir trees and porcini mushrooms. Cross Marbranche to reach the meadows of Mont Ménard, where you can take advantage of a shelter located a few metres to the left of the route.
(6) Take the path on the left, passing through the bottom of the meadow next to the Vierge des Auxelles with a bench and a magnificent view of the valley. Stay on the path to reach a carriage road.
(7) Walk up the road a few metres to the left so as not to miss the marked trail and rejoin the road. Return to the first crossroads.
(1) Retrace your steps to return to the car park where you started (S/E).
I didn't even know there was a Tour de France this year!
Visorando member
Difficult 
Local authority
Easy 
