The Cerf rocks

This route will take you from the forest to the cliff via the pastures of the Haut Doubs.

Details

n°45

Creation:
30 May 2010

Last update:
12 Dec 2018

Last review:
12 Aug 2024

Activity: Walking
Distance: 11.47 km
Average duration: 4h 05
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 268 m
Descent: - 257 m
Highest point: 1,209 m
Lowest point: 1,001 m

Country: France
Area: Jura mountains
District: Hauterive-la-Fresse (25650)
Start/End: N 46.959538° / E 6.457108°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3424OT, 3425OT, 3524OT
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Description of the walk

Park in the car park near the La Perdrix farmhouse inn in Hauterive-la-Fresse.

(S/E) Take the path on the left just after the cattle grid, marked in yellow and blue. Cross the pasture on this path until you reach the passageway through the fence, then continue in the same direction, still on the path, which is not very well marked. Continue in this direction, crossing the pasture and a conifer plantation, until you reach the Combe Froide forest road.

(1) Follow the road in the same direction until you reach the intersection of two roads in the forest.

(2) Keep to the right on the Combe Froide forest road. At the signposts, take the path that climbs to the right, still marked in yellow and blue. Stay on this main path throughout the climb. Once you reach the district road, cross it and take the small road opposite that climbs uphill.

(3) Take the main path on the right at the entrance to the forest, following the yellow and blue markings. Follow this main path uphill to an intersection. Turn 180° left onto the path that follows the contour line and then begins to climb. You will reach another intersection.

(4) Continue climbing straight ahead on the main path, leaving the yellow and blue markings before rejoining them a few hundred metres further on.
You will arrive at the ridge, on Rocher du Cerf. Follow this ridge, pass the French-Swiss border marker, and continue along the ridge to enjoy this unobstructed view.

(5) Return by the same route to the previous crossroads.

(4) Continue along the ridge, either as close as possible or a few metres away from it. The markings are either yellow and blue or a yellow diamond (Swiss markings). Follow the border. Pass the Côte du Cerf mountain farm and take the wide white path. You will reach another intersection.

(6) Take the path on the right to descend towards La Fresse.

(7) At these farms, cross the main road and take the small road opposite, which turns right and then, once you reach the open space, take the path that climbs to the left, marked in yellow and blue.
Continue along this path until you reach the gates in the fences and arrive at the Perdrix car park /A::.

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,076 m - La Perdrix car park
1 : km 1.25 - alt. 1,069 m - Combe Froide Forest Road
2 : km 2.89 - alt. 1,002 m - Road junction
3 : km 3.78 - alt. 1,101 m - Crossroads at the edge of the forest
4 : km 4.86 - alt. 1,187 m - Ridge crossroads
5 : km 5.74 - alt. 1,170 m - High point
6 : km 8.98 - alt. 1,152 m - Hairpin bend
7 : km 9.7 - alt. 1,115 m - La Fresse
S/E : km 11.47 - alt. 1,080 m - La Perdrix car park

Notes

Take care when crossing roads.
Be careful of animals in the pastures.
Be careful with young children when walking along the rocky ridge.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5

Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5

Route interest
4.6 / 5

MarcT

12 Aug 2024 at 12:00 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Green pastures with Montbeliard cows, refreshing forests and scenic views: that's what you can expect on this lovely hike.
At the end of the circular, stop for a drink at the inn near the starting point.

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fabrice.girard

16 Mar 2022 at 08:31 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

pleasant route with a few patches of snow for the time of year
Make sure you have good footwear.

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laureteam

01 Nov 2021 at 09:21 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route with some good climbs and a few muddy sections at this time of year, so make sure you wear good footwear.
Be aware, however, of the presence of hunters, whom we managed to avoid thanks to our walking schedule.
We encountered few people despite the pleasant weather.

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babetteb25

11 May 2021 at 22:59 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did this hike early on a Sunday morning, which was fortunate because it is very busy. But it is very beautiful at the summit.

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balmadier

16 Aug 2020 at 21:44 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful landscapes

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spmosse

14 May 2018 at 10:30 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Finding your way is no problem; just follow the yellow and blue markings along the entire route. The variety of landscapes makes it well worth the effort (forests, meadows, cliffs, cows!).

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chriscio50

11 May 2016 at 16:18 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

About fifty metres before the forest exit, there is a sign with yellow and blue markings indicating the change of direction. Just opposite, on the right, we took the path that goes uphill. This path, which has been badly damaged by foresters, has no markings. When we reached the district road, we turned left (about 500 m) to join the small road opposite that goes uphill.
However, just after the sign with the markings, there was a second path going uphill (also badly damaged by foresters). A little further on, there was a third path. Which one should we take?

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patrick.toupance

11 Nov 2015 at 19:12 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Please note (about 50 metres before the forest exit, at the directional signs), I couldn't find the signs or the yellow and blue markings, so I took a path and went straight up. When I reached the country road, I turned left to join the path that goes up the other side of the country road.

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chrisfil

15 Aug 2015 at 19:56 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Route completed in reverse order, starting from La Fresse in beautiful weather.
Magnificent panorama on a clear day from the Rochers du Cerf over the Bernese Alps (and even Mont Blanc, apparently in excellent conditions?).
In this anti-clockwise direction, the steep climb in the forest before the junction is downhill. On the other hand, the climbs are longer but gentler (which may be more appreciated depending on the type of participants).

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