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Departure from the hamlet of Croux on the D142, west of the Col de la Croix d'Auterre.
(S/E) Head north-northeast and follow the tarmac road leading to Pierre Leurot.
(1) At elevation 579, turn left onto a farm track. Stay roughly on the hillside, heading west then north-west. Ignore a path branching off to the left (due west) and you will immediately come to a fork.
(2) Take the left path and enter the forest. Climb, ignore a path branching off to the right and continue climbing. At an altitude of around 650m, the forest gives way to open countryside due to recent logging (the map has not been updated).
(3) At the T-junction, follow theGR®7to the left and walk through a beautiful meadow on the left and under a beautiful canopy of hornbeams on the right for about a hundred metres. At the fork, turn right (north-west).
(4) At the crossroads, turn right (north-east) under the Douglas firs. On the way up, oak and holly trees take over. Reach the foot of En Crozan (vast panorama as far as Mont Blanc).
N.B. The return trip to the summit of En Crozan, which takes a few dozen minutes, is on much more difficult terrain: children should refrain from attempting it.
(5) Head north-west using the tracks created by forestry machinery (watch out for brambles). Go around the summit on the left (west) and then climb it with care and attention: it is a series of large boulders covered with moss, lichen and brambles. Be mindful of the wildlife that inhabits this biotope. Once at the summit, retrace your steps.
(5) Head north-northeast, ignore a path on the right and descend slightly.
(6) At the end of the avenue of (remarkable) tall fir trees, turn left (north-west) and descend (on the north-facing slope) towards the road connecting Croix de Chau to Croix la Bise. Follow this road to the left with caution. At a fork, take the right-hand path.
(7) Continue straight ahead and begin the steep ascent of Mont Saint-Cyr. Pass through the "gate" of large granite blocks and reach the summit (a flat grassy area ideal for a break, with two orientation tables offering 360-degree panoramic views).
(8) Descend via the steep path.
(7) Turn right and follow theGR®7(red and white markings) southwards. At the first crossroads, follow the road to the right and, after about 50 metres, take the second path on the left (due south, marked). Find a wider path and follow it for a few metres before leaving it on the left.
(4) At the crossroads, continue straight ahead (leaving theGR® trail on your right) and follow the path you took on the way there in the opposite direction. Join theGR® trail again and follow it to the left.
(3) At the intersection, continue straight ahead with the GR®. The crossing of the "Bourbes" is disrupted due to logging work (situation in January 2018). Cross a stream (not shown on the map).
(9) Initially staying parallel tothe GR®7, it is easier to walk off the forest path, upstream, to the left, then cut across to rejoin a magnificent old path lined with gnarled old trees.
After about 250m, leave theGR® and take a path on the left (east) to Marguiller des Quilles (under large Douglas firs).
(10) At the crossroads, turn right (south) and descend along a sunken path (sometimes two metres deep) lined on the left with beautiful deciduous trees
and large Douglas firs on the right.
At Les Cinq Pierres, rejoin theGR®7and follow it south-southeast. Continue downhill and, after about 250 metres (elevation 606), leave theGR® and take the path on the right.
(1) Return to the first crossroads on the way out and continue straight on to the hamlet of Croux and its stone cross (S/E).
Visorando member
Very difficult 
Difficult 
Easy 
