The combes of Val Suzon below Darois

A beautiful, slightly challenging hike to discover a series of deep valleys, pretty views and beautiful springs: a change of scenery guaranteed just 10 km from Dijon.

Details

119529
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.11 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 430 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 438 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 510 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 324 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Access: From the D971, turn right after the aerodrome. Continue straight ahead, pass two streets on your left, then park along the pavement before the well.

(S/E) Take theGR®7(red and white markings) northwards.

(1) Moderator update: Please note! Route change: See ArnaudS21's notice dated 17/05/2020). When you see the campsite, take the path on the right that descends into the valley. After 400 m, climb up to your right to see this magnificent old wash house and spring, then rejoin theGR®7, which follows the natural contours of the valley until it crosses the Combe de Chêneau, where you turn left. After 50 m, leave the valley floor and climb up its northern flank to find the second spring: the Fontaine de la Trouvée.

(2) Continue on theGR®7, which turns north-east.

(3) Descend via Combet Chaudière and join Combe Ragot, climbing up its northern flank.

(4) Cross the road and take the path opposite (still theGR®7). Reach the edge of the plateau above the Fontaine de Jouvence.

(5) Turn right onto the Chemin du Tour du Val Suzon (viewpoint on the left) and walk along the edge of the plateau, heading generally east or south-east.

(6) Leave the marked trail and turn right, still walking along the edge of the plateau.

(7) Join the road, climb over the guardrail in the bend and cross the road with caution. Descend into Combe Coteaux Chênaux.

(8) Turn right after passing an entrance to a valley on your left and continue along the main valley until you reach elevation 339.

(9) At this crossroads, take the valley on the right. Don't hesitate to make a detour to see the Chênaux spring with its pond on the right, 20 metres above the path. Return to the valley, which climbs 1.5 km westwards.

(10) 20 metres before joining theGR®7, take the path on the left that climbs steeply.

(11) After a slight flat section, take thethird path on the right. Follow this path, passing La Roche Chaignot. The path crosses the fields to Darois and returns to the car park at the well (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 494 m - Parking along the pavement before the well
  2. 1 : km 0.46 - alt. 497 m - Entrance to the valley on the right
  3. 2 : km 2.47 - alt. 445 m - Spring emerging from the rock
  4. 3 : km 3.68 - alt. 502 m - Badger holes
  5. 4 : km 5.01 - alt. 510 m - Cross the road leading to Etaules.
  6. 5 : km 5.58 - alt. 482 m - Arrival on the Val Suzon tour trail
  7. 6 : km 7.38 - alt. 455 m - Leave the marked trail and turn right
  8. 7 : km 7.86 - alt. 445 m - Route D104
  9. 8 : km 8.65 - alt. 324 m - Return to the bottom of the valley
  10. 9 : km 9.5 - alt. 338 m - Source des Chênaux with its pond
  11. 10 : km 10.49 - alt. 377 m - Beautiful climb through the pine trees.
  12. 11 : km 10.8 - alt. 435 m - Turn right
  13. S/E : km 12.11 - alt. 494 m - Parking along the pavement before the well

Notes

Shelter at the wash house.
Best to do this hike during the week: there is a lot of air traffic at weekends due to the presence of Darois aerodrome.

Worth a visit

Various water sources: old restored wash house at the bottom of a valley.
Springs flowing from the rocks with a pool: tadpoles, alpine newts.
Beautiful views of the valleys and Val Suzon.
Numerous badger setts (3).

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

3.9 / 5
Based on 19 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
User 26449301

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

Ouch, ouch, ouch, I didn't read the comments beforehand, so in the rain, I trusted what I had read: we followed the GR7 trails and ended up somewhere else...

in short, not everyone has a smartphone and therefore trusts the description. It really needs to be changed when you've been warned... but it's true that you're not getting paid!

so next time I'll be careful not to make a 3½-hour round trip and will read the comments before the walk, which did at least allow us to see deer and fawns.

Machine-translated

estouest
estouest

Thank you for your comment!

Machine-translated

jcehenne
jcehenne

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike;
however, the GR7 route has been significantly altered and the GR2 has been extended to Dijon on this route. Therefore, do not rely too heavily on the GR7 markings.

Machine-translated

ibelle21
ibelle21

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike. The route is pleasant because there are different types of vegetation. A few small climbs for a little effort. It's perfect. I'll do it again.

Machine-translated

Vivibelo
Vivibelo
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I started the walk at point 4 and skipped the section through Darois, going from 10 to 2. That's 9km3.
The biggest challenge was the Combe Ragot. The path was difficult to find, with a very arduous climb over loose stones and fallen trees.
It took me an hour to cover the first 4 km, and then another hour to climb the Combe Ragot (1.3 km)!
I couldn't find the fountain, despite its name.
A nice walk, but I wouldn't do it again.

Machine-translated

liberte21
liberte21

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

good route

Machine-translated

grandin
grandin ★

Thank you ArnaudS21, I have added the information to the description.

Machine-translated

ArnaudS21
ArnaudS21

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Hello,
We did this hike this afternoon. It's a beautiful hike.
I would just like to point out a correction that needs to be made at the very beginning of the route. At point number 1, the path on the right blocked by rocks is clearly on private property and has since been blocked by a fence.
A detour has been set up about a hundred metres further on the right and is marked in fluorescent pink (indicated by the dotted line starting on the right on the IGN map).
That's all for the corrections to be made for future

Machine-translated

henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to give your opinion.

I came across many paths and didn't know which way to go

Finding your way in the forest isn't easy because it can sometimes be difficult to match the map to the terrain. In this specific case, in addition to the description and map, we recommend using the GPS app.

This tool, offered free of charge by Visorando, allows you to validate waypoints and thus remove any doubts about your direction.

Visorando Mobile App ]

I'll try it again, the setting is really nice!

Yes, but with the description, the map AND the GPS application
I am sure you will appreciate the convenience of the application.

Best regards

Machine-translated

Lémuria
Lémuria
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello,
I attempted this hike today and was unable to complete it.
I quickly lost my way at point 3. I came across lots of paths and didn't know which way to go. The written directions weren't very clear, and I don't yet know how to rely solely on the map, so I can't say whether the route is OK.
I tried to get back on track, but I had strayed too far, so I decided to stop the hike.
I'll try again, as the setting is really nice! Lots of forest, valleys and fields, and I came face to face with a deer, which was amazing!
Be careful at the start of the route, as large tree trunks cover the path and you have to go around them. The ground is slippery today, so be careful in wet weather.

Machine-translated

saint-apollinaire
saint-apollinaire

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hike to be done for ascents and descents across the valleys, caution: very steep.
The start is easier from the car park in front of the church or the one in front of the town hall.
To make the hike easier, it would be best to enlarge the map (2 pages).
Medium difficulty except between points 3 and 4, where it is difficult, particularly the climb up Combe Ragot, where you climb the north side, a path that is difficult to find and follow.
Don't forget to consult your compass and GPS and pay attention, otherwise you may take a wrong turn and go from point 8 to 3 (how do you recognise a main valley?) (my amateur map reading and navigation skills made the situation worse). We managed to reach Darois by calmly reading the map carefully without going back through points 2 and 1.
The GR7 has been modified, so it would be a good idea to update the description as a whole.
Well done for this route, which is well worth the detour despite its minor flaws in the description

Machine-translated

cartoum
cartoum

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Highly recommended, beautiful hike so close to Dijon, magnificent forest and lovely views. Be sure to bring a map and compass, as they will come in handy at times to find your way. Moderate difficulty except between points 3 and 4, where it is difficult, particularly the climb up Combe Ragot, where you climb the north side, a path that is difficult to find and follow.
As indicated, it is best to do this hike during the week, as the noise from the aerodrome at the start and end of the walk is unpleasant.
This walk is also best done in spring, as all the water sources were dry, which was a shame.

Machine-translated

Alaing21
Alaing21
• Edited:

Comment to be deleted

Machine-translated

Alaing21
Alaing21
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The route of the GR7 has been changed!!!
So from the "Combe de Chêneau, which you take on the left" before point 2
(Fontaine de la Trouvée) to point 5,
you are off the trail (the markings have been erased)
It is best to have a good map, compass and active GPS.
The climb up Combe Ragot, towards the north, is very steep and it is easy to lose the unmarked trail.
A beautiful hike done in the late afternoon when it was very hot, but no problem as the route is magnificent and entirely in the shade.

Machine-translated

Alaing21
Alaing21
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The route of the GR7 has been changed!!!
So from the "Combe de Chêneau, which you take on the left" before point 2
(Fontaine de la Trouvée) to point 5,
you are off the trail (the markings have been erased)
It is best to have a good map, compass and GPS.
The climb up Combe Ragot, towards the north,
is very steep and it is easy to lose the unmarked trail.

Duplicate: comment to be deleted

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.