Country:
District:
(S/E) Parking in Lods, on the other side of the bridge, towards Longeville, along the river, at a place called Les Forges. As you get out of the car, you will see the Moulin Banal and the church, undoubtedly one of the most photographed places in Franche-Comté. Yellow-red and yellow-blue signposts.
(1) Go up the D32 towards Longeville for about 100 metres and take the beautiful path on the left towards Longeville. At the fork, 300 metres higher up, continue climbing to the left. Cross the departmental road and continue this beautiful climb along the stony path opposite.
(2) When the path stops climbing, look for a sign inviting you to continue climbing up a small path on the left. You will soon reach a wider path, which you cross, continuing along the small path opposite. You will reach the departmental road at a signpost; turn right (towards Longeville). Before joining it, take the time to climb the D32 for about 100 metres to discover a magnificent view of the Roche de Hautepierre. At another signpost, you will join a stony path which you will climb to the right (towards Belvédère du Moine).
(3) You will cross a pasture with more beautiful views. Cross the D32 again and continue towards Longeville on the gravel path, which becomes Rue du Vallon at the first houses in the village. Pass the old weighbridge and at the fountain, turn left onto the D27 towards Evillers.
(4) At the hairpin bend, take the third path on the right (towards Belvédère du Moine). You will pass under a rural shrine. At the departmental road, turn right and walk about 60 steps, then cut across the bend by taking the path on the left.
(5) At the next bend, head into the field via the small road on the left (towards Point de vue du Moine). After 200 m, when the path starts to bend to the right, look for the signpost indicating to turn left into the meadow towards the shed opposite you. At the building, turn left, following the barbed wire fence and looking for the sign on the ground. If you miss it, just get closer and follow the edge of the cliffs (carefully), crossing from one meadow to the other via a metal footbridge.
(6) When the ledge clears, you will enjoy a magnificent view of the Loue valley, the Roche de Hautepierre and the Gorges de Nouailles. At this spot in particular, on a small promontory 300 m before the end of the field, on the other side of the barbed wire, there is a superb wild viewpoint, which is of course unprotected, so take care.
At the end of the pasture, you cross a grove, follow another small pasture and finally climb into the woods. You cross a series of small woods and meadows, always carefully following the cliff edge.
(7) You will arrive at the first viewpoint of the Moine de la Vallée, where a bench awaits you to rest for a while. Pass the pylon to reach the second viewpoint, which offers a wilder view of the Gorges de Nouailles. Descend the paved road to the Grange Carrée inn, where you can quench your thirst. Just before the inn, at the signpost, turn left onto the grassy path towards Mouthier.
(8) At the next signpost, turn left again, heading towards Mouthier-Hautepierre.
(9) When the stony path turns right at a right angle, you have two options:
Option 1 - Leave the path and turn left onto the small track (following the mountain bike signs 29) that runs down the hillside. Unfortunately, since my last visit, the first third has been badly damaged by logging, but the rest of the steep path will take you through a pretty rocky undergrowth at the foot of the Moine rocks. You will rejoin the signposted path at point 10, which you will follow downhill to the left.
Option 2 - Continue along the marked, stony hiking trail. At a bend in the path on the left and a sign for Le Moine de la Vallée - Renédale, you can carefully take a small path on the right to reach an unsecured viewpoint (so be careful!) of the Petite Roche over the village of Mouthier and the gorges. Retrace your steps and continue downhill.
(10) Descend back into the valley towards Mouthier-Lods. The path becomes more stony and joins another path at a right angle. Turn left (towards Lods-Bief Poutot) and continue for about 50 metres.
(1) At a signpost, leave this beautiful stony path immediately and descend to the right onto a forest path (mountain bike trail 29). You will pass through beautiful orchards and arrive at the first houses of Lods, turning left to find the bridge and the car park. On the way, you will pass the 13th-century fortified house (S/E).
The route includes narrow paths along cliffs and unsecured viewpoints. The paths are rocky and slippery in places. Good walking shoes are essential and walking sticks are recommended.
Visorando member
Difficult 
Association / Club / Walk leader
