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Parking for the cycle route on the D411, 500 metres after La Malatte - Champ Lognon, towards Chalèze. The start of the hike is not marked. Otherwise, follow the yellow-red or yellow-blue markings.
(S/E) Head back towards La Malate for 200 metres and just before the Rappel 70 signpost (triangle, circle, rectangle seen from behind), climb up the path on the left. It immediately forks. Continue climbing to the right, along the pasture and the fence. Ignore the paths coming from the left. You will arrive at a charming little valley; continue along the stream for a short while.
The path turns left. Continue to ignore the paths on your left. Pass between a large rock and the stream. Continue along the stream until you reach a ford, which you do not cross, ignoring the marked path opposite.
(1) Instead, head to the far left. At the foot of the mountain, you will come to another path at a right angle. Climb up to the right. You will soon come to a fork. Continue to the right. You will come to a crossroads with paths forming an X. Continue straight ahead (blue arrow). The path turns to the right and immediately, at the new fork, continue straight ahead.
(2) Shortly after a small cairn, you will come to a fork. Take the right-hand path and descend to the right towards the Dhuit fountain. Go around the fountain (keeping it on your right) to join a beautiful stony path with signposts. Climb up to the left. At the top, the path turns to the right. Continue climbing straight ahead, passing a signpost, ignoring the path that climbs to the right, and continuing in the direction of "Sentier du Fort et des Batteries". Leave the woods and pass in front of the old Fontaine du Champ des Creux fountain.
(3) One hundred and fifty metres further on, at the car park for the climbing site (signposted "Zone naturelle protégée"), descend to the left along the small stony road, leaving the signposts behind for a moment. When the path disappears into the fields and forks, head into the field on the right, following the edge.
The meadow then widens, separated in two by a hedge of mulberry trees, which you follow, continuing straight ahead towards the opening of a beautiful straight forest path that opens up at the edge opposite. At the end of the path, leave a path on your left to cross a large stony logging area and, at the small road, go up to the right for about a hundred metres.
(4) Then take the yellow-red marked trail on the left. The path becomes a trail and forks before a fir tree plantation. Continue to the left. You will come back to the small road, which you follow for about ten steps to the left before turning onto the beautiful trail on the right. You will soon come to a crossroads, marked by an unearthed boundary stone. Continue straight ahead, despite the markings inviting you to turn left. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead, descending into the beautiful sinkhole via a steep and slippery path. Cross the pine forest to return to the small road on your right.
(5) Go down it to the left for about twenty steps, finding the signposting again and turning left onto the path. Cross a stony path and continue downhill on the path opposite. Back on the road, turn left, going down Rue du Mont, then Rue de Fouchère, to reach the centre of Chalèze. At No. 12, go down the path on the left to cut across the bend. In the centre, turn right onto the D323 towards Vaire-Arcier to take a look at the church from its porch with its glass door.
(6) Then turn left onto Rue de l'Église, then straight on at the stop sign. At the last house in the village, take the second small gravel road on the left, which branches off immediately. Take the gravel path on the left, which crosses this long alluvial meadow in the middle.
(7) You will reach the banks of the Doubs with a lovely view of the back of Chalezeule Church topped by the ruins of the feudal castle. Follow the bank to the left of this beautiful meander to reach the D141, which you will follow to the right for 400 metres to return to the car park (S/E).
Rocky and slippery paths in places. Sturdy footwear is essential and walking sticks are recommended.
A very beautiful hike through the countryside, past springs and fountains. The start is a little steep, so good walking shoes and walking sticks are definitely a plus! It's a shame that the description is sometimes a little vague, so I found it useful to supplement it with an app (Géoportail) to help me find my way around.
Visorando member
Moderate 
