Haut Fourneau cave and waterfall

A walk mainly through woodland between the villages of Épenouse and Vercel. On the agenda: cave, waterfall, wash house and church.

Details

13335520
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.01 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 195 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 198 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 670 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 549 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the large car park, Rue du Château, in Vercel-Villedieu-le-Camp.

Yellow/blue markings

(S/E) From Sainte Agathe Church, take Rue du Château all the way to the end. After the left-hand bend, turn right and continue along Rue Notre-Dame. At the crossroads, turn left and follow Rue du Tillon until you reach a fork.

(1) Take the paved road on the right for about 2 km until you reach the forest and come to a crossroads.

(2) Continue straight ahead; the road becomes a gravel path and continues slightly downhill through the woods. At the crossroads, continue to the right until you reach the next crossroads at a place called Saut du Lièvre.

(3) The road becomes a path and descends to the right. Follow it until you reach a paved road.

(4) Do not take the road immediately, but follow the path on the left, which goes uphill, for a round trip.

(5) Climb up to the cave and waterfall, taking care when you reach the cave. Retrace your steps back to the tarmac road.

(4) On your return, turn left onto the road to Moulin de Creuse and the bridge over the River Audeux.

(6) Continue left and join the D 20. Keep left along the road and follow it for about 300 m. You will reach a crossroads just before a bridge.

(7) On your left, follow the sign for Épenouse and its path which passes in front of the Moulin d'Avelle. Continue, the path makes a hairpin bend to the left, follow the signs to Épenouse to arrive via Rue du Moulin in front of the wash house.

(8) Turn left and take Grande Rue, then turn right onto Rue des Champs du Chêne.

(9) At a three-way intersection, take the middle path, leaving the wooden cross on your right. Head south to the village of Vercel, keep left and you will come to the fork mentioned earlier, which completes the circular route.

(1) Retrace your steps along Rue du Tillon and Rue du Château until you reach the church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 659 m - Rue du Château in Vercel
  2. 1 : km 0.41 - alt. 657 m - Crossroads of the circular loop - Rue du Tillon
  3. 2 : km 1.56 - alt. 666 m - End of paved road
  4. 3 : km 2.55 - alt. 638 m - Le Saut du Lièvre - Trail
  5. 4 : km 3.6 - alt. 562 m - Intersection
  6. 5 : km 3.82 - alt. 626 m - Cave and waterfall
  7. 6 : km 4.77 - alt. 557 m - Creuse Mill - Audeux (rivière)
  8. 7 : km 5.41 - alt. 552 m - Crossroads - Moulin d'Avelle
  9. 8 : km 7.28 - alt. 654 m - Épenouse wash house
  10. 9 : km 7.47 - alt. 660 m - Intersection with wooden cross
  11. S/E : km 11.01 - alt. 659 m - Rue du Château in Vercel - Église Sainte-Agathe de Vercel

Notes

(5) Caution: difficult access to the cave.

Worth a visit

(5) Haut Fourneau cave and waterfall.

(8) Épenouse wash house.

(S/E) Sainte-Agathe Church in Vercel.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Didji25
Didji25

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Route taken in winter (February). Access to the waterfall involved wading through water because the flow was strong, but it was quite enjoyable. Half of the route was wooded and the other half was open.
Restrictions:
- too much tarmac. Half of the route
- Not very well marked (yellow and blue)

The wooded sections, on the other hand, are very pleasant.

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dourlande
dourlande

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

markings a little inadequate but pleasant hike

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fcmimi
fcmimi

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The few signposts are almost illegible or the information has been erased.
The paths through the woods are very pleasant.
A recently felled tree blocks the path, requiring a detour with a fairly steep slope.

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GéraldCh25
GéraldCh25

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk with no particular difficulties, except for access to the cave, which is made more difficult by uprooted trees that complicate the climb. The yellow and blue markings and directional signs are either hidden by vegetation or illegible. Fortunately, the description and GPS track allow you to hike with complete peace of mind.

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Paps
Paps

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route, part of which is through woodland. The descent from the Saut du Lièvre can be slippery, especially in wet weather. The route on the map is exactly the same as the one indicated, so it is easy to follow. Caution is advised in autumn due to the presence of hunters, including a wild boar hunt that was not signposted.

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syletphil25
syletphil25

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful walk; numerous obstacles (slippery rocks and uprooted trees) make access to the waterfall difficult but feasible with great care.

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MAMIERANDO
MAMIERANDO
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk! Mostly through the forest, on a beautiful sunny autumn day! Didn't risk going into the cave! Tree across the path and path turned into a torrent at the waterfall! Best to do this part in dry weather! Otherwise, very nice! Note the pretty wash house in Epenouse!

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nicole.chabod@orange.fr
nicole.chabod@orange.fr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed on 17 September, very well marked, just follow the yellow and blue markers. For some, we had to walk about ten metres to find the markers, but everything went well: mileage, elevation and time were all accurate.
Thank you to everyone who helps us discover the details of our beautiful region.

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