The Étang Bleu and the Étangs de Clairey in the heart of the forest

Park at the Clairière du Verbamont Eco-Campsite (public car park) or, alternatively, below the campsite (3 spaces).

(S/E) With your back to the campsite, turn left towards La Hutte. In the wide right-hand bend, on your left-hand side, is the entrance to the Chemin de l’Arboretum.

(1) Take this path, running parallel to the road, towards La Hutte. After a few hundred metres, you’ll rejoin the campsite road. Carry on straight ahead, cross the bridge over the Ourche and you’ll reach a crossroads.

(2) At the junction for La Hutte, ignore the path on the left and head straight up for about a hundred metres until you reach a house.

(3) Just past the house, take a flight of steps on the right leading into the forest. Follow the pink-painted arrow. After a 90° right-hand bend, continue south-east until you reach the junction with the Tranchée de Sainte-Marie and a wide path marked with a Red Triangle.

(4) Carry on straight ahead, heading east-north-east. About 200 metres after a right-hand bend, the path joins the D5d road, opposite a car park and a picnic area.
About a hundred metres to the right is the Museum of Iron, Glass and Wood. See Practical Information.

(5) From the picnic area, turn right, heading east, onto the Route de Clairey. A few dozen metres before the school, join a forest track branching off to the left (not shown on the IGN map)

(6) Follow this track, keeping an eye out for the Red Triangle markings, until you reach the junction with the Tranchée de Clairey.

(7) Cross the track and carry on straight ahead along the narrow path, then immediately turn right into the forest. Follow the track alongside the ponds until you reach the junction with the tarmac road.

(8) Turn right and cross the Ourche towards La Grange Bresson, then carry on to the^first junction at La Grange Bresson.

(9) Take the road on the left which leads into the woods. After the bend to the right, carry on straight ahead, passing the Étang Coné-Fontaine (the Étang Bleu), then continue along the path for 1.5 km until you reach a junction with the Tranchée de Gruey.

(10) Turn right onto the Tranchée de Gruey; at the next two junctions, go straight on and continue to the T-junction at La Planchotte/Clairey.

(11) Turn left, pass La Planchotte and turn left again, taking the Tranchée de la Haute Saône for a few hundred metres.

(12) Take the first track on the right (Tranchée de la Fontaine aux Cerfs) and go straight on until you reach a four-way junction.

(13) Turn right and follow the Red Triangle signposts. At the junction with a road, carry on straight ahead, veering slightly to the left, towards La Hutte. Continue straight on until you reach a cross-path. Turn left and you’ll reach Henricel.

(14) Turn right and continue along the forest track, heading north, until you return to the Clairière du Verbamont car park (S/E).

(5) Picnic area at the Museum of Glass, Iron and Wood. You can visit the museum on Easter and All Saints’ Day afternoons. The museum is situated 100 m south of the trail.

(S/E) La Clairière du Verbamont eco-campsite.

Museum of Glass, Iron and Wood.
The Clairey Ponds.
Coné-Fontaine Pond (swimming).
The blueberry farm at Briseverre.