Les Platières des Béorlots and the Mare des Couleuvreux

A varied route in the Fontainebleau forest, off the beaten track and within biological reserves. High forests, moors, plateaus and rocks alternate, with the Mare des Couleuvreux adding a touch of mystery to these landscapes.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.46 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 16 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 16 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 128 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 112 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking at the Carrefour des Grands Feuillards, where the Route de la Plaine de la Haute Borne is closed to cars coming from the D301 (Route ronde). The junction with the Route de la Plaine de la Haute Borne is on the D301 between the D152, which connects Ury and Fontainebleau, and the D409, which connects Arbonne-la-Forêt and Fontainebleau.

For the most part, the route is not signposted.

(S/E) Head south-west onto Route Clémentine. Cross Route du Décagone. At the next junction, turn right onto Route de Recloses in Arbonne. Continue until you reach Carrefour Neuf.

(1) At Carrefour Neuf, turn left at a right angle onto Route d'Achères in Fontainebleau (this is the widest road). Continue south-west until the next junction. Be careful not to miss this junction as the road you come to is much smaller.

(2) Turn right at a sharp angle onto Route du Vacher, which heads north. After about 150 metres, turn left onto Route du Grelot, which is a narrow road. Cross Route Circulaire and continue to the next intersection.

(3) Turn right onto Route de la Gorge aux Archers. Walk through a landscape where you can see the first rocks. Descend briefly to cross Route du Gros Buisson and climb back up opposite. The road becomes a path that winds its way through the heather. At the next junction (with Route des Béorlots, no. 643), continue straight ahead (north-west). The path is winding, in the middle of the rocks. After a short descent, climb back up to reach a pine forest.

(4) At the junction (No. 654), turn left onto Route de la Bourse (green and white signpost). The path, which is very sandy, descends slightly. At the next junction, turn sharply north-west onto the first path on the right (not named on the map, no sign but with a green and white signpost; the sign "Route du Putois" indicates the path that heads west-southwest, which you should not take). On sandy ground, make a left turn and then head west between pine trees and heather.

(5) Cross the Route d'Achères in Arbonne (very wide lane). Take the path directly opposite that branches off between two pine trees. N.B. If you cannot see this path, take the lane on the left and then immediately after, take a path on the right at the tree with the number 644. This is all within a very small area and the two paths join up immediately.
Follow the path westwards. At a fork, take the better marked path on the right. This path winds its way through the heather, turns left and leads to a group of rocks. Ignore a path coming from the left, continue south-west and you will come to a larger path (without a sign). Take this path on the right. At the next junction (n° 657 and 645), a sign indicates that you are on the Route des Platières. Continue west on this road, ignore a path that branches off to the right (Route de la Hase, not shown on the 1:25,000 map) and reach the Route du Panneau.

(6) Take the Route du Panneau on the right (north). The road is winding, runs alongside some rocks and climbs slightly. Pass the Route du Furet coming from the right and you will come to the Route de la Plaine de la Haute Borne (tarmac).

(7) You are now near the Mare des Couleuvreux, which is actually a group of small ponds that are difficult to access. Here are two optional ways to get a glimpse of them.
- Continue straight ahead on Route du Panneau (go past the barrier with a "no horse riding" sign). After a few metres, the path disappears and there is a pond on the left. Retrace your steps.
- Turn left onto the tarmac road. Pass the Route du Lapin on your left and immediately after, turn right onto the same Route du Lapin (8). The path leads to another pond (pine tree with a blue circle painted on the bark). Just behind this pond, there is another one. Retrace your steps and take the paved road on the left until you reach Route du Panneau.
Do not attempt to go any further: the middle section is difficult, waterlogged for much of the year and fragile.

(7) Take the paved road east. Note the flat landscape on your left, with heathland and birch trees. At the junction with a path (No. 631), turn left onto Route de la Hase. Head north and cross Route de la Fontaine Sainte-Marguerite. At a fork, leave Route de la Hase and turn right onto an unnamed path. Cross Route de la Gorge aux Archers and continue to another junction.

(9) Turn right onto Route Descamps (green and white signpost). Walk east with heathland and birch trees on your left and a pine forest on your right. Cross Route du Larron, then Route Circulaire. At the next crossroads, head south-east onto Route du Vacher (2nd path on the right). Continue until you reach Carrefour des Aiguisoirs.

(10) At the crossroads, head east-northeast onto Route des Aiguisoirs (second road on the left). Cross Chemin d'Arbonne in Ury and continue to Carrefour de Joinville. Head southeast onto Route de Joinville (third road on the right). Continue straight ahead on this road until you reach Carrefour des Grands Feuillards (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 128 m - Carrefour des Grands Feuillards
  2. 1 : km 1.27 - alt. 126 m - Carrefour Neuf
  3. 2 : km 1.78 - alt. 125 m - Route du Vacher
  4. 3 : km 2.61 - alt. 120 m - Route de la Gorge aux Archers
  5. 4 : km 3.16 - alt. 125 m - Route de la Bourse
  6. 5 : km 3.85 - alt. 113 m - Route from Achères to Arbonne
  7. 6 : km 4.91 - alt. 115 m - Route du Panneau
  8. 7 : km 5.49 - alt. 124 m - Route de la Plaine de la Haute Borne
  9. 8 : km 5.74 - alt. 122 m - Route du Lapin - Mare des Couleuvreux
  10. 9 : km 7.07 - alt. 122 m - Descamps Road
  11. 10 : km 8.36 - alt. 126 m - Carrefour des Aiguisoirs
  12. S/E : km 10.46 - alt. 128 m - Carrefour des Grands Feuillards

Notes

A 1:25,000 map is essential (at least the one accompanying this description). A compass may be useful and is not a heavy burden to carry.

Between (3) and (10), the route crosses a managed biological reserve: please follow the signs carefully. Forest plot no. 645 (bordered to the south by the Route des Platières and to the east by the Route du Panneau) is an integral biological reserve, untouched by human intervention: please do not enter.

At the Mare des Couleuvreux, it is recommended not to venture beyond the marked area.

There are no drinking water points along the route. The area around the Mare aux Couleuvreux is not a suitable place for picnics.

Where it runs (at the Mare des Couleuvreux), the paved road is closed to cars. However, it is used by cyclists, so caution is advised.

Hike completed by the author on 4 January 2015.

Worth a visit

In the section closest to the Carrefour des Grands Feuillards, between (S) and (2), and between (9) and (S), the route follows wide forest paths and is mainly under tall trees.

In the western part of the circuit, between (2) and (9), you will follow smaller paths or narrow trails. The landscape gives way to flat areas, rocks and heathland with birch trees.

The Mare des Couleuvreux is a group of small ponds that owe their existence to the impermeable soil of the flat areas. The environment is rich in biodiversity but fragile.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 48 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
willi77
willi77

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk with my daughter (11 years old). The ponds are not very interesting, however.

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roro1677
roro1677

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It's not the most beautiful spot in the Fontainebleau forest, but the course is quite varied, with some uninteresting straights but also lots of winding paths through the heather and numerous ponds at the end of the course.
Allow 2½ hours; in my opinion, it's impossible to get lost. There's a slight noise from the motorway in the background, which is a shame.

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supermarille
supermarille

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk! But I couldn't see the pools. Maybe it was the drought?
I also took the wrong path: at the end of point 3, "The path is winding, in the middle of the rocks. After a short descent, climb back up to reach a pine forest," you have to go "up" at a fork. The path climbs up the rocks; don't take the path down to the right, which takes you alongside the rocks. The trail is fairly clear, so I realised my mistake quickly.

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Delphrando
Delphrando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, even in the middle of winter. However, it is also a popular route for hunting, so be prepared for dogs and horses

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Valhud
Valhud

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike in varied surroundings.
You can hear the motorway a little (too much) on the section of the route that runs close to it, but it's still very pleasant. Very quiet.

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alain vialon
alain vialon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike! Even in wet weather.
We did it without the descriptions and with GPS, and we didn't get lost once.
The group really liked the flat rocks and "slabs" in the middle of the wet moorland. Great photo opportunity.

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Flosuperflo
Flosuperflo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, despite the heatwave when we did it. A very nice route, alternating between narrow paths and well-marked roads. The paths are varied but quite sandy. We didn't see anyone else during the entire hike!

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RIKERAK
RIKERAK

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in the woods.

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bleau91
bleau91

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The route was pleasant but monotonous. I may be biased, as I am used to hiking around the Massif des Trois Pignons

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duodiscu92
duodiscu92

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is the third time we've done this little hike, and it's always just as enjoyable. This time, we didn't see a single soul. The peace and quiet was wonderful. How lucky we are to have the Fontainebleau forest so close to Paris! We can't say it enough!

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Olivier PetitsPas
Olivier PetitsPas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that highlighted the winter beauty of the forest and frozen ponds. The last part is less attractive, but the walk remains pleasant
Thank you for this route

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laurethierry5864
laurethierry5864

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this route in the opposite direction. We started with the straighter, more "monotonous" paths.
This route is very nice.

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Olivier PetitsPas
Olivier PetitsPas

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this information sheet; the hike is pleasant and accessible

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Nicolas Shadowmo
Nicolas Shadowmo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It was raining today, so I only saw one person on my way back to the car park.
Very comprehensive description for a first time user of the app.
A varied route. Just a little tricky to find access to Pt 8 with the vegetation in front of the sign, but nothing too much of a problem.
I didn't go to points
9 and 10 in order to get back more quickly.
The detour to see the ponds is very nice, just be careful not to trample everything in your path and respect the area.
It took me 3 hours, but I took over
100 photos because the route is full of unusual rocks and fabulous light if, like me, you're lucky enough to have the rain stop during your hike.
You expect to come across animals at any moment with deer and wild boar tracks everywhere.
I'll definitely do it again on a sunny day.

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Allain Chantal
Allain Chantal

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike where you may encounter grass snakes. Be careful where you walk, as they cross very quickly.

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