Le Rocher des Sablons and the Point de Vue des Gorges d'Apremont

Access and starting point:
Take the D409 between Arbonne-la-Forêt and Fontainebleau. Take the Route du Loup towards Isatis/la Cuisinière (signposted), on the right shortly after entering the national forest when coming from Arbonne. There are two parking options, depending on the season:
- In winter (exact dates not specified), Route du Loup is closed at its junction with Route de l'Ermitage. Park in the car park on either side of Route du Loup before this junction.
- Outside of winter, you can continue by car to a larger car park at the Carrefour de la Plaine de Macherin, marked on the IGN map.
N.B. The route shown on the map starts at the only car park available during winter.

No signposts

(S/E) Follow Route du Loup southwards, i.e. in the direction of the car access road. At the crossroads, turn left, cross the car park in the undergrowth and take Route de l'Isatis (^3rd on the left) eastwards.

Red and white markings

(1) Shortly before a crossroads, turn right onto Route Mendel (be careful to spot this discreet path). Climb between small rocks. Cross Route des Gorges de Franchard and continue climbing. After passing through a small maze of rocks, turn right (the purple line supposed to represent the^GR®11on the IGN map is not updated here; follow the markings carefully). You will come out onto a wide path. Follow it to the right until you reach the Point de Vue des Hautes Plaines viewpoint.

(2) Then turn left and then right at the fork that quickly appears. Stay on high ground.

N.B. Between points (3) and (5), the paths wind between trees and at the foot of rocks, making it difficult to provide a detailed description. Follow the markings carefully, which are conveniently dense in this area.

(3) At the three-way junction, take the Route du Loup on the right. Immediately afterwards, keep to the right (do not follow the Route de Darwin) and cross a small area of flat ground. Descend, veer left at a fork and climb back up. At the top, zigzag over the exposed rocks. Return to Route de Darwin and follow it westwards. Descend slightly between small rocks.

(4) Cross a wide path and continue uphill on the trail opposite. Descend and turn left onto Route de Darwin. Then climb a steep, full slope. At the top, turn right. Further on, descend with a wide left turn then a right turn. Continue winding your way down and cross small rock formations. At a T-junction, which marks the end of the zigzags, turn right.

No markings

(5) At the Carrefour de la Roche à David, turn right onto Chemin de Milly à Fontainebleau. Continue straight ahead, east-northeast, on this wide path and ignore all the side paths. At the end (cleared plot opposite), turn left. Note a sandstone marker on the left side of the path.

(6) Cross the D409 with caution (very busy road but excellent visibility on both sides). Continue straight ahead on Chemin de Bornage and note another sandstone marker on the left-hand side. At the^first intersection, turn right onto Route des Ventes Alexandre.

(7) At the crossroads, take the^second left, Route du Loup. Cross the D11 and then immediately cross a wide path. About 150 m further on, at a fork, turn right. Follow a path that climbs slightly. The path curves to the left, becomes interspersed with wooden steps and reaches the Point de Vue du Camp d'Arbonne (bench).

(8) Then follow the^second path on the right to the north-east, the Route Tournante du Point de Vue du Camp d'Arbonne. At the Carrefour des Larrons, take the^{third road} on the left, again the Route des Ventes Alexandre. At the next crossroads, turn right, east-northeast, onto the Route du Berger. At the crossroads, take the^second road on the left (north) to quickly reach the Point de Vue des Gorges d'Apremont.

Red and white + blue markings

(9) Facing the panorama, turn right (east) and follow a path that winds through the undergrowth and between small rocks. Descend slightly and you will come to a crossroads.

Red and white + green and white markings

(10) First turn right then left and follow the Route du Puits au Géant uphill. At^{the first} crossroads, continue straight ahead (south-east). At the Carrefour des Monts Girard, take the^third right, the Route du Fourneau David. At the next crossroads, go straight ahead and descend.

No markings

(11) At the bottom, at a crossroads, take the^second right, Route des Trois Frères. Cross a wide path, then climb up, taking a wide left turn followed by a right turn. At the top, at a crossroads, go straight ahead and descend.

(12) Cross the D409 with great caution (very busy road, limited visibility on the left). On the other side, take Route du Monastère (do not cross the forest barrier on the right). After a few metres, at a fork, continue straight ahead (south-west) along Route du Bois d'Hyver and climb up alongside a nature reserve on your left.

(13) At the crossroads, turn right and follow the Route Sainte-Fare, which is fairly flat. Cross the Route des Buttes de Franchard and continue straight ahead. At the next crossroads, turn left onto the Route de Bel Air and descend steeply. At the crossroads, go straight ahead and descend more gently.

(14) At the Cul de Chaudron junction (central cedar tree), there are two options depending on where you are parked:
- If you are parked at the Carrefour de la Plaine de Macherin car park, follow Route de Bel Air opposite (south-west) to the car park.
- If you are parked at the junction between Route du Loup and Route de l'Ermitage (only option in winter), take the^second right, Route de l'Ermitage (route shown on the map). Continue straight ahead through a very sparse area (a consequence of the 2019 drought!) to the car park (S/E).

Hiking boots are required.

There are no water sources along the route. The three viewpoints along this route are ideal places to stop for a break or a picnic.

A 1:25,000 map is required (at least the one accompanying this description). Tracking the route on a smartphone is recommended. A compass may be useful.

Hike completed by the author on 25 December 2020.

- Generally pleasant forest trails.
- Rocky chaos between (1) and (5) and, to a lesser extent, (9) and (10).
- Beautiful views at (2), (8) and (9).