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Parking on the D39a at the exit of Bouxières-aux-Bois.
(S/E) Cross the D39 and continue straight ahead. Then take the small tarmac road on the right. This first part is a little tedious as you are walking on tarmac, but the sweeping view to the left over the plain and the blue line of the Vosges mountains makes up for this minor inconvenience.
After about 1.5 km, turn left onto a small road in the forest, which quickly turns into a stony path and comes out of the woods onto a small road.
(1) Turn right, more or less level. Shortly after passing under the high-voltage power line, leave the main path and take a barely visible path on the right that crosses the woods and leads to the D39 at the foot of the Côte de Virine, topped by its cross.
(2) Follow the D39 to the right for 100 metres to find the access to the Côte de Virine on the left , which can be reached via the Way of the Cross. From the summit (orientation table): the view extends 360° from the Vosges to the mountain of Sion.
(3) Descend in the opposite direction along a track through the meadows (rotary gates), skirting the vineyards and then a mirabelle plum orchard. At the end of the orchard, turn right and head for the Bois des Revaux along the fence (no path) to rejoin the path in the woods.
(4) Turn left onto this path and follow it for 2 km. It crosses the woods along a pleasant, slightly undulating path under tall trees. Stay on the main path, ignoring the perpendicular paths.
(5) As you pass, admire a domestic rowan tree (also known as a service tree), which is classified as a remarkable tree. Cross the D39 with caution and continue on the same path, ignoring all the paths branching off to the left. Leave the woods with Haut du Herré in sight.
(6) Climb to the right towards the small wood via tracks in the meadows. A narrow path crosses the top of the wood, which is occupied by the remains of an old gypsum quarry
(7) The markings are a little unclear. Go around the edge of the woods on the right to find them again. When you leave the woods, head right towards the ridge overlooking Circourt (extensive views on both sides). At the end, you will come to a wide path which you take to the left. Shortly afterwards, enter the woods and you will come to a good path coming from the left (Chemin de Saint-Pierre).
(8) Follow it uphill to the right. After a large bend, you will come out onto the Bois du Haut Fays plateau, which the path crosses in a zigzag pattern (the IGN map is incorrect at this point). Follow a path to the right for 100 m, then turn left. Shortly afterwards, leave the woods and you will come out at the top of the Ruisseau du Bas du Fond valley, which you will follow all the way. The landscape is idyllic, with large sloping meadows dotted with fruit trees.
(9) Please note: shortly before the path turns into a small road (just after a caravan on the left and opposite a large walnut tree on the right), the signposting changes. It now follows this small road and joins the D39 200 m from the Circourt exit. You can use the old route (shown on the map): go down a wide grassy path to the left to the edge of the woods to find a path overgrown with grass, which you follow to the right to the D39.
(10) Follow this road to the left for 200 m, then turn right onto a good path that crosses wetlands (reeds, poplars) and enters the Vallon du Rupt de Vau. The path winds its way between meadows and woods, then turns right and enters the woods. After 150 m, look carefully for the start of a small path on the right.
(11) Take this path to reach the edge of the stream, which you will follow for a pleasant kilometre.
(12) At the end, take a wide path on the right that climbs up a large valley, enters the woods, and then leads to a small road. Turn right to return to the car park (S/E).
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