La Croix Charbonnier

This is a pleasant route with no major difficulties, except perhaps at the end with a steep 400-metre climb.
Take care in hot weather as there are several sections without shade.

Details

270467
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.99 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 249 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 253 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 339 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 196 m

Photos

Description of the walk

To return to the car park where you started, take Rue Jean Mermoz in Jezainville. After the last house, continue along the tarmac road through the forest for 300 metres. The car park is on your left.

Yellow triangle markings.
(S/E) From the car park, with your back to Jezainville, take the road opposite (south-west). Ignore several paths and stay on the main path. At the bottom of the descent, about 1.6km from the start, you will reach a crossroads.

(1) Turn left onto Chemin de la Fontaine des Chiens and you will come to a crossroads at the bottom of the descent.

(2) Take the path on the right for 650 m to reach a three-way junction.

(3) Turn left onto Tranchée du Haut Piémont, ignore the path on your left and, 500 metres further on, at the crossroads at the top of the hill, continue straight ahead. If you want to take a short break, there is a bench available.
After the hunter's lookout, follow the red disc markings.

(4) The track turns right, descend to reach the next bend (ignore the path on the left. 250 metres further on, in a left-hand bend, ignore the path on the right).

(5) Turn right onto the track, which curves to the left and then makes a wide curve to the right. After an S-bend and a straight stretch of more than 500 metres, you will reach a crossroads on a beautiful track.

(6) Turn left onto the Tranchée du Milieu. At the end of the path, join theGR®5.

(7) Turn right until the next junction. In the curve, turn right to leave theGR®5and continue to the next crossroads.

(8) At the crossroads, turn left, ignore a path on the left and continue for about 1200m.
After the climb, there is a bench on your left before the crossroads.

(9) Continue straight ahead, curve to the left and at the three-way junction turn right. Be careful if the weather is wet, as the path can be slippery.
From this point, follow the yellow circle. Continue downhill without worrying about the other paths.

(10) At the stop sign, turn right onto Rue du Ruisseau and at the end of the street, continue right onto Rue Jean Mermoz.
Another 400 metres uphill and you will be back at the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 251 m - Car park in the forest
  2. 1 : km 1.66 - alt. 287 m - On the left, Chemin de la Fontaine
  3. 2 : km 2.34 - alt. 246 m - Path on the right
  4. 3 : km 2.8 - alt. 256 m - Haut Piémont trench
  5. 4 : km 4.3 - alt. 303 m - Turn right
  6. 5 : km 4.93 - alt. 277 m - On the right
  7. 6 : km 6.7 - alt. 324 m - Tranchée du Milieu
  8. 7 : km 7.85 - alt. 339 m - GR5 junction
  9. 8 : km 9.98 - alt. 282 m - On the left
  10. 9 : km 11.3 - alt. 336 m - Straight ahead
  11. 10 : km 13.39 - alt. 196 m - Turn right at the stop sign.
  12. S/E : km 13.99 - alt. 251 m - Car park in the forest

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
3.4 / 5
François VERNIER
François VERNIER

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route follows only wide paths. There is no risk of getting lost. In hot weather, most of the route is shaded, which is very pleasant.

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Christecol
Christecol

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

I didn't do this route at the right time of year, as I found it tedious and monotonous with its wide, straight paths and large sections of forest undergoing regeneration. The cross is in really poor condition!
It's surprising that the suggested route doesn't pass by the cross, even though it's mentioned in the name of the hike.

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Ted973
Ted973

You're absolutely right.
Enjoy your hike.
Best regards

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noelle martin
noelle martin

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, leisurely stroll through the forest on easy paths, but little to see apart from the neglected charbonnier cross.
Thank you for this route, which is best enjoyed in spring when the forest is in bloom or in autumn when the colours are at their best.

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valeriede M
valeriede M

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hello, a hike of little interest except for practising your navigation skills and getting some exercise.
We did it in three hours at a steady pace. Most of the trail is straight. Very beautiful autumn colours. At the end, just before reaching point 10 and leaving the forest, you can follow the markings (red disc?) to get back to the car park, a narrow mountain bike trail that climbs a little and is short but avoids going through the village.
Thank you for sharing.

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Jeromd
Jeromd

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

A rather monotonous hike with no views or points of interest.
A multitude of very different butterflies helped to break up the monotony a little.

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Ted973
Ted973

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A few difficult climbs, you need to be fit. It's a shame that the cross is no longer maintained. A pleasant walk for enjoying the flora and tranquillity of the area. I left the main path to take the small trails through the forest.

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francerb
francerb

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

This route is easy but of little interest from a tourist point of view, except for the cross dating from 1835 and a few remnants of the 1914-1918 war that you pass by at times. Recommended for groups who enjoy unshaded dirt tracks or in winter when the forest paths are muddy or slippery.

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DOMMARTEMONT
DOMMARTEMONT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Detailed description welcome as signage on the ground is sometimes confusing.
The route is a bit monotonous (long stretches through the forest) but pleasant in hot weather.
I was inspired by this hike to write an article for L'Est Républicain (I am a press correspondent) and I will mention Visorando in my sources.
Thank you for the accuracy of your website.

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martine.parachini@orange.fr
martine.parachini@orange.fr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 15, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful, pleasant route.

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RIME
RIME

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

As I didn't follow exactly the same route, the most challenging part is at the start, with a steep gradient of over 15% on the road.
After that, the path is exposed for quite a long time and in the blazing sun it's quite tiring. Otherwise, as soon as you enter the forest, it's great!

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bipbipsr
bipbipsr

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 03, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

For lovers of dirt roads. For my taste, it lacks a few forest trails, but the walk is still enjoyable.

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