The Rocher des Princes

The Rocher des Princes is a medium-difficulty loop in the pretty Fontainebleau Forest. It alternates between fairly steep climbs and descents with flat paths, allowing you to rest between the difficult sections.

Details

177366
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.68 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 134 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 132 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 132 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 87 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The car park is located at the Carrefour du Rocher des Princes, on the D148 (known as the Route de l'Escargot). Coming from Fontainebleau, the car park is located at the first bend on the left after the Croix du Grand Maître crossroads. Please note that the car park is located on a bend.

(S) There are two paths at the start. Take the left-hand path, between plots 504 on the left and 505 on the right. Follow the blue markings, which are very clear. After about 300 metres, take the path on the left. This is the first climb to warm up your legs. Follow the blue markings until you reach the path called Route du Râle.

(1) Turn right. Follow the path, Route du Râle, which first crosses the path called "Route de la Malmontagne", then the path called "Route de Milady" and begins a steep descent between plots 511 on the right and 510 on the left.

Continue straight ahead, still on Route du Râle. Cross several paths called "Sablons" and then "Biron" and arrive at a three-way junction.

(2) Take the second path on the right, Route de la Canepetière, then turn left and climb up to Haut Mont via a wooden staircase. Enjoy the view of the sandstone quarries.

(3) Complete the loop to descend, then continue along the path and follow the blue markings, turning left. Follow these markings at each intersection to reach a second panoramic view, then the path descends again.

When you reach a crossroads, take the path directly to the right. About 200m further on, turn right again onto the path called "Route du Courlis". At the first crossroads, turn right onto "Route de Russie". Follow the blue markings to reach Rocher Carrosse.

(4) Go downhill at the next crossroads and continue straight ahead on Route du Haut Mont. Plot 515 is on the left and 514 is on the right. At the next crossroads, turn left onto Route Biron.

(5) At the crossroads of six paths, Carrefour de la Malmontagne, turn right. Another climb. At the top, at the crossroads of three paths, take the path furthest to the right.

(6) At the next intersection, take the second road on the left and follow the Gouffre du Puits Fondu. Cross a road and continue straight ahead.

(7) Take the path on the right that leads to the Route du Rocher Besnard, which you take on the right to return to the car park where you started.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 88 m - Rocher des Princes car park
  2. 1 : km 0.75 - alt. 114 m - Route du Râle, turn right.
  3. 2 : km 1.68 - alt. 93 m - Second path on the right
  4. 3 : km 2.07 - alt. 128 m - Haut Mont, panorama
  5. 4 : km 4.52 - alt. 118 m - Rocher du Carrosse
  6. 5 : km 5.82 - alt. 94 m - At the Malmontagne crossroads, turn right.
  7. 6 : km 6.69 - alt. 127 m - At the junction, turn left towards Gouffre du Puits Fondu.
  8. 7 : km 7.08 - alt. 91 m - Continue to the right.
  9. S/E : km 7.68 - alt. 88 m - Parking lot at the Rocher des Princes

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 61 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 24097164

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Peaceful and beautiful route with classical Fontainebleau-forest experience

Christian 1962
Christian 1962

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A varied, peaceful and easy route.

Machine-translated

Natrx77
Natrx77

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with several beautiful and interesting places to discover. It is estimated to take 2.5 hours, but I completed it in 1 hour and 40 minutes with my dog and a 5-10 minute break for refreshments. There are a few climbs that warm up the thighs, which is enjoyable.
The route is easy to follow, I highly recommend it.

Machine-translated

Marine-River
Marine-River

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route. We only had an hour and a half, so we had to skip some parts, but we'll be back because the scenery is magnificent!

Machine-translated

skrando paris
skrando paris

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful and easy hike

Machine-translated

skrando paris
skrando paris

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Very enjoyable tour, my friends loved it.

Machine-translated

likaro
likaro

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy hike that we extended to the Restant du Long Rocher and the Béatrix cave for a total of 11 km.
The Rocher des Princes, which we didn't know about, is well worth a visit, and the Haut Mont quarries appear frozen in time since they were closed in 1907...

Machine-translated

savaca89
savaca89

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike with clear blue signage. Small car park but easy to find. Walk can easily be done with children.

Machine-translated

Sandrine Fredon
Sandrine Fredon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb hike
The Salamander Ladies in Fontainebleau
Superb

Machine-translated

lilo_visorando
lilo_visorando
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike through the forest and rocks, suitable for adults and young rock enthusiasts. I would not recommend it for children under 10 as it is quite physically demanding in the rocks and climbs! Great paths, very well marked and an easy route to follow!

Machine-translated

Pépé_du_77
Pépé_du_77

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

First time in Fontainebleau for me, very pretty circuit, great start with a nice climb with rocks, very flat in the middle but pretty scenery. Very enjoyable and very well signposted.

Machine-translated

jolidimanche
jolidimanche

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice family hike. Quite short, but that allowed us to take breaks and suited everyone, from experienced walkers to teenagers who love rocks.

Machine-translated

DANYEGASEL
DANYEGASEL

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

This trail has relatively few rocks, although the forest contains many. Long sections of the trail are pleasant but tedious for children. The signage is excellent.

Machine-translated

jemarchedoncjesuis
jemarchedoncjesuis

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

At the end of point 1 and before point 2 of the description, there is some confusion: you must continue straight ahead when you cross the Biron path, even though there is a large three-way junction at this point... Point 2 arrives at a smaller three-way junction... In fact, you just need to follow the blue markings all the way...
At point 6, simply turn left (instead of "second path on the left" because the choice is between "straight ahead" or "left";

A lovely walk through the pine trees with two beautiful viewpoints and some pretty passages through the rocks, but for my taste, a lot of long, flat paths, less varied than other walks in Fontainebleau (and the impression of going round in circles a bit, crossing paths you've already crossed a few minutes earlier...).

Machine-translated

look91
look91

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

I parked at the La Croix du Grand Maître car park and picked up the Denecourt 17 (the circuit) and then the Denecourt 11 to go to La Mare aux Fées, making two loops of 16.2 km with 420 m of elevation gain. You can park at the Bivouac Bourron car park (to do both loops), but it's not great on sunny days: poorly frequented and lots of tents.

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.