Haut du Riant, Rochelotte, Tête des Champs, Cote 1008

This is a beautiful hike, which can be done in a day, starting from the Ventron-Frére Joseph ski resort. Mostly in the forest, it will allow you to discover the Rochelotte area and the magnificent view from the Tête des Champs. There are three shelters along the route where you can eat and take a break.

Details

n°125107

Creation:
06 Jun 2015

Last update:
19 Nov 2023

Last review:
19 May 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 17.26 km
Average duration: 6h 25
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 518 m
Descent: - 518 m
Highest point: 1,065 m
Lowest point: 835 m

Country: France
Area: Vosges mountains
District: Ventron (88310)
Start/End: N 47.92658° / E 6.86118°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3619OT, 3619OTR
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Description of the walk

Start at the Ventron ski resort, Frère Joseph car park.

(S/E) Follow the path uphill (see photo detailing the start of the route) towards Haut du Riant (red rings + green rings) until you reach the crossroads at altitude 909.

(1) Join the^GR®533(green rectangles) and head south to reach the Haut Riant farm.

(2) Turn left (east) and walk through the forest to reach the top of the Haut Riant chairlift.

(3) Continue on the^GR®533east-south-east and reach the Chalet de Forgoutte.

(4) 800 m after the chalet, you will reach a crossroads.

(5) Leave the^GR®533, which heads towards Bussang on the left, and take the Chemin du Frêne path downhill on the right. After 200 m, at a place called Le Frêne, follow the path on the left (green rectangles on a white background) to the Col and Chalet de Rochelotte.

(6) After a short break in this beautiful bucolic spot, retrace your steps for 200 m and turn left onto the Chemin des Beigneux (red crosses). Pass by the Bonhomme shelter.

(7) Continue left on this wide path for about 2 km, heading west and following the red crosses, until you reach the crossroads at elevation 877.

(8) Leave the path and climb up to the right on an unmarked path and, after 800 m, you will reach the Passe du Sècheneux.

(9) After the picnic area, take the path on the left going up towards the Tête des Champs (marked with blue signposts).

(10) Please note that to reach the orientation table, you will need to make a short return trip from the trail. This is indicated on the route. Then descend to the Notre Dame de la Salette Chapel.

(11) Take the path after the gate on the left as you exit, and continue downhill for about 1 km. When you reach a small road, leave the blue signposts and turn right, climb for 1 km, passing the "Frénat du Haut" farm, and return to the Passe de Secheneux

(9) (note that it would be a shame not to do the Tête des Champs - Chapelle de la Salette loop, as it offers the most beautiful view of the route).

(12) Then take the wide path on the left (Chevalets Bleus), following the path that passes under a ski lift, towards the memorial to the paratroopers who fought at Cote 1008 (please note: this monument is not located at Cote 1008, but below it), which you will reach after 3 km, still following the Chevalets Bleus (note: after about 2.2 km on this path, do not take the path on the right towards Haut du Rouge Gazon and the RAF memorial on the right, but continue straight ahead: Chevalets Bleus).

Then return to Haut du Riant via the fairly poorly marked path (red rings) that starts on the right behind the monument (four steles, see photo). Return to the Haut du Riant farm.

(2) Take the same route as on the way there to return to the Frère Joseph car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 857 m - Departure from the Frère Joseph car park
1 : km 0.59 - alt. 911 m - you will rejoin the GR 533
2 : km 1.06 - alt. 941 m - Haut Riant farm
3 : km 2.12 - alt. 1,060 m - Top of the chairlift
4 : km 2.98 - alt. 1,020 m - Forgoutte Forest Chalet
5 : km 3.81 - alt. 984 m - gR 533 fork - Chemin du Fréne
6 : km 4.99 - alt. 952 m - Chalet and Col de Rochelotte
7 : km 5.91 - alt. 948 m - Bonhomme shelter
8 : km 7.67 - alt. 875 m - crossroads at altitude 877 (end of the Red Cross signs)
9 : km 8.3 - alt. 917 m - Passe de Secheneux
10 : km 8.99 - alt. 984 m - Tête des Champs and orientation table
11 : km 9.68 - alt. 924 m - Chapel of Notre Dame de la Salette
12 : km 14.51 - alt. 958 m - Stele of the Parachutists of the 1008 Coast
S/E : km 17.26 - alt. 857 m - Frére Joseph car park

Notes

This route follows wide forest paths for almost the entire journey, including the Nordic ski trails of the Ventron ski area. There is no need for technical hiking equipment (but you should still bring a normal day's hike bag and warm clothing. You will be at an altitude of between 800 and 1,000 metres throughout).
If your children are brave, they can accompany you without any problems. Bring food and drink with you, as there are no facilities along the route. However, water is available at the Haut Riant and Haut du Frenat farms.
There are three chalets or forest shelters along the way: Chalet de Forgoutte, Chalet de Rochelotte and Abri du Bonhomme. At the Passe de Secheneux, there is a pleasant picnic table where you can rest.
Near the Stèle de la Côte 1008 (about 300 metres away), you can also take shelter at the Chalet de la Sausse, but you will have to leave the route.

Worth a visit

Don't miss the panoramic views from the Haut Riant farm at the top of the chairlift, and especially from the orientation table at the Tête des Champs.
The little chapel-oratory of Notre Dame de la Salette will surprise you with its simple piety.
If you like Munster cheese, stop at the Ferme du Haut du Frenat, which produces an excellent variety.
The chalets along the route are well maintained, so please leave them clean after your visit.
Towards the Tête des Champs, there are herds of sheep and cows, so close the gates to the fields along the path.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5

Based on 24 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5

Route interest
4.6 / 5

Pinky07

19 May 2025 at 15:22 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very varied hike, mainly in the forest except for the section around the Tête des Champs, which offers magnificent views of the Ballons and the pretty little chapel of La Sallette.
No particular difficulties, on wide paths. Completed in 4 hours with a few photo stops.
It is best to use GPS as the signposts change frequently. However, the route description is fairly accurate.

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bonne rando facile

12 May 2025 at 12:22 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very pleasant walk with some stunning views
two comments, however:
- the route descriptions are sometimes imprecise or even ambiguous.
- the signs you would expect to find at crossroads are sometimes very far away, which means you have to make a random choice that may not be the right one. I therefore recommend checking your location regularly on your mobile phone to make sure you are on the right track.

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AOSrando18

14 Mar 2022 at 09:30 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

completed in mid-March with still a lot of snow, which made the route uncertain... It is essential to follow the directions on the Visorando app and the altimeter carefully.
This circuit is also worth doing for the crossing of the "wasteland" of the ski resort and the slopes that have been abandoned to date!
A very beautiful hike.

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Denis/Nadine

27 Jun 2021 at 11:21 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very good hike, but be careful after the first climb: take a left towards the ski slopes, where there are a few good climbs that are ideal for cardio.

enjoy the hike, everyone!

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Pierrot DAVID

26 Oct 2020 at 09:17 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike, but as already mentioned in previous reviews, it's a shame that this route only follows good, wide forest paths, almost entirely in the forest with few views of the landscape. (But this may be an advantage in the height of summer to enjoy the shade). However, the loop at the Tête des Champs and its 360° view more than make up for this minor drawback, and it would be a shame not to do this part of the circuit. I can confirm that the Munster cheese from the Frénat farm is excellent.
Depending on your departure time, you might want to do the circuit in reverse to take advantage of the three welcoming shelters and chalets for a lunch break
I was able to complete the route just with the description, except for the return after the Passe de Secheneux.
As someone who also suggests routes, I appreciate positive feedback, so without wishing to be presumptuous, I would like to suggest a change to the end of the route:

"Then take the wide path on the left (blue signposts) (12) ... At the crossroads just after passing under a ski lift, take the right-hand fork. A little over a kilometre further on, at the end of a large bend to the left, don't miss the path on the right (marked with red rings) and go back and forth for 100 metres to reach a small clearing where there is a RAF memorial to the Allied airmen whose plane, a Short Stirling EF 469 of 196 Squadron, crashed in this wood while dropping equipment to the "Peut-Haut" maquis.Short Stirling EF 469 of 196 Squadron crashed in this wood while dropping supplies to the "Peut-Haut" maquis. Return to the main path, turn right (blue tripods) and after 700 metres you will see the memorial stones in tribute to the hundred or so soldiers of the 1st B.C.P who died in combat in this area of the Vosges. Then take the path that leaves the monuments on the left (looking at them - red rings). Pass to the left of a grave and head towards the meadows of the Haut du Riant farm at the start of the ski lift. If you don't plan to stop at the farmhouse inn, you can avoid the tough climb at the end of the route by taking the grassy path that runs alongside the pine forest and leads to the path you took on the way there, near a wooden shed. You can stop for a bite to eat at the picnic area at junction 909 before returning to the car park
Enjoy your walks!

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mail123

24 Aug 2020 at 17:51 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike

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Stephen94

12 Jul 2020 at 18:27 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant forest paths, beautiful view from the top of the hill, and a small café at the farmhouse inn at the start of the station. Great!

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yannlab

13 Aug 2019 at 07:01 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

great, we did it as a hike in 2 hours and 35 minutes. Very well signposted

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Michel Balavoine

29 Jul 2019 at 13:20 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We did this hike in the rain.
So we got off to a good start... and completed it in 4½ hours. That's an average of 4.2 km/h (we walked a little over 18 km).
Important note: when you're at the orientation table, you need to backtrack 150 metres to see the gate and leave the plain via the path.
There are guard dogs in the meadows, so you really need to ignore them and, above all, don't try to stroke the sheep.
This hike alternates between woods and meadows, which is really nice. As for the scenery, it must be very pretty, but since we were in the clouds...
We returned completely soaked and exhausted.

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Randoman54

17 Jun 2019 at 12:39 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We left Bussang and took side roads to reach point 5.
We had a few doubts at times due to the paths being used for logging. The chalets are handy for taking a break.
The hike is fairly easy, with no major climbs except the one we did to reach point 5.

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danielrollet

31 Dec 2018 at 08:50 3600

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Hello,
We did this tour backwards due to a mistake at the start, with black ice when we got out of the car at Frère Joseph and fog all along the way, which prevented us from seeing the views we had hoped for.
Otherwise, we regretted that the three chalets were located in the first third of the route (or the last third for us), but above all, the route is too often on uninteresting forest roads.
Apart from that, we recommend this route, but in clear weather!

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Jef70

01 Oct 2018 at 16:15 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The route is a bit too wooded, but luckily we come out into an open area with a superb view of the orientation table and the Salette chapel.
The distance is underestimated; even with a shortcut, I ended up walking more than 20 km.

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PhiPo

12 Jun 2018 at 23:05 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I just have a doubt about the mileage, which seems lower than it actually is.
A very beautiful hike to enjoy with friends and family.

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bijou62

04 Jun 2018 at 09:57 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We thoroughly enjoyed this tour, with its beautiful views, and we made a little detour to see the hermit's cross.
The chapel of La Salette and the orientation table are well worth the detour.
The return journey was more unpredictable from the aviators' memorial, so we ended up at the top of the red grass slopes and descended these slopes.
The explanations weren't very clear, but we don't regret the descent!
thank you for this wonderful discovery

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RandoMF

10 May 2018 at 19:12 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful hike. The time given is very generous (time given: 6 hours 15 minutes, we did it in just under 5 hours).
Some of the directions are a bit vague. At certain points, it's better to use the names of the ski slopes, as the signs aren't always there (this was the case). If you have GPS, no problem, but otherwise you may have to turn back a few times.
Don't miss the little extra loop, the view is superb. Without a doubt, it's the most beautiful part of the route.
Although it wasn't very warm, I think this walk can easily be done in temperatures of 25 to 28°C as there are many shaded areas.
Stop by the chapel of Brother Joseph's hermitage, it's lovely.

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Author

Bressaud
12 Walks

Visorando member

District: La Bresse (88250)

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