The dry grasslands of Mailley-et-Chazelot

This hike is also known as the Cross and Côte-Chat hike.
From the cross, there is a panoramic view of the Saône plain
From Côte-Chat, there is a view of the hills in the south of the department, the Doubs and perhaps Mont Blanc.

Details

1487996
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.43 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 138 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 135 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 426 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 291 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking at the town hall square, a19th-century building housing the school.
Follow the signs put up by the Combes community of municipalities (C3): yellow arrows marked "les pelouses sèches" (dry grasslands).

(S/E) Take the uphill street: Rue du Quarré to the stone cross.

(1) Turn left onto Chemin de la Ronde, then turn right onto Les Negrelles in front of the old water tower.

(2) Turn right before the house and enter the woods.
At the steep uphill section protected by a railing, you can see the remains of a quarry below.
As you leave the woods, you will see the "dry grasslands".
As you cross the woods, you can identify the tree species thanks to the information boards.

(3) Arrive at the Croix de la Roche viewpoint and its panorama with its orientation table.
You have to climb slightly to enter the woods. Do not follow the red signs.
When you leave the woods, cross the meadow. The markings are difficult to follow, but the path goes across the fields.
There is an educational information point at the edge of the field and along the fence.

(4) When you reach a tarmac road, turn left and walk alongside an old trotting track.
After 200 metres, take the gravel path on the right at the edge of the woods for 600 metres. Turn right and enter the field, closing the gate behind you.

(5) Orientation table - view towards the south of Mont Blanc if you are very lucky
The descent is marked with explanatory signs.
Pass the hunters' hut on your right and the Côte-Chat stud farm on your left to reach a road.

(6) Turn right at the road, pass the glass collection point and arrive at the restored mission cross. Continue along Rue de Chevaney and pass the house attached to a tower with a spiral staircase opposite the old post house at the junction of Rue du Quarré and Rue de Chevaney.
Take Rue de la Forge to reach Place de la Mairie (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 291 m - Place de la Mairie
  2. 1 : km 0.21 - alt. 301 m - Stone cross
  3. 2 : km 0.59 - alt. 330 m - Entrance to the woods
  4. 3 : km 1.34 - alt. 408 m - Orientation table
  5. 4 : km 2.04 - alt. 411 m - Junction with tarmac road
  6. 5 : km 2.94 - alt. 426 m - Orientation table facing south
  7. 6 : km 3.93 - alt. 346 m - Road on the right
  8. S/E : km 5.43 - alt. 291 m - Place de la Mairie

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Rinaldo
Rinaldo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very well signposted!

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anitaenfraze@gmail.com
anitaenfraze@gmail.com

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Particularly interesting for the panoramic view once you reach the summit plateau and the vegetation that spreads out before you.

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GORMOND
GORMOND

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very enjoyable hike. Well marked. A good climb at the start on a good path with some large rocks, so not suitable for pushchairs... but not difficult. Beautiful views. No flowers yet, but these dry lawns are very pleasant...
Worth doing again and highly recommended!

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jeremiez
jeremiez
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk to do in autumn!

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stenzo
stenzo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great little hike with different views and variety. SOS: IF ANYONE FINDS A WALKING STICK, PLEASE CONTACT ME BY EMAIL AT: vincentstefani006@gmail.com. It has sentimental value for me as it was a gift from my son. THANK YOU ALL.

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lacorneauxvaches
lacorneauxvaches

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very interesting hike, made enjoyable by numerous information boards (arboretum, information on flora and fauna) and two orientation tables.
Beautiful views of the Saône valley and the Haut Doubs mountains, and even Mont Blanc if the sky is clear!
Very well marked. Highly recommended.

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