Route de la Noie Villerand to Grand Rosbeck

This family-friendly route on the outskirts of Melisey will allow you to discover the Plateau des 1000 Étangs (Plateau of 1000 Ponds) via small wooded paths. The ponds along the route will amaze you, such as the Grand Rosbeck, one of the most beautiful in the Southern Vosges. After your walk, come and enjoy the Praille leisure area: swimming pool and water games in summer, mini golf, picnic areas. Restaurants and shops in the local area.

Details

19530711
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.55 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 77 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 68 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 387 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 330 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Pass the waste collection centre and continue straight ahead, following the horse riding and mountain biking signs. You will come to a fork in the forest.

(1) Turn right onto a woodland path running alongside a stream until you reach the Noie Villerand pond

(2) Keep to the left. At the next pond, turn left. Continue straight ahead until you pass between two ponds. After a short climb, you will arrive at a forest path.

(3) Keep to the right until you reach a fork.

(4) There are two options.
- Turn left to start the long route (horse riding signs).
- Continue straight ahead on the mountain bike route, following the route and description for the short circuit. Continue to a ford and turn right.

(5) After a muddy section, turn right towards La Hutte, cross a small ford near the pond, then go around the house on the right. Ignore a path coming from the right at this point. Enter the forest and keep right until you reach a passage between the two ponds.

(6) Take this passage and immediately turn left, following the pond. Continue to the end of the pond.

(7) Turn right, then walk along the Grand Rosbeck pond. Pass in front of the war memorial, cross the clearing and take the small path going up through the woods. Be careful, rocky passage!

(8) Cut across a track and, at the fitness trail, keep left until you reach the viewpoint overlooking Mont de Vannes and the villages of Melisey and Saint-Barthélémy.

(9) Turn right onto the track. Follow it to the left, then continue along the road to return to the starting point. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 331 m - Waste collection centre
  2. 1 : km 0.63 - alt. 332 m - Forest
  3. 2 : km 0.98 - alt. 333 m - Étang de la Noie Villerand
  4. 3 : km 1.63 - alt. 353 m - Forest path
  5. 4 : km 1.9 - alt. 361 m - Crossroads
  6. 5 : km 2.31 - alt. 370 m - Small ford
  7. 6 : km 2.83 - alt. 353 m - Two ponds
  8. 7 : km 3.12 - alt. 354 m - End of the first pond
  9. 8 : km 3.39 - alt. 364 m - Rocky passage
  10. 9 : km 3.88 - alt. 384 m - Mont de Vannes
  11. S/E : km 5.55 - alt. 331 m - Waste collection centre

Notes

- Stay on the paths and follow the markings. Do not take shortcuts to limit trampling of vegetation and erosion.

- Do not light fires or smoke in the woods or near the edges and undergrowth.

- Respect the places you pass through, close gates behind you, and do not pick fruit from trees or flowers along the paths.

- Be discreet, be considerate of local residents, other nature lovers and the tranquillity of the areas you pass through. Observe the flora and fauna without touching them.

- Keep dogs on a leash. They can cause damage or be victims of accidents.

- Leave no trace of your visit, including litter.

- Follow the instructions of hunters during hunting season. Check with the local authorities for more information.

Worth a visit

- Look and observe the splendour of the ponds.

- The route passes through the fitness trail.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
jadesuzhou
jadesuzhou
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A gentle stroll (no elevation gain) starting from Melisey, allowing you to discover a small section of the thousand ponds. There is hardly any tarmac at the start and end of the route. I took advantage of the picnic area mentioned by another hiker to take a short break. Beautiful view of Rosbeck Pond, where a crested cormorant was spreading its wings to dry its feathers.

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simonb
simonb

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

well-marked route, very pleasant through various ponds

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agcg25
agcg25

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

No change

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Yukulovicz
Yukulovicz

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A beautiful walk in a great location if you want a glimpse of what the Plateau des Mille Étangs looks like. We would have appreciated a slightly more detailed description so we didn't hesitate so much at certain points, but overall it was fine.

Bring a picnic, as there is a lovely sheltered table halfway between points 5 and 6!

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JOEL FAIVRE
JOEL FAIVRE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, mostly shaded, perfect when it's hot.

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les bubus
les bubus

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Mostly hiking through woodland, recommended in hot weather. Please note that the trail is often muddy (especially as it has rained a lot recently), but with walking boots this is not a problem.
As for the signposting, you need to be careful as there are several routes that overlap.

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