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From Pontarlier, cross the Doubs towards the SNCF station, then continue along the quarry path to the end of the tarmac road (viewpoint).
(S/E) Leave the car park heading south-east along the path that continues from the tarmac road.
(1) After about 300m, at the end of the left-hand bend, take the dirt track on the right which curves widely to the left before joining a good forest track. Take the one on the right (heading north). Pass the junction with a good track on the left, then, when our track turns right as it descends, continue straight ahead (still heading north) on a less well-maintained track that climbs slightly. After about 700m, you’ll find yourself on a better track that descends to the right to meet a tarmac road (elevation 959).
(2) Follow the road to the left for 50m and immediately take the track to the right (signposted Pontarlier by the climbing rocks). This track descends quite steeply.
(3) When you reach a fork just before the power line, leave what appears to be the main path and take the track that descends to the right, which very quickly leads to a tarmac road above “Doubs recyclage”, which you go round to the right. Follow the tarmac road branching off to the right, then immediately turn left onto the stony track signposted ‘Sandon Voie sans issue’, which leads to the railway line; follow this to the right, heading south, for about 300m.
(4) Take the path on the left that passes under the railway line to reach the Sandon site: a beautiful complex of well-maintained buildings including a pretty chapel. Cross the bridge over the Doubs to reach the A41, which you follow to the left, heading north.
Cross at the second pedestrian crossing (safer as it has a zebra crossing in the centre) and continue northwards until about fifty metres before the roundabout, where you turn right onto Chemin du Larmont, a tarmac road running alongside the supermarket car park. Continue along this road, which passes in front of a farm before turning right, and leave it on your right at the hairpin bend to the left. You’ll find yourself on theGR®, clearly signposted in red and white and also blue and yellow.
(5) Don’t miss the Fer à Cheval viewpoint; continue left along theGR®. At the junction with a good path bordering a meadow, continue right in a circular loop and follow the path which then descends steadily towards Larmont Inférieur. Walk around the fort to enjoy the panoramic view.
(6) Retrace your steps to continue along theGR® which zigzags towards Frambourg. Once in the village, turn right onto the D67 bis road until you rejoin the N57.
(7) Cross the RN57 (leaving the blue-and-yellow markings) then follow it to the left, heading south, to cross the railway line. Then, immediately leave the RN and take the tarmac road D402, which climbs to the right.
(8) At the car park, turn right and head up to Château de Joux.
(9) Head back down. Please note that theGR® route has been altered and no longer corresponds to the IGN map. Enter the car park and head towards its south-western corner: a fewGR® markers lead to the fence, which you must cross, and continue through the pasture. The newGR® is well signposted along the ridge and then descends towards Les Angles, where it joins the tarmac road near the bridge over a small tributary of the Doubs. Cross the bridge and turn immediately right.
(10) TheGR® is well signposted but you must be careful: after a few dozen metres it climbs to the left up a fairly steep slope before crossing a pasture. It then heads towards the forest to begin a fairly steep climb. At the end of the steep climb, with a vertical rise of about 100m, you’ll come to a good path coming from the left, which you’ll follow straight ahead (south-west) along the edge of the slope that drops down towards the east for about 1.5km.
(11) Take the more rugged path straight ahead. Ignore the path that turns left and moves away from the edge of the slope. The correct path will gradually curve to the right before descending the slope more steeply.
Note: confusing area; find the path leading to the ‘Sapin Président’.
Following this path, you’ll reach a pasture which you cross until you reach the junction of tarmac roads (elevation 854m). Head straight on towards the village of Oye-et-Pallet.
(12) A lovely spot for a picnic on the island between the two bridges. Continue towards the village, take the second road on the left to visit the church with its bell tower entirely covered in glazed tiles. Then, walk past the cemetery, take the dead-end lane called Rue de la Fin and continue along the path leading towards the forest.
(13) At the crossroads, turn right onto a well-maintained path. After about 500m, you’ll reach a fork: take the left-hand path which climbs gently towards the Chapel of Notre-Dame des Côtes. Take the path leading up into the forest to the right of the chapel. Once you reach an area of wasteland, the path is poorly marked: turn left towards the steepest slope to spot the blue-and-yellow markings at the edge of the forest. Continue climbing until you reach a forest track, which you should take to the left.
(14) 150m from the fork, turn right, then right again after about 200m. Then follow the marked path which runs along the military ridge for about 1km before turning right to join a good forest track.
(15) Turn right towards the Granges viewpoint. Ignore the two paths on the left.
(16) Les Granges viewpoint. Then retrace your steps for about 500m to return to the fork, where you turn right.
(1) Turn right and head back to the car park (S/E).
! However, it’s narrow and runs along the edge of a slope (ravine), so it’s difficult to pass another car; there’s no hard shoulder on either side. Next time I’ll choose somewhere else to park...,
Visorando Member
Easy 
Moderate 
