Col du Petit Haut and Le Rocher de la Salière

Loop hike starting from Fouchy, through beautiful pine and deciduous forests. Gradual climb to Col du Petit Haut, alternating between paths and trails.

Return via pleasant trails on the slopes of Rougerain and Guichat, with the Rocher de la Salière and the Roche du Cheval Tombé.

The walk ends with part of the heritage trail "Une forêt en pays welsche" (A forest in Welsh country) and the viewpoint at the Fouchy reservoir.

Details

1617888
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.32 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 418 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 418 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 704 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 336 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from Fouchy at the top of the village, car park above the church (follow signs for "Mairie-Eglise")

(S/E) From the church, take the street uphill towards the town hall (look for a heritage trail sign).

Follow the green disc markings towards Col de Fouchy

Follow the path to the reservoir, which is very steep. When you reach the top, continue along the path to the right. Join a tarmac road and follow it uphill to the left.

(1) Take a path on the right. Look for another heritage trail sign; the path veers slightly to the left. Further on, ignore a path marked with a red triangle leading down to Noirceux.

(2) At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead along the Froidefontaine forest path.

(3) After passing a series of buildings, you will come to a three-way junction. Take the left-hand path. Further on, turn right as the path curves sharply to the right.

(4) Before reaching the departmental road (D155), take the forest path on the far left, heading towards Col de Fouchy through the forest. Then, quickly take a path going up to the right.

(5) At the next junction, take the forest track to the right. (Ignore the Red Cross signpost opposite towards Rougerain). At a three-way junction, keep right on a flat path. After a short descent, the path turns left for a very steep climb lasting about fifteen minutes.

Follow the blue ring markings towards Col du Petit Haut

(6) At the end of the climb, at a crossroads, continue straight ahead. (Ignore the signpost on the right for Col de Fouchy and the signpost on the left for Col de Rougerain). Further on, ignore the descent towards Prérebois. This is followed by a series of unmarked trails or paths that are not described, as you must always follow the single Blue Circle markings.

Red Easel Markings

(7) At Col du Petit Haut, take the path on the left, marked with a red easel, towards Place des Charpentiers. After about a quarter of an hour's descent, you will find a signpost markedGR®532.

Yellow Rectangle markings towards La Salière

(8) Take the path on the left towards La Salière. Cross a forest track and continue straight ahead.

(9) When you reach Rocher de la Salière, follow the path that goes around it on the right, then climb the stairs on the left to reach the top of the rock. Further on, a secure platform offers a beautiful view of the Ungersberg massif. Continue towards Roche du Cheval Tombé.

Blue Triangle markings

(10) After Roche du Cheval Tombé, turn right towards Col de Rougerain. At the next intersection, continue straight ahead. After 5 minutes, leave the forest path and take a trail on the right.

(11) When you reach Col du Rougerain, turn left/right towards Croix du Guichat (north-west). Be careful at the pass: ignore the signpost on the left for Villé, which is also marked with a blue triangle. At the next three-way junction, continue straight ahead (ignore the red cross signpost).

(12) When you reach Croix du Guichat, turn right. Continue downhill.

Follow the yellow triangle signs towards Fouchy Belvédère

When you reach a crossroads, continue left along a wide path.

(13) At a sharp bend, leave the path and take a trail opposite, which you follow to Fouchy (signs for an old botanical trail, then heritage trail)

Arrive at the Fouchy reservoir viewpoint. Continue along the road until you reach the crossroads of the loop.

(1) Return to the starting point via the same route as on the way there (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 336 m - Car park above the church
  2. 1 : km 0.72 - alt. 394 m - Crossroads of the loop
  3. 2 : km 1.78 - alt. 397 m - Froidefontaine forest path
  4. 3 : km 2.37 - alt. 432 m - Three-way junction after the lodges
  5. 4 : km 3.36 - alt. 508 m - Forest path before the D155
  6. 5 : km 3.82 - alt. 564 m - Forest road junction
  7. 6 : km 5.1 - alt. 665 m - Crossroads after the steep climb
  8. 7 : km 6.45 - alt. 701 m - Col du Petit Haut (698m)
  9. 8 : km 6.9 - alt. 640 m - GR 532 signpost
  10. 9 : km 7.72 - alt. 668 m - Rocher de la Salière
  11. 10 : km 8.24 - alt. 646 m - Roche du Cheval tombé
  12. 11 : km 8.94 - alt. 612 m - Col du Rougerain (611m)
  13. 12 : km 9.29 - alt. 586 m - Croix du Guichat
  14. 13 : km 10.57 - alt. 421 m - Turn (towards old botanical trail)
  15. S/E : km 12.32 - alt. 336 m - Car park above the church

Notes

Tables at Col du Petit Haut.
No shelter or water source.

Note: On the 1:25,000 IGN map, there is an inconsistency regarding the location of the Col du Rougerain.

Club Vosgien trail markers:
https://www.club-vosgien.eu/wp-content/u...

Worth a visit

The Val de Villé Heritage Trail, "A forest in Welsh country", offers visitors the chance to meet a clog maker or shingle maker and admire the forest species worked by these craftsmen.
see http://www.tourisme-valdeville.fr/

 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

4.7 / 5
Based on 19 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
vgraff
vgraff

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful forest trail, ideal for hot days. There is a short climb at the start and the same steep slope on the way back, but the rest is moderately difficult. There is a lovely fountain at the end of the hike with exceptional water quality, which is especially appreciated on hot days! It takes about 5 hours for average walkers.

Machine-translated

thom67500
thom67500
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in the forest, with some nice climbs.
The route took 3½ hours to complete.

Machine-translated

schwartz philippe
schwartz philippe

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice outing, peaceful

Machine-translated

Thomas H5.
Thomas H5.

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, pleasant surroundings. Few "viewpoints", hike mostly in the forest. The Rocher de la Salière rock is original but the only "attraction".

Machine-translated

Sophie Herzog
Sophie Herzog

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The area around Villé is very beautiful. Apart from two fairly steep climbs, the loop is easy.

Machine-translated

Lokes
Lokes

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, mostly in the shade, which is cool during heatwaves.

Machine-translated

Papou etienne
Papou etienne

Yes, I can confirm that the work was indeed underway, and frankly, from what I saw, it is preferable to respect the restrictions. Now everyone must take responsibility....

Machine-translated

virgule
virgule

Hello,

when I see a sign saying "forestry work in progress" (or "hunting in progress"), I prick up my ears, because very often there is neither work nor hunters.

Machine-translated

Papou etienne
Papou etienne

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Good evening, a very beautiful hike for experienced walkers. Please note that during winter there is a lot of forestry work on the route, which is closed to the public. You will need to find an alternative route to get around this. Congratulations to you...

Machine-translated

michelrando67
michelrando67

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

beautiful, uncrowded hike for a Sunday

Machine-translated

Nature57
Nature57

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful and pleasant hike, mainly through the forest, with excellent descriptions, peaceful with few people encountered and birds singing constantly. What a joy!

Machine-translated

GrosNounours67
GrosNounours67

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A peaceful and pleasant hike accompanied by birdsong throughout, encountering one squirrel... and two fellow hikers
A forest trail with beautiful rocks and lots of photo opportunities!

Machine-translated

Thecla
Thecla

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike. Very well marked, no complaints. Also suitable for hot weather. We didn't meet a single person!
Highly recommended!

Machine-translated

martial.7.2
martial.7.2
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A slight variation at the start (at least this summer):

(S/E) From the church, take the road uphill towards the town hall (look for a heritage trail sign).
Follow the green disc markings towards Col de Fouchy

Follow the path to the reservoir, which is very steep. When you reach the top, continue along the path to the right. Join a tarmac road and follow it uphill to the left.

At the top of the very steep tarmac (or macadam) climb, which continues as a path on the right, you can now continue straight ahead along a shared path indicated by a sign. Just remember to close the electric gate
electric fence behind you.
The path leads out just opposite point (1)

(12) When you reach the Croix du Guichat, turn right. Continue downhill.

Yellow triangle signpost towards Fouchy Belvédère
Triangle markings.
When you reach a crossroads, continue left along a wide path.

Machine-translated

Cath6771
Cath6771

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Beautiful views. Among other things, we crossed a very open deciduous forest.
We didn't meet many people. A very pleasant hike.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.