Le Vieux Tilleul and Fort de la Dame Blanche as seen from Les Petites Baraques

Park in the Petites Baraques car park.

(S/E) From the car park, set off along the Chemin Fonds de Chailluz forest track, heading south-west, and follow it for nearly 1 km until you reach a junction at elevation 326.

(1) Turn right onto the signposted^GR® de Pays Ceinture de Besançon trail. After one kilometre, you’ll reach a junction with a forest track.

(2) Follow the forest track to the right, passing under the motorway, then, a few dozen metres further on, take the path on the left which initially runs alongside the A36. After a turning area on the forest track, take the signposted path which continues straight ahead.

(3) Turn right onto the path and begin the ascent towards the Vieux Tilleul, dating from 1699. Walk 10 metres past it.

(4) Turn right; the path follows the ridge to the Fort de la Dame Blanche for nearly 6 km.

(5) At the junction of the paths, at elevation 399, carry on straight ahead. Join the forest track and follow it to the left.

(6) Continue along the path that follows the ridge, leaving the track to your right.

(7) After rejoining the forest track and crossing the Chemin de Bonnay, continue along the ridge path to the Fort de la Dame Blanche.

(8) A viewpoint offering views over the Ognon Valley and the Southern Vosges.
Turn back along the forest road for about 200 metres.

(9) At the junction, turn left onto the Chemin de la Charrière du Fort, which descends directly south.

(10) At the junction, follow the Route Forestière du Bas de la Côte to the right. Then, 100 metres further on, carry straight on down the road, pass under the motorway and reach a crossroads.

(11) Turn right onto this path, which runs alongside the motorway for around 300 metres, then continue south-west for around 1 km, following the fence of the wildlife park.

(12) At the junction with the Route Forestière du Ramier, cross it and continue straight on along the signposted Saint Nicolas Trail for 800 m until you reach another junction of signposted trails.

(13) Turn right and head uphill to join the forest road and Les Petites Baraques (S/E).

The signposting for walkers leaves something to be desired. Up to waypoint (7), the signposting is the same as that for mountain bike routes 122/124, which is more clearly visible.
The ridge path from the waypoint (7) to Fort de la Dame Blanche (8) has a few sections where the path runs close to the cliff edge.
Take care in wet weather on the slippery limestone rocks.

Watch out for the often numerousmountain bikers; conversely, mountain bikers should also be mindful of walkers.