Starting point: Carrefour des Grands Feuillards, in the south of the Fontainebleau State Forest.
Access: This crossroads is located where the Route de la Plaine de la Haute Borne is closed to traffic coming from the D301 (Route ronde). The junction with the Route de la Plaine de la Haute Borne is on the D301 between the D152, which connects Ury and Fontainebleau, and the D409, which connects Arbonne-la-Forêt and Fontainebleau.
Signage:
In the Fontainebleau National Forest, at almost every intersection, the paths are marked with signs placed high up. The forest plot numbers painted on trees are also useful landmarks. There are very few signposts along this route, which are only mentioned in the description when necessary.
(S/E) Head north-east on Route Clémentine (which is an exception to the signage rule mentioned above; it is the first road on the right of the tarmac road when coming from the D301). Continue straight ahead, cross Route du Décagone and then cross Route Ronde (D301, caution).
Please note! Between the points (1) and (2), the route crosses a nature reserve and the path, which is reserved for ONF staff, is the only one where hikers are tolerated. It is forbidden (and dangerous) to venture off the path. Signs remind you of this at various points along the way.
(1) Leave the Route Clémentine (which is signposted here) and continue north-east, turning right onto the Route du Rocher de la Combe. Starting off eastwards, the path soon turns east-south-east. Ignore the side paths and stay on the main path with a slope covered with a few boulders on your left. Note the Chemin de la Mare aux Corneilles coming from the right and continue east.
(2) Cross the D152 road (take care) and take the Route des Dryades opposite behind a forest barrier. Climb gently up this sunken path which veers to the left. Cross the Route du Mauvais Passage and continue east in a sparse forest. Cross the Route du Faune and the Route du Satyre in succession and arrive at the Carrefour du Bonheur.
(3) Ignore theGR® signpost and continue straight ahead (east-southeast) along Route de la Tendresse, a poorly marked path dotted with heather that starts to the right of Route des Dryades. Climb steeply and turn slightly to the right. At the top of the hill (plot 156), turn left (north-east) onto the Route des Soupirs, which is a grassy path. At the Carrefour des Soupirs (the name on the map is incorrectly positioned), continue north-east on the Route des Soupirs, which branches off to the right of the Route des Attrais.
(4) At the Carrefour de l'Embrassade, turn right at an acute angle and follow Route de Cythère south. At the next crossroads, turn left onto Route Sans Nom (that's its name...). After about 150m, turn left onto Route des Filles (in March 2016, a tree trunk that was easy to get around was blocking the path).
(5) After about 200 metres downhill and before a forest barrier visible from a distance, turn right onto Route de la Séduction (be careful, this road is poorly marked and the sign is on the left-hand side of the road you have just come from). Cross the D63E2 road (be careful) and then take the Route du Rendez-Vous, a poorly marked path that heads east from the left of the forest barrier (do not go through the barrier).
(6) At the Carrefour du Rendez-Vous, head south on Route de la Colombe (the second road on the right). This road crosses Route de Jemmapes and then winds through a sparse pine forest. At the Carrefour de la Colombe, continue south, still on Route de la Colombe.
(7) At the next crossroads (plot no. 172), take Route du Pape opposite. Cross plots nos. 172 and 171, staying on this road at each junction: heading generally south-east, start by winding uphill on a slight incline, climb through a young beech forest and continue on flat ground until you reach the junction with Route du Chevreuil (enclosed plot opposite and, beyond that, the Croix de Saint-Hérem clearly visible).
(8) Turn right at the first road, Route du Chevreuil (south-west). Cross the D301 road (take care) and continue opposite on Route du Brocard, leaving the old forest house on your right. At the next crossroads (plot no. 529), turn right onto Route de la Brisée (be careful, the sign for this road is below and in the same direction as the one for Route du Brocard, i.e. it is incorrectly positioned). Cross Route de la Quête and follow a fenced-off plot of land undergoing regeneration on your left.
(9) At the Carrefour de la Cave aux Brigands, continue straight ahead (south-west) onto Route des Ventes Cumier, which branches off to the right of the tree bearing the number 556. At the next intersection, take the second road on the right, Route des Délinquants. Head west and cross Route de Villiers (plots nos. 558 and 534). After about 50 metres, note Route du Revoir coming from the right.
(10) At the fork that appears immediately, follow Route des Délinquants to the left. Continue along this pleasant path and cross successively the Routes de l'Épine (wide track), Marthe (plot no. 559), des Primevères (in March 2016, a tree that was easy to get around blocked the path), and des Sorciers (in March 2016, branches across the path).
(11) At the next crossroads (plots nos. 560 and 563), turn right onto Route des Tapisseries (no sign here but a green and white marker). Head north-east on this wide path and cross successively the Routes de l'Alisier, de la Grive and de Recloses à Fontainebleau.
(12) At the next intersection, take a wide, stony white road on the left (due west), the Route des Barnolets (sign further on). Cross the D63E2 road (be careful) and continue straight ahead after the forest gate. Go straight ahead, ignoring the forest tracks on either side, and cross the Route des Ventes à Galène. At the next junction (plots nos. 671 and 682), turn right (north) onto the Route des Petites Mares (red and whiteGR®13signpost, green and white cross).
(13) At the edge of two fenced forest plots, turn left onto Route du Parc aux Bœufs, then immediately right onto Route du Nid aux Corbeaux (clearly signposted). Walk north-northwest through a beautiful forest and cross Route du Coquillard and Route du Chêne aux Chapons in succession. Cross the Route D152 (take care) and continue straight ahead (west-northwest).
(14) At the Carrefour du Nid à Corbeaux, take the second road on the right (north-northwest), the Route de la Princesse Marie (sign further ahead). Cross the Route du Décagone and you will quickly reach the starting point (S/E).