Head to Saulxure-sur-Moselotte on the Cornimont side, to a place called La Médelle. Park along the street near the restaurant: L’Angélus.
(S/E) Walk back a short way towards Cornimont and turn left onto Rue de l’Étang des Fées, following the Yellow Triangle markings, opposite the factory buildings. You will soon reach the far end of the pond and the Source des Fées.
(1) Walk along the left-hand side of the Étang des Fées and, at its far end, continue along the path, marked with Yellow Triangles and red FFSP signs.
(2) As you approach a second, smaller pond, turn left. Now the going gets tough: the climb is quite steep but the surroundings are very pleasant. After two kilometres, turn left, following the Yellow Triangle markings, then turn right.
(3) After about fifty metres, turn right towards Zéfeut. On the right-hand side of the route, look out for a spruce tree that is well over a hundred years old. You’ll reach the top of Zéfeut at the Étang de Zéfeut.
(4) Continue to the right until you reach the Col de Lauvy. Cross the road.
(5) Then take the path marked with a Red Cross, taking the right-hand branch towards the Col de Lansau to reach the hunters’ hut and its viewpoint over La Bresse.
(6) Turn left. You’ll come out onto a tarmac road. Continue to the Col de la Croix des Moinats.
(7) Then turn left and follow the small tarmac road as it descends gently, marked with a Red Diamond. After 400 m, a path on the left enters the forest, leading to the hamlet of Closfaing, known locally as Le Spechey.
(8) Climb up to the left across a meadow, then turn left again onto the road to reach the Col des Hayes.
(9) Turn right onto the wide path towards the Bois de Sarimont.
(10) Go round Sarimont via the path on the left, marked with yellow, red and blue rings, which runs along the edge of the woodland and offers beautiful views of the Southern Vosges from the Grand Ventron to the Planche des Belles Filles, and is less strenuous than the direct ascent.
(11) At the crossroads, turn right, following the Yellow Ring alone for 50 m. When you reach the road, cross it and take the path which climbs steeply, marked with Red and Blue Crosses. You’ll emerge at a bend in the road leading to the mast. Follow the road for about a hundred metres. Before the flat section, 30 m before the mast and at the last wooden electricity pole, turn right onto the path that circles the summit of the Haut du Roc anti-clockwise (Green Ring – Route des Roches). Please note: the sign is visible only if you turn round. The path winds its way beneath the rocks, some of which are truly monumental. Cross a small ravine via a wooden footbridge (Pont Gérard), which is rather charming amidst the heather. At the crossroads beneath the cross, do not head towards the holiday camp but continue straight on along the “Circuit des Roches”, still following the Green Ring route. A little further on, several paths climb to the summit. Take the third one, just before the puddingstone boulders, as this is the easiest. Here you’ll find the large cross, the altar and the viewpoint over the valley (tables and benches available).
(12) Set off again along the path behind the cross, towards the mast. At the large crossroads, turn right towards Planoise (Red Triangle) and Saulxure (Red Cross and Blue Cross). You will soon reach the “Table de Charlemagne”. Continue along the path, leaving the Sentier des Roches (Green Ring) on your right, and follow the gentle descent marked with Red Cross and Blue Cross signs, which leads onto a wider path.
(13) Pass the sign for Planoise on your right and turn left, following the Blue Ring, Red Cross and Blue Cross markings, then head downhill to the crossroads known as ‘Les Bouleaux’.
(14) Continue straight down (Blue Cross only) to reach a good tarmac road, which you should follow until you reach another crossroads. Keep following the Blue Cross markings and keep an eye out for the right-hand side.
(15) Take a path on the right, signposted ‘Le Châtillon’ (sign). Begin a series of climbs near Châtillon, with fairly technical descents offering beautiful panoramic views of Saulxure. Pass by La Roche Fendue to emerge onto a tarmac road.
(16) Turn left, following the Yellow Ring markings – Chemin des Retraités – then, at the junction, continue straight ahead along the road without any markings. At a sharp bend to the right, turn left, guided by the sound of the Ruisseau de Rupt.
(17) Do not cross the footbridge but turn right and follow the stream. You’ll come across the markings for the permanent FFSP route, marked with a red plaque. This leads to the Musée du Bois.
(18) Follow some charming little paths behind the houses, alternating with Rue des Coteaux, Impasse de la Rouheule and Rue de la Résistance, until you rejoin the main road (Rue d’Alsace). Turn left and continue to the starting point. (S/E)