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From Tarascon take the D618 to Surba in the direction of Col de Port, then to Rabat-les-Trois-Seigneurs on the D223. Pass La Freyte and follow the road to the car park.
(S/E) From the Pla du Ressec at 1022m, take the track for about a kilometre to reach a ford.
(1) You need to cross the Courbière stream on the left by the cemented ford (or by the wooden footbridge slightly higher up), don't be confused by the routes on the right that take you from this point, this will be the way back. To the east, on this forest road, you gradually enter a beautiful fir forest. After 400 metres, turn right onto a logging track.
(2) Leave the road and turn right onto this track, which runs west-south-west and becomes a footpath after a 10-minute walk. After two short hairpin bends, you enter the Bois du Debès du Ressec. The path runs alongside the Barataus stream.
From the orri (30m up on the jasse, 1273m), the path becomes steeper and winds its way through a beech forest. Later, as you follow the series of switchbacks, you will see the Rocher de l'Aigle on your left. Soon you ford the Barataus (1670m), and finally arrive at the Jasse de l'Étang Bleu (1h50) where you will find numerous ruins of shepherds' huts.
The climb continues due west to Étang Bleu.
(3) From l'Étang Bleu, the path climbs to the right over the small knoll overlooking the Rives and Tirou ponds at 1804m, where an aerial view awaits you. Take the Chemin du Cirque d'Embans and follow the ridge line (1822m) above Étang Long. After a few twists and turns to the west and fording the Embans torrent, the path descends steeply for around 300m (this is a particularly steep area, so take care with children).
You will then arrive at the Cirque d'Embans (see note below).
(4) The descent continues into the Bois du Cirier, through a beech forest. A series of small switchbacks will take you to the footbridge over the Courbière.
(5) Leaving the Cabane d'Embanels (1022m), turn right across the meadow to reach the forest road at the ford.
(1) Continue straight ahead on the road to reach the car park (S/E).
Otherwise, you'll find yourself climbing, climbing, climbing on a path that looks perfectly maintained... only to have to turn back once you reach the top, because the pond is on the other side of the valley (haha)!
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