The old Haute-Saône Canal from Frahier to Ronchamp

The start of the walk is on the D127 near the hamlet of Le Grand Crochet. The D127 links Ban de Champagney to Etobon. There is a car park with space for a few cars.

The start is 650 m from the D619 (formerly the N19) as seen from Le Grand Crochet. An information sign is located at the start of the walk on the west-hand side of the D127 (on the right at the first hairpin bend coming from Champagney). The walk is marked in yellow, with either a Yellow Ring or a Yellow Triangle depending on the section.

Yellow Ring markings

(S/E) Head westwards into the forest. The path climbs slightly, then descends and crosses a small stream. N.B. The purple line intended to show the path on the 1:25,000 map is incorrect here.

(1) At the junction just after the stream, turn left. Cross a^second stream and pass three paths on your right. Walk alongside a pond at a distance on your left. Cross the canal flowing out of the pond. At this point, it is called the Beuveroux.

(2) Turn left at the junction just after the stream. Walk alongside the pond on the opposite bank and then alongside the canal, leaving one path on your right.

(3) Continue along the canal, ignoring the two paths on the right. The path climbs to pass over the canal, which runs underground at this point.

(4) Cross the D127 and continue along the forest track opposite, just after the barrier (Yellow Ring signpost). Pass two tracks on the right. The forest track climbs, passes the 428-metre altitude and descends again. It overlooks the canal on the left. Descend to a forest hut near the canal.

Yellow Triangle signposting

(5) Then turn left (do not cross the canal). Follow the canal on your right (a lovely walk). Continue to the entrance to the Chérimont Tunnel, a superb structure well worth a detour.

(6) Retrace your steps.

Yellow Ring Markings

(5) Once back at the forest hut, turn left and cross the bridge over the canal. Immediately after the bridge, turn left and turn left again 20 metres further on. The path climbs through the forest, initially west-north-west then north-west.

(7) At the crossroads, carry on straight ahead (do not follow the path marked with a Yellow Triangle to the left). The path passes the summit of Mont de Mavou (elevation 437) and descends. Pass two side paths on the right. When you reach the D127 road, turn left and you will immediately reach the starting point (S/E).

The start of the walk is on the D127 near the hamlet of Le Grand Crochet. The D127 links Ban de Champagney to Etobon. There is a car park with space for a few cars.
The start is 650 m from the D619 (formerly the N19) as seen from Le Grand Crochet.
An information sign is located at the start of the walk on the west side of the D127. (on the right at the first hairpin bend when coming from Champagney)
The walk is signposted with a Yellow Ring.
The route is signposted and maintained by volunteers from “La Marche à Suivre de Champagney”.

The Haute-Saône Canal was intended to link the Rhône–Rhine Canal to the Haute-Saône.
The declaration of public utility for the canal, signed by the Minister for Public Works, C. de Freycinet, dates from 1879. Construction work began in 1883. It is fed, in part, by the Champagney Reservoir.
The section between Frahier and Ronchamp was never completed.
It includes an underground section: the 1,330-metre-long Chérimont Tunnel. A fine engineering feat that is well worth a visit.