A circular loop in the Forêt des Cabanes

From Épinal, take the D11 towards Docelles. Pass the recycling centre, then drive for about 2 km until you reach the Tranchée de Docelles, on the left-hand side of the road. Turn into the Tranchée de Docelles and continue to the junction with the Tranchée de Deyvillers. Park along the road, in the designated parking area.

(S/E) The route starts at the entrance to the forest, on the forest track. Continue straight on, heading north-east, following the Blue Disc signposts. Keep going in this direction for about 300 m until you reach a junction.

(1) Leave the return route straight ahead; turn right to cross the small bridge over the Ruisseau de la Tranchée de Docelles and, immediately afterwards, you’ll reach a junction where three paths meet.

(2) Facing you, take the middle path. There is a marker on a tree: a green fir tree on a white square background. Follow this marker through the woods along the marked path. Cross the forest road and take the path opposite. The marker is slightly less visible here; it is on a tree slightly to the right, facing you.
Continue to follow the “fir tree” markers. Cross the forest road again and take the path opposite, slightly to the left. The marker is on a tree opposite you, slightly to the right. After a few dozen metres,cross the forest road and take the path opposite. The marker is on a tree opposite you, slightly to the right.
Caution: in wet weather, the two small bridges may be slippery.
The path curves sharply to the left and then leads to a junction.

(3) Turn right, then immediately left. Leave the ‘fir tree’ markings and follow the orange butterfly-shaped markers on a white square background. The path runs parallel to the Tranchée de Charmois and then, after a 90° bend to the left followed by another to the right and a^third to the left, leads to the Tranchée de Docelles maze, the highlight of this walk.
Take the time to enjoy this unique spot and help preserve it so that everyone can enjoy it.

(4) To head back, leave the maze via its main entrance, then follow the forest path directly in front of you, heading due south for about 200 m, to return to the forest road you started on, at the junction you passed on the way there.

(1) Follow the route back in the opposite direction to the way there (marked ‘Dique Bleu’) to return to the car park (S/E).

Club Vosgien signposts

There is no mobile phone coverage in this area, so please remember to download the base map for offline use.

This is a magical place; please help to protect the environment by keeping your dogs on a lead near the peat bogs to safeguard biodiversity.

(4) The Docelles Trench Maze.