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Start from the Canche aux Merciers car park.
(S/E) To the right of the forest gate, find the sign for the Dénécourt path no. 16, marked in blue, and follow it for about 1.5 hours. Take the right fork, heading north, then west.
(1) Climb fairly steeply along the Aqueduc de la Vanne (once you reach the plateau, the noise of the motorway gradually fades away).
Do not take the Banc de Pierre shortcut on the left, but continue straight ahead (west) along the edge of the plateau (a very beautiful route).
(2) After the viewpoint over the Aqueduc de la Vanne, the Chapeau de Napoléon and the Coquibus massif, stay on the edge of the wild Laris Qui Parle plateau, with views of a peaceful valley to the right and in the distance.
After a walk along the edge of the impressive climbing rocks of the Gorge aux Châts (named after chestnuts), the path curves southwards.
(3) At a large flat rock face (marked M in blue), there is a viewpoint over the Coquibus massif, Milly in the distance, and on the left, the distinctive rock of the Justice de Chambergeot, which will be our next destination.
The path now heads east, zigzagging through the remains of an old sandstone quarry. Keep following the Denecourt trail no. 16 marked in blue.
The path crosses the Chemin de la Plaine du Pommier Sauvage (plot numbers 103 and 116). From this crossroads, continue for about 2½ minutes. The path climbs up opposite, then follows a ridge and finally descends slightly to a small flat sandy clearing.
(4) In this clearing, as the blue path climbs up opposite among the rocks (photo), leave it and take a small path that descends to the right and joins the Chemin de la Charme. Take this path, which descends slightly to the right.
(5) At plot numbers 116 and 117, take the Circuit des 25 Bosses on the right, marked in red, which you will follow for a while. Climb to the top of the Justice de Chambergeot, with its magnificent view of the Milly plain and the peaks of the Trois Pignons (which you will head towards next). Continue straight downhill, following the red markings, which curve to the left (south then south-east) in the plain.
You will reach the Chemin de la Charme at a forest gate. Here (plot no. 117), temporarily leave the red trail to avoid the climb to the Roche au Four, which is of little interest. Pass a gate marked 10 on your left.
(6) Next to a wooden door protected by a small wooden roof, turn left (south) onto a path (not shown on the map) to the Croix Saint-Jérôme car park. Then take the Chemin de la Vallée Close to the left (east).
(7) At the fork, turn right (south) and rejoin the Circuit des 25 Bosses (red markings). Pass in front of an overhanging rock and climb steeply up the rocks. Pass the summits of the famous "Trois pignons" (three peaks): the Rocher de la Souris, then Jean des Vignes, then Guetteur and finally Mont Pivot (yes, that's four!). Enjoy the panoramic views of the forest and the Sables du Cul du Chien. Athletic climbs and descents in the rocks, a winding route that is difficult to describe but well signposted. After Mont Pivot (sign), the trail descends into the plain.
Still following the red markings, cross the Chemin du Mont Pivot and then the Chemin de la Plaine de Jean des Vignes. Pass by the edge of the Roche aux Sabots climbing rocks, then climb gently up towards the Justice de Noisy.
(8) At the end of the ridge (plot no. 141), leave the red markings (which curve to the right on flat ground) and descend the path that plunges straight down towards the Sables du Cul du Chien plain (a sandy plain with no clear landmarks, unmarked path). Cross the plain, admiring the peaks of the Trois Pignons that you have just passed.
(9) At the famous "bilboquet" (an isolated rock in the middle of the sand with a distinctive shape, see photo), take the hollow, heading north, then continue, aiming slightly to the left, towards a flat sandy opening in a cluster of birch trees.
(10) Take the sandy path that opens up between the trees. Immediately after the first trees, take the first path on the right (north).
(11) Take the Chemin du Rocher des Potets at a right angle to the right (west-northwest). You will pass the edge of the Rocher des Potets climbing area. A little further on, take the left fork. After about 50 metres, take the small path diagonally to the left (northeast). Follow it across the climbing massif 95.2 in a fairly straight line (north) to descend on the other side into the Vallée Close. Cross it at a right angle (north), aiming for a post marked with plot number 117.
(12) From the post, follow the signs for the "Sentier Publican", a small path marked in blue, which zigzags up towards the Lorraine cross.
(13) At the Lorraine cross on the Pignon des Maquisards, enjoy the view of the Vallée Close, the 95.2 and the Trois Pignons massif. Descend a few metres on the other side to rejoin the 25 Bosses circuit (red markings) to the right. Very steep descent, then steep climb and athletic walk through the rocks.
After a final steep climb between two rocks, you will arrive at the flat area of the Pignon de la Maison Poteau. Another beautiful view. Here, the 25 Bosses circuit (red markings) passes tangentially to the Dénécourt path no. 16 (blue markings). Leave the first path and take the second.
(14) Follow the blue markings diagonally in front of you to the left (north). Be careful to take the northern branch of the blue trail: if you find yourself among rocks along the edge of a plateau, heading northeast then east, turn back. Follow the blue trail on flat ground to the north-west, then downhill, heading generally west, to pass the edge of the Canche aux Merciers climbing rocks, then return to the Canche aux Merciers car park (S/E).
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