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Parking at the gymnasium in Ornans, Rue de Lonège, after the secondary school. Yellow and blue signposts.
(S/E) Head towards the roundabout (towards Chassagne-Saint-Denis) and immediately climb up to the left via the Chemin de Chauveroche (towards Saut de Bonneille). Leave Chemin des Ranchots on your right and continue along this small road for a while. At the last house, the road becomes stony with a lovely view of the Chauveroche cliff on your right.
You will be accompanied by the sound of the stream and the valley becomes wilder. Cross the stream on a footbridge. The path becomes grassy and the trees are covered with moss, taking on eerie shapes. After a final footbridge, the path becomes a damp trail and, at the end of the valley, merges with the edge of the stream.
(1) With the waterfall in sight, the path climbs up the hillside on the right via wooden steps. Don't go up them straight away, but continue along the stream until you reach the foot of this superb waterfall. Then climb up the steps. You will soon reach a wider forest path.
(2) Take this path on the left towards Flagey - Chassagne. The path becomes stony at a hairpin bend, winding around a marker post. Continue climbing to the right towards Chassagne-Saint-Denis.
(3) At the quiet departmental road, turn right and continue for about 2 kilometres. This is the most monotonous part of the route, but it can be avoided (see Practical Information).
(4) Five hundred metres after leaving the woods, descend to the left along the small road. You will soon see a signpost on a telephone pole indicating that you should turn right into the woods. When the path reaches a plateau, at a metal forest signpost marked No. 4 and a fork in the path, descend along the left-hand path.
(5) When the signpost tells you to turn right, at a wooden hunting post, the path joins another path at right angles. You can turn right immediately or go left and come back (staying carefully on this path) to overlook the small gorge of the Valbois stream, which marks the start of the valley, then return to the intersection.
(5) Continue straight ahead. You will finally emerge from the woods with Chassagne in sight and begin the sunnier part of the walk.
(6) At the first houses in the village, go up to the left and turn right in front of the church. At the house on the left, behind the church, look for the medieval carved stone on the façade. At the Ornans sign, continue straight ahead on Rue du Mont and, at the calvary, leave the village on the left. On the far left, you will see the Colline de la Vierge de Malbrans. The road becomes stony.
(7) When the stones disappear and the road becomes grassy, continue straight ahead. You will enter the woods and arrive at the edge of the cliffs and the Monts d'Ornans viewpoint overlooking the castle, the old town and the upper part of the Loue valley.
(8) Continue and you will soon reach a wider path.
(9) Descend on the right to return to Ornans. Turn right onto the D 241. Continue straight ahead along the Passage de Sevirey, then finally turn right to return to the car park (S/E).
Rocky and slippery paths in places. Good footwear is essential and walking sticks are recommended.
Visorando member
Easy 
Very difficult 
