Les Champis and Rouge Feigne, from La Bresse

Start at La Bresse at the Swimming Pool and Ice Rink Complex (see the attached map and photo).

(S/E) Follow the Chemin des Ecoliers for 150 metres.

(1) Cross Rue des Proyes before the bridge, then follow the footpath opposite that runs alongside the Moselotte. Pass the Maison de la Bresse and the Ibis Hotel, then cross Rue Joseph Remy. Continue along the footpath overlooking the Moselotte, pass beneath the retirement home and arrive at Rue de la Clairie.

(2) Continue to the left, cross the bridge, and arrive at Rue du Hohneck. Walk up this street to the right for 200 metres, then turn left onto Rue de Moyenmont for 100 metres to reach the start of the path towards Moyenmont and Pré Jacquot.

(3) Turn right (Blue Triangle or^GR®533Green Rectangle), then turn right onto Rue de Bellevue. Continue up a fairly steep slope, pass a path on the left and take the fork to the right towards the Vologne Valley (Red Triangle).

(4) At the Fork in the road, turn right and take the path towards Les Baraques.

(5) Leave this path at the junction and head uphill to the left, continuing to follow the Red Triangles of the Chemin Grandemange.

(6) At the crossroads, head east along this path for 1.2 km, following the Yellow Cross markings.

(7) At the crossroads, take the path on the left. After a 45-minute climb, having passed several turnings on both the left and right, you’ll reach the small pass of the Etang and its chalet.

(8) After the chalet, continue to the right towards Les Champis along the ridge path (signposted and marked with Yellow Triangles). After three-quarters of an hour, you’ll arrive at Les Champis.

(9) Carry on straight ahead along an unmarked path, continuing to follow the ridge and the edge of the forest, until you rejoin the track.

(10) It descends to the right then turns left towards Rouge Feigne. A rather damp and marshy path on the left then leads you to a junction.

(11) Turn left onto the path, heading towards Les Champis (signposted and marked with Yellow Saltires), and continue to the Chalet des Champis.

(12) Continue along a wide track (called Chemin des Champis), ignoring the other tracks, and after 1.5 km, you’ll reach a crossroads.

(13) Head straight on towards the Collet de l’Étang via the Chemin de la Piquancoire. After 1.3 km, you’ll reach the Collet de l’Étang, which you’ve already passed on the way out.

(8) Set off again straight ahead for the return journey on the^GR®533(marked with Green Rectangles) towards Pré Jacquot and Moyenmont. Ignore several paths on the right.

(14) At the junction, leave the^GR®533and continue straight on.

(15) 120 metres further on, at a bend, turn left towards La Roche Beuty (path marked with Red Triangles), pass a farm and then a telecoms pylon, and arrive at La Roche Beuty.

(16) Then head down the path on the left (marked with a yellow circle) to rejoin the GR®533.

(17) Turn right and return to the La Bresse Swimming Pool and Ice Rink (S/E) via the reverse route of the outward journey.

Two well-equipped chalets: at the small pass of Collet de l’Étang and at Champis. Water points at the Champis chalet and a fountain on the Chemin de la Piquancoire. No food or drink available along the route.
Standard kit for a day in the mid-mountains; bear in mind that we are constantly in the forest and quite far from any settlements.

Étang de la Cure (near the small pass of the Étang).
Viewpoint overlooking the Bresse ski area at Les Champis.