Reclos State Forest

Date of your route : Mar 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

It was completely impossible for us to follow the route indicated. Nothing matched the map: this is the first time this has happened to us. We are usually very happy with the walks suggested by Visorando.

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Date of your route : Jun 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

I strongly advise against this hike: the markings are very difficult to see, even with the app, which gives approximate directions; the path is not maintained, with trees and branches blocking the way and tall grass; there are long stretches on forest roads with no shade; and the path is very rarely used. Honestly very disappointed.

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Date of your route : Apr 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The web directions are vague and can be confused with the "red cross" route.
It is always possible to rejoin the main route by following the forest tracks with GPS positioning.
Some web directions are obsolete due to forestry activity ("small hidden path" = heavy vehicle tracks).
Feel free to print out the comments before you set off, so you can benefit from the help of those who have already struggled.

It would therefore be useful to update and improve the online description from time to time.

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Date of your route : Feb 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike. However, the route is very approximate; it must have been drawn by hand imprecisely, with errors. The distance, on the other hand, is fairly close to reality.

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Date of your route : Nov 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
Having done it a few years ago, I was bracing myself, as I had struggled between points 4 and 6, but with the app, no problem. However, as the distance was short, from points 2 to 3, we took the red trail to do an extra circular loop via the Marie cross, but after the Cuny rock, on the way to point 4, we lost the trail at one point and ended up going round in circles a bit, so thank goodness for the GPS.
The Arcades rock is magnificent, as is the Cherpierre rock.
At the forest house, we had a little trouble finding the path. You have to go back up about twenty metres to the yellow cross, an old path that we lost halfway through and ended up on the greenway.
A beautiful hike, alone in the world, we didn't meet anyone.
To be done again in good weather.
Thank you.

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Date of your route : Jul 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike for those who enjoy discovering different rock formations and local geology, but the hike description is too brief and the markings are inconsistent in places, which meant we ended up walking a few extra kilometres between Rocher Cuny and Roche des Arcades, as well as after Roche de Cherpierre. Quite a stressful hike!

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Date of your route : Jun 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A hike through the woods with few viewpoints, but a few natural rocks add to the appeal of this walk. There are a few discrepancies between the GPX track and the trail, but nothing to worry about... Overall, it's a good hike.

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Date of your route : Apr 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route that allows you to discover splendid rocks off the beaten track. The GPX track and description caused us problems on several occasions. Firstly, between the start and the Rocher des Vannes, when we reached point 1, we couldn't find a path to climb up to the Rocher des Vannes; in fact, as indicated in the description for this stage, you just need to follow the beautiful path marked with red tripods and not red crosses as mentioned in the description. Next, the passage at point 3 can be avoided. As indicated elsewhere in the description, simply take the path on the right marked with a yellow cross before point 3, which leads to Rocher Cuny. The passage from point 4 to point 5 can also be problematic. We used the IGN map to find our way down into a valley along a stream. At point 9, the path to take for a few metres is marked with a yellow cross and not a red cross. It might be useful to mention in the description that this path, as indicated, climbs to the left, then levels out and arrives at a fork, where you should climb to the right (if you descend to the left, you will find yourself on the tarmac greenway). As this is not shown on the GPX track, I would like to point out that it is very interesting to make the return trip to Rocher des Arcades and climb Roche de Cherpierre to enjoy a beautiful view. Finally, you may be surprised by the difference between the indicated elevation gain of +602m and elevation loss of -557m, even though this route is circular! Personally, we measured 470m after correction by the Visorando software.

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Date of your route : Feb 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The weather was magnificent on Wednesday (09/02/2022), a beautiful winter's day. And we were not disappointed. A beautiful route, beautiful rocks, beautiful views and off-trail paths that were slightly stressful. But you can see that the person who proposed this route was keen to avoid tarmac as much as possible. For example, at the end, the path overlooking the "tarmac greenway", although less comfortable, is more suitable for hiking.
The proposed route does not always correspond to the terrain and the IGN map. I think that changes have been made to the route since then, and Beauff can't do anything about it. That's fine, it forces you to use your instruments and not take the easy option.
A beautiful hike that I recommend, and thank you to Beauff and Visorando.

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Date of your route : Sep 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Difficulty finding the starting point: it should be noted that when starting from La Trouche, you should head towards the greenway. Thank you to the locals for putting us on the right track.

Some paths are hidden by vegetation, and there are not markings everywhere. A good map is necessary, or even a good old-fashioned compass. My Garmin GPX 30 was a great help, but it didn't always pick up the satellite signal. Even so, although we didn't follow the suggested route exactly, it was a pleasant walk. We couldn't find the last trail, even with the help of the forest house occupants, so we returned to the starting point via the greenway.

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Date of your route : Oct 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent rocks throughout the hike, some beautiful views, and some very pleasant trails in the middle of the forest!
But the GPS track leaves something to be desired. From the outset, it is impossible to find the GPS track; instead, you have to follow the only visible trail marked with red crosses towards Roche de Vanne. Points 4 and 9 are forestry "tracks" that are difficult to find and impassable :/

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Date of your route : Jun 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike in a lovely forest setting - Trail markings are unclear in some places -

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Date of your route : Jun 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, ideal in 18°C weather! A beautiful route. Viewpoint from the Virgin of Vohné. Undergrowth, beech forest, fir forest – a treat for the senses.

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Date of your route : May 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,
I went hiking yesterday in glorious sunshine.
Before setting off, I checked Google Maps, as I had wasted quite a bit of time finding the trail when I first started out. It should be noted that you have to cross La Trouche (coming from Raon l'Etape), and just before the exit, take the small road on the left and cross a bridge. The trailhead sign is on the edge of the greenway.
As for Rocher Cuny, I realised afterwards that I had passed it, as I didn't see any signs. As for the cross-country trail between points 4 and 5, I'm not sure if I found it, but I used the IGN map to help me. It was very muddy, but I made it through points 5 and 6, also with the help of the IGN map. For Roche des Arcades, you can easily cross the ridge, just make sure you don't miss the marked trail on the right (5 minutes from the path).
La Roche de Cherpierre is magnificent.
On the way back, I couldn't find the path from the forest house (perhaps I was in too much of a hurry). I took the greenway.
13 km in total.
A nice hike, the rocks are magnificent, the downside being that there aren't really any viewpoints.

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Date of your route : Mar 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,

There appears to be a discrepancy between the map and the description between points 5 and 7, as the map shows the route going over the "ridge" and not under the Arcades rock (not visible).
Point 4 not found (went back and cut across to the main road).
Nice cross-country trail through the woods before arriving at the forge, which we covered at a jogging pace.
Forestry work made the last kilometre in the woods impossible.

Impressive and spectacular Cherpierre rock.

Hike under the gentle early spring sun, much appreciated.

Christian

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