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Head to Bussang (88). In the centre, cross the railway tracks towards the station and continue straight ahead. Pass the old ski jump and climb up to the Plain de la Bouloie car park.
(S) Opposite the ski lift departure point, take the path (Green Cross) and, just past the reservoir, you’ll immediately come to La Roche de l’Ours and the waterfall of the same name.
(1) After the Fontaine de l’Ours, when you reach the path (Yellow Disc), turn left onto the forest road and you will come to the Fontaine des Oiseaux.
(2) Continue a short way along the forest road and turn left onto the forest path that climbs up to the Tête de la Bouloie.
(3) 360° viewpoint.
Take the path heading due east behind the summit pylon and descend gently through the grass to the Chalet des Crêtes.
(4) Return to the forest road (Yellow Disc) which, almost flat, crosses the path (Red Triangle). Then turn right onto a hillside path winding through a pleasant beech forest and descend to the track (yellow circle), which you follow to the right as far as the Roi Soleil.
(5) This is a giant fir tree, 47m high, with a circumference of 6m at the base and a volume of 34m³. It is thought to have been planted during the reign of Louis XIV, meaning it is between 300 and 350 years old. A few steps further on is the Refuge de la Conche.
(6) A charming little log cabin with the characteristic, very pleasant scent typical of this type of refuge.
Turn left and head down along the stream via an old, stony and difficult path to junction 765, then left again and follow a lovely forest track which, on a gentle slope, runs alongside a magnificent stream. You could follow this road as far as Les Trois Mousquetaires, but it is better to turn right onto the footbridge (yellow circle – Route des Géants).
(7) Follow the path which climbs gently, passing downstream of the Pont de Montbel (8) then, after reaching the forest road, turn left and cross this bridge. Follow the road and take a short detour to the right to the Three Musketeers.
(9) A magnificent cluster of four large fir trees, unique in the Vosges mountains.
Return to the marked trail and, 200 metres further on, turn right onto a path (blue-white-blue markings) which leaves the forest and leads through stubble fields.
(10) Walk alongside three ponds with crystal-clear water and arrive at Chaume des Neufs Bois, elevation 1044 metres (hot meals available at Le Rouge Gazon, 20 minutes away).
(11) You should then turn left onto theGR®531(Blue Rectangle) along a magnificent route with views of the peaks (Grand Ballon, Markstein, etc.) and then, via a forest track, head towards the very pleasant Chalet St Hubert with its terrace. You can take the opportunity to have a snack from your rucksack.
(12) Continue along the forest road, leaving it on the left after a large hairpin bend to take a small path (marked withthe GR® Blue Rectangle) which leads to the Col de Bussang.
(13) Climb down the ladder along the retaining wall, then follow the A-road to the left. After 100 metres, take the road on the right to reach the source of the Moselle.
(14) Retrace your steps and cross the main road to take the farm track a little further down, marked (blue-white-blue).
(15) Here is the Chalet du Séchenat; then, after the hairpin bend that follows, take the path on the left (still marked blue-white-blue). The path known as the ‘Chemin des Ormes’ follows the 875-metre contour line to emerge onto a lovely forest road. Turn left again and you can take a short break at the Chalet des Evaux.
(16) Continue to follow the blue-white-blue marked path, which climbs gently to an altitude of 1000 metres before descending gently towards the Bouloie ski run.
(17) From there, simply head downhill to reach the reservoir, then the car park (E).
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