Barbizon - Rocher de Milly, a long getaway off the beaten track

This circuit offers a large loop that connects Barbizon to the Rocher de Milly, passing through Isatis and the Rochers des Sablons (very beautiful sandstone quarries). It then joins the Hurlevent viewpoint, crosses the beautiful and wild Touche aux Mulets plateau, then, after crossing the Rocher de Milly again, reaches Franchard, the Gorges d'Apremont and the André Billy viewpoint.
Many "wild" and unfrequented sections.

Technical sheet

238226
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 21.81 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 313 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 305 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 132 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 73 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the first car park at the exit of Brabizon on the road to Fontainebleau.

(S/E) Take the Route des Gorges d'Apremont diagonally (south-east), which bypasses the small rocky outcrop on the left where the Millet-Rousseau monument is located.

(1) At the three-way junction after a slight climb, take the path on the right which descends on the other side of the aforementioned rock formation. It crosses the blue circuit no. 6 and joins a crossroads. Continue straight ahead (west), keeping the water tower on your left, until you reach a crossroads.

(2) Turn left onto Route des Brulis (a beautiful cobbled section) which joins Route de la Perspective de Rochefort a little further on. Turn right onto Route de la Perspective de Rochefort. This road climbs and then descends to Carrefour des Ventes Alexandre.

(3) At this crossroads, take Route des Monts Girard briefly (which runs alongside the fence of the cut-off area) and rejoin Route de la Perspective de Rochefort on the right, which climbs back up to the plateau and leads directly to the Camp d'Arbonne viewpoint (bench).

(4) To the left of the bench (looking towards the viewpoint), take a path that descends rapidly into the valley (to the left of the tree with the "point de vue" sign). Once on the flat, the path widens (further on, a sign indicates that this is the Route Tournante des Ventes Alexandre). Cross a path and turn left. Join the D11, cross it and continue straight ahead (Route du Loup).

(5) At the next crossroads (Carrefour du Loup), turn left onto Route du Châtelain (2nd road on the left) and continue to Carrefour des Trois Frères after crossing the D409.

(6) Turn right onto Route du Cul du Chaudron, which joins Carrefour de la Plaine de Macherin (Isatis car park). Large ONF forest throughout.

(7) (Isatis car park). Continue along Route du Cul du Chaudron, which leads to Route des Gorges de Franchard.

(8) At this point, you are at the foot of a small climbing massif called "Franchard-Sablons" (red and blue markings). The map indicates that the path continues slightly to the right of the main rocks. The path is not very visible at the crossroads: walk a few metres to the right, and it starts in the ferns (which are invasive in summer). It is very visible, climbs up a small thalweg, crosses a small ridge and then climbs back up towards theGR® trail, which you join at the "Route Darwin" sign.
Alternatively (old description), climb up the rocks on the left, keeping to the right of them (you can clearly see the aforementioned thalweg), until you reach a bulge between two small valleys. once you have reached the ridge (around 7 on plot number 772 on the map...), you can clearly see theGR® 11 below.

(9) Take this well-marked path (red and white) on the right, which descends steeply onto a wide path that it crosses, and continues opposite. You are now in the Rochers des Sablons, where theGR® winds its way after climbing up a ridge. You will soon see the quarries on your left (there are some particularly well-preserved low walls). The trail goes around the 110-metre contour line on the right, between some rocks (ignore the paths on the right), then descends towards Arbonne.

(10) Take thefirst path on the left (before a barrier 20 m to the right): this is the Chemin des Rochers (no sign). Then turn right onto the Chemin de la Cible and leave the Chemin de la Basse Plaine on your right.

(11) At the Carrefour de la Cible, turn left (Chemin de la Basse Plaine). The path then enters the national forest (boundary markers). At the next crossroads, take the Route du Louvard on the right, which leads, after a fairly steep climb, via the Route de Hurlevent on the right on the plateau, to the Hurlevent viewpoint (bench).

(12) To leave from this point, return to the Route du Louvard and continue to the right. Leave a path on the left (Route Jussieu, near an ONF logging area): at this point, the Route du Louvard descends to the right between rounded boulders and rejoins the Carrefour de la Louve. The Route du Louvard continues straight ahead towards the Milly rock and descends in the same way. Cross the Route de Milly in Fontainebleau, and the path then leads to the Chemin des Pieds Pourris after crossing the open space of the Vanne aqueduct.

(13) Continue left along this path. After climbing up to the Queue de Vache plateau, it descends to the Route de la Goulotte. Continue straight ahead across the flat area of the Touche aux Mulets (beautiful ponds, sometimes wet), and join the Route de la Gibelotte, which you take on the left (keep heading in this direction until you reach this road, which you will come to after going down and up a small dip).

(14) Follow the Route de la Gibelotte, cross the Carrefour du Sapin Rouge. At the Carrefour du Sapin Blanc, take the Route Alexandre (third on the left). When you reach the Route du Blaireau, follow it, turning left. Cross the Route de la Princesse Marie and join the Carrefour du Blaireau.

(15) Immediately turn left onto Route de la Poche, which descends gently and leads to Route de Milly in Fontainebleau. Take Route du Rocher de Milly opposite. At the next crossroads, continue along Route du Rocher de Milly diagonally to the left until you reach the Rocher de Milly crossroads.

(16) Continue along Route du Rocher de Milly diagonally to the left (north-west). This will take you to Route de Trévise, then a little further on to Route des Semis, which you take on the right. At the next crossroads, you will find Route Fabre: turn left. At the next two crossroads, continue straight ahead until you reach Route des Gorges de Franchard.

(17) Turn right. At the next intersection, take a sharp left onto Route du Carnage. Descend into the Gorges de Franchard, cross Route Amédée and climb back up opposite. Reach a small pass and descend via wooden steps.

(18) At the bottom of the descent, take thesecond road on the right, Route de Bois d'Hyver. Climb up to a plateau, cross Route Sainte-Fare, then descend to the D409. Cross the road and continue diagonally to the left (north-west) along Route de Bois d'Hyver. Cross several paths and join the Carrefour de Bois d'Hyver.

(19) Continue along the same road (third on the right). Climb up to the Monts Girard plateau until you reach the Carrefour du Chêne des Marais (bench). Opposite, takethe third road on the right, Route Marie-Thérèse, then turn left onto Route des Acacias. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead until you reach the André Billy viewpoint (benches).

(20) From the viewpoint, turn left onto theGR® (red and white markings and blue trail no. 6). After about 500 m, turn right onto Route Tournante des Ventes Alexandre (GR®) and descend quickly (stairs).

(21) At the next crossroads, turn left onto Route des Gorges d'Apremont, which will take you back to the car park. When the road becomes narrow and rocky and disappears slightly, pass to the left of the small ravine where the path disappears. You will find it again a little higher up towards the ridge, and it will then lead you back to the path you took on the way there.

(1). Turn right, then left to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 81 m - First car park at the exit of Brabizon
  2. 1 : km 0.39 - alt. 98 m - Three-way junction
  3. 2 : km 1.12 - alt. 83 m - Route de la Perspective de Rochefort
  4. 3 : km 2.09 - alt. 102 m - Carrefour des Ventes Alexandre
  5. 4 : km 2.65 - alt. 125 m - Viewpoint from Camp d'Arbonne
  6. 5 : km 3.65 - alt. 82 m - Carrefour du Loup
  7. 6 : km 4.35 - alt. 83 m - trois Frères crossroads
  8. 7 : km 5.23 - alt. 79 m - Parking Isatis
  9. 8 : km 5.51 - alt. 78 m - Franchard-Sablons rocks
  10. 9 : km 5.9 - alt. 120 m - Junction with the GR11
  11. 10 : km 7.18 - alt. 75 m - Chemin des Rochers
  12. 11 : km 8.32 - alt. 73 m - Carrefour de la Cible
  13. 12 : km 9.27 - alt. 123 m - Viewpoint at Hurlevent
  14. 13 : km 10.36 - alt. 94 m - Chemin des Pieds Pourris
  15. 14 : km 11.15 - alt. 117 m - Route de la Gibelotte
  16. 15 : km 13.35 - alt. 122 m - Blaireau crossroads
  17. 16 : km 14.73 - alt. 128 m - Crossroads at Rocher de Milly
  18. 17 : km 16.13 - alt. 113 m - Route des Gorges de Franchard
  19. 18 : km 17.09 - alt. 94 m - Route de Bois d'Hyver
  20. 19 : km 18.76 - alt. 96 m - Bois d'Hyver crossroads
  21. 20 : km 20 - alt. 127 m - André Billy viewpoint
  22. 21 : km 20.94 - alt. 83 m - Route des Gorges d'Apremont
  23. S/E : km 21.81 - alt. 81 m - First car park at the exit of Brabizon

Practical information

- Parking on Allée des Vaches, just level with the last houses.
- You can also start from the Isatis car park.
- At the Hurlevent viewpoint, make sure you find the Louvard road (retrace your steps).
- I think the total elevation gain is closer to 450/500m

Revised description:
- path found between 8 and 9
- iGN map with updated place names and other details
-removal of an unnecessary "right/left" to reach the Isatis car park

In the nearby area

Numerous viewpoints: viewpoints at Camp d'Arbonne, Hurlevent and André Billy, equipped with benches.
Note that on the Route du Carnage, after crossing the northern ridge of Franchard, a signposted family walk on the left leads to a beautiful viewpoint.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 35 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
fcn.auffret
fcn.auffret

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A lovely walk in beautiful weather. The first half is prettier with all the rocks to climb over. What fun! Thank you for this walk!

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Jean-Philippe Guicheney
Jean-Philippe Guicheney

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A lovely walk in beautiful weather. A few sections on tarmac but not at all unpleasant. Most of the route is through forest. Few other walkers. Pure pleasure! Thank you for this lovely route!

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thieume
thieume

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

We set off at 9:30 a.m. under sunny skies but with a very cool temperature (-2°C). After the rain of the previous days, I decided to focus on Barbizon for its "sandy" forest. It was a good choice, as there was very little mud!
The ride was really enjoyable and varied, without too much slaloming between rocks.
I took my snack break in the sun, shortly after point 15.
In the end, my GPS showed that I had covered 23.1 km in 5 hours.
A lovely walk, thank you to whoever created it ;-)

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Jobez
Jobez

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful hike, a little physically demanding (it takes a good six hours without breaks if you are an "average" walker like me) and best done in dry weather (there are many rocky sections). Very pretty landscapes worthy of Fontainebleau, the trails are varied and mostly shaded with a few rare sections in the open. Not very busy, only three roads to cross (and quickly forgotten): you really are in the forest!
Between points 17 and 18, I recommend a short detour via the Cuisinière trail: just before the stairs, take the small path signposted in yellow on the left, which leads to a pretty viewpoint a few minutes away, perfect for a short break!
I've done this walk twice now and it's always a treat. I'll definitely be back. Many thanks to the creator!

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Darry
Darry

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We completed this hike in temperatures of 9°C with mixed weather, including light rain and sunny spells.
Hikers beware: the rocky sections with exposed roots are slippery in wet weather and are only suitable for experienced hikers.
We enjoyed this beautiful hike with lovely views
It has an interesting elevation gain.
With our GPS, we recorded 24.8 km, a total elevation gain of 485 m and it took us 6 hours with 2 coffee breaks and a lunch break, i.e. 5 hours of walking.
The southern part of the map is a long, straight stretch without much of interest. You can turn left onto the "Route de Milly à Fontainebleau" before point 13 and rejoin the trail after point 15.

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xaqtl
xaqtl

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Thanks for the hike.
I'm always a bit hesitant about forest hikes, but I was pleasantly surprised; it was great!
Be careful with the description, pay attention and bring a map and/or GPS.
No particular difficulties.

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Marcheur-Blanc.15
Marcheur-Blanc.15

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful, long hike made difficult by the heat (35°C).
The rock passages (points 9 and 10) are not easy to find.
Very few people seen.
To be repeated in cooler weather.
Th.

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Th
Th

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Hello,
i really enjoyed this route, which was very quiet. It was mostly shaded (otherwise it was very hot on Sunday 25 June).
The descriptions were perfect... I used the text and map provided.
(I just looked at the 25,000 map and compass at the start to make sure I was heading in the right direction while avoiding the small rocky area as indicated on the sheet - it worked - everything looks like paths at the beginning). From point 1 onwards, it was great.
Thank you, thank you!
Théa

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Jean.Taverne
Jean.Taverne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant and varied route, which we shortened a little between 12 and 16. No one was in the Fontainebleau forest on this rainy day!

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eebeaure
eebeaure

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A superb hike where we encountered very few people and sometimes even several hours without seeing anyone.
Very varied, allowing us to see different aspects of the forest and Fontainebleau.
Even with the maps, we got a little lost at points 8 and 9, but nothing serious.
According to our watches, the elevation gain was closer to 390 metres. In terms of time, the hike took us 6 hours and 35 minutes in total, including breaks and lunch, with 5 hours and 40 minutes of walking. We are good walkers, but nothing exceptional.

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LiliKimchi
LiliKimchi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A magnificent route with varied landscapes and terrain.

I went there at the end of a bank holiday and hardly saw anyone on my route, even though the car park was full. I deliberately split the route in two so I could camp overnight (at point 12 on the Jussieu road, just off the route, on land marked as ONF). The next day, a weekday, there were just as few people on the road as the day before. I loved being able to walk alone.

Without a smartphone and equipped only with the map with instructions I had printed out beforehand and a compass, I managed very well (and I don't consider myself to have a particularly good sense of direction!). The instructions were clear most of the time (I don't know what a "thalweg" is, so some of the instructions containing this word were incomprehensible to me). Every piece of information was important and valuable (many of the roads that cross the route don't have names, so specifying, for example, that you have to turn right after crossing two roads, rather than just giving the name of the road, was very helpful).

I agree with the comments about the route from (8) to (9), which crosses some climbing rocks and where the path disappears... the same thing happened at (21). I kept my bearings with my compass and eventually found the path again. The accuracy of the route on the map and the occasional indication of the cardinal points were very helpful.
The three viewpoints were splendid (I was lucky to have a clear, cloudless sky).

Many thanks to the author of this route!
I'll happily do it again.

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vergnoles
vergnoles

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A lovely walk through a beautiful forest with some nice views.
Please note that the elevation gain is not 250 metres as indicated by the author, but closer to double that.

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Sylvain49
Sylvain49

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Quite simply my favourite hike in the beautiful forest of Fontainebleau. It's long, fairly flat with a few climbs... perfect for clearing your head and enjoying the sunshine in the countryside, just an hour from Paris. I've been doing it 3-4 times a year since 2019 to get some fresh air.

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akaim
akaim

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Thank you for this beautiful walk, quite different from the usual hikes in Fontainebleau: you can see the rocks, but you spend very little time walking between them.
Much of it is flat terrain on wide paths, which allows you to walk fairly quickly. Although there are a few climbs..
On a beautiful February day during the week, the route was deserted 😀
Despite the rain in the previous days, the path was very passable and my shoes weren't muddy. This is rare in winter in the Île-de-France region.
As a bonus, I took advantage of this walk to test the new Apple Watch app, and it was ideal: this route is hardly marked at all 😉

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Rct92
Rct92

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Very beautiful hike. Very smooth trail with a few short inclines. Between points 8 and 9, the trail becomes a little unclear, but you just need to cross the rocky area to rejoin the GR. Very quiet trail on this early Sunday morning. Beautiful route

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