The Barchet Pond

Set off to explore the Barchet Pond and its peat bog. This vast wetland is a remarkable reservoir of biodiversity. Its soil, permanently saturated with stagnant water, deprives the microorganisms responsible for decomposing organic matter of the oxygen they need for their metabolism. The plant litter mineralises slowly and partially. It then accumulates gradually, forming a poorly decomposed or undecomposed deposit: peat.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.31 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 54 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 53 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 794 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 740 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking in Passonfontaine, at the start of the nature trail, Rue de la Côte, at a place called "Sur les Crêts". There are few signposts, but the paths are easy to follow.

(S/E) Take the gravel road that leads to the banks of the Étang du Barchet. Walk around it, turning left onto the path that runs along the shore. Along the way, you will probably encounter a group of sturdy fellows, the peat bog gardeners, the Konik Polsky, who will let you pass in exchange for a little cuddle. Don't worry, they're just hairy, rustic and friendly horses (this breed originates from Poland).

(1) At the end of the pond, the path veers slightly to the left. Go through the fence and quickly turn left at the fork in the path. You will enter the peat bogs.

(2) At the paved road, you will find yellow and blue markings again. Go up to the left for 200 metres, then turn right onto the gravel path that crosses a forest of slender fir trees, running below beautiful rocky ledges. You will pass remarkable spruce trees over 50 metres tall. Continue along this beautiful gravel path. It joins a small tarmac road at a hairpin bend.

(3) Continue straight ahead until you see the main road. Then turn left for 300 metres until you reach the old fountain, then turn right again onto the nature trail which joins the other side of the pond and takes you back to the car park. Just before you get there, look up to your right to see the pretty rock cut into the shape of a morel mushroom (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 740 m - Parking at the Étang du Barchet
  2. 1 : km 0.88 - alt. 747 m - Peat bogs
  3. 2 : km 1.41 - alt. 754 m - Spruce forest
  4. 3 : km 3.68 - alt. 766 m - Les Essarts
  5. S/E : km 5.31 - alt. 741 m - Parking at the Étang du Barchet

Notes

This themed trail runs alongside a pond and peat bogs. There are 15 information boards along the route: see the leaflet.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 26 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
quencez
quencez

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

lovely little bucolic walk, only downside being muddy bogs

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User 17840148

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Completed at the end of September, the short route around the Brachet pond presented me with numerous muddy areas, forcing me to leave the route to find slightly drier passages. As a result, don't forget your walking sticks, which are essential for this route. Otherwise, the walk is easy with few elevation changes, but the route could be improved with a little more gravel in the difficult areas.

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pietineur
pietineur

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Hike done during a break in two days of rain... so even muddier in the peat bog area. Waterproof shoes are essential, and boots are better because you have to watch where you put your feet.
The forest trail isn't very interesting except for the lone spruce tree, a remnant of the deforested area!

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kiki61
kiki61

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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marielle.combe
marielle.combe

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A few local families for an easy walk on flat ground in a pretty peat bog.

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Viveline
Viveline

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 26 June 2023. Pond dry due to construction work. Please note that it is not possible to complete the loop due to construction work at the end. Do not attempt to cross the peat bogs, which appear dry but are very soft and can cause you to sink quickly. Otherwise, it is a beautiful walk, although we did not see any horses.

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fatpo$$um
fatpo$$um

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant stroll around the pond and surrounding wetlands, where, in more favourable weather, you can see lots of interesting plants and animals (especially butterflies). Wear shoes that can handle mud or bring boots!
A little extra in winter: the pond is completely frozen, revealing animal tracks on the ice.

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jadesuzhou
jadesuzhou
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The most interesting and attractive part, in my opinion, is the area near the pond. As it is a wetland, it is clear that you are likely to get your feet wet after a rainy day (in which case, bring boots!). Only one remarkable spruce tree remains and some information panels are missing, so we weren't particularly impressed by the short walk through the valley (especially as the sun didn't come out). We didn't see any horses or cows, which was a shame, but we'll go back in the spring to see the protected butterflies, as it's a wild and remarkable landscape.

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BERNARD FONTANA
BERNARD FONTANA

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk with a Nordic atmosphere.

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LABJIM
LABJIM

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in a wild setting. The path is a bit muddy around the peat bogs.

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Anna25390
Anna25390
• Edited:

For those interested, a brochure explaining the 15 highlights of the tour is available at the town hall and at the village café restaurant, or on the following website: [https://www.cirkwi.com/fr/circuit/35448-doubs-rando-le-tour-de-barchet-passonfontaine]

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Anna25390
Anna25390

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk on Sunday in beautiful weather.

The part through the peat bogs was a bit muddy due to recent rain and the nature of the ground, but with good shoes it was easy to walk through.
There were a few people around the pond (anglers and families with young children) and the place is beautiful.

The forest section is very beautiful, with clean, stony paths, very quiet and relaxing. There were few people in this part.
An easy walk with children or even by bike.
Signposts have been put up with green signs indicating the route to follow, so it's impossible to get lost.

Thank you for introducing me to this beautiful place, which I didn't know about even though I live very close by!

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TENNOM
TENNOM

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The detour through the forest is not very useful in winter, but should be pleasant in summer.

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reitop
reitop

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

nice hike, pond almost dry, beautiful forest, morel-shaped rock... didn't see it! Nevertheless, a lovely walk; thank you!

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ChristianNant70
ChristianNant70

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short detour to complement the Pierrefontaine les Varans ridge trail.
A pretty, wild and peaceful lake. Unfortunately, we didn't see any horses.
Nice for a short outing.

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