Saint-Laurent, Étang du Bult, Ferme du Humbertois and Roches d’Olima

A signposted walk through the forest between Chantraine and Saint-Laurent offering a quick view of Épinal from the Olympe. The walk follows the Bouzey Lake water supply canal twice, passing by the Étang du Bult and the Étang du Riéfaing, as well as the Roches d’Olima after following a small stream.

Details

19904151
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.58 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 343 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 347 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 492 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 343 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Chantraine (88000)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.159822° / E 6.427336°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3518OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the Passe Communale car park.

(S/E) Follow the Red Disc markings towards the main road to cross it. Once at the edge of the woods, turn left towards the shooting range junction and L’Olympe. Once at L’Olympe, begin the 30-metre descent to reach a fork.

(1) Look out for the start of a path on the right and follow it to Rue du Champ de Tir.

(2) Leave the street on your left and take the path on the right, leaving the Red Disc markings to follow the Yellow Cross markings.

(3) At the junction, turn left to head back towards Saint-Laurent. Pass the start of the path leading to the Tête de Benavau viewpoint.

(4) Look out for the start of a path leading downhill between the houses on the left. Take this path, then continue along the road (Chemin du Réservoir then Rue de la Red Cross).

(5) Take the steps on the left behind the recycling bins and continue along the road (Impasse du Martinet).

(6) Under the railway bridge, make a 180° right turn onto Rue de Bertraménil. Pass two streets on your left.

(7) At this junction, there is an information sign about the route markings in the area, as well as parking spaces for walkers.
Leave the Yellow Cross markings and follow the Green Disc markings to the left. Walk alongside the car park and climb up until you reach the water supply canal for Lac de Bouzey. Before the bridge, turn right to walk alongside the canal to the next bridge. Cross it and follow the road on the left up towards the forest, then continue straight ahead.
When you reach the ridge of the Coteaux de Saint-Laurent, look out for the start of a path on the left.

(8) On the descent, cross the track twice, and look out for the start of a path on the right, then join the road.

(9) Cross the road and walk along the fields until you reach the descent into the forest at Étang du Bult.

(10) Walk along the right-hand side of Étang du Bult, then head back into the forest.

(11) Once you have finished walking along a field on the left, take the path opposite to descend to Étang du Riefaing and walk along its left side.

(12) Continue along the pond, turning right, then leave the forest to reach the Ferme du Humbertois. Turn right onto the road and walk alongside the farm for about 200 m.

(13) Take the forest path branching off to the left. After about 200 m, leave the Green Disc markings and follow the Green Cross markings to the main road.

(14) Leave the Green Cross markings and follow the Red Disc markings. Cross the road and continue along the path into the forest.

(15) Leave the Red Disc markings and follow the Red Cross markings, continuing downwards alongside the small stream. Once on the forest track, turn right towards the Roches d’Olima.

(16) Cross the small bridge on the right, following the Red Disc markings, and walk alongside the supply canal until it goes underground.

(17) Continue up the valley along the canal.

(18) Walk past Notre-Dame des Trois Vallées and continue up to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 447 m - Passe Communale car park
  2. 1 : km 1.65 - alt. 387 m - Path
  3. 2 : km 2.08 - alt. 354 m - Path junction
  4. 3 : km 2.75 - alt. 381 m - Fork
  5. 4 : km 3.84 - alt. 372 m - Path. Valley of the - Moselle (la)
  6. 5 : km 4.35 - alt. 363 m - Stairs
  7. 6 : km 4.76 - alt. 349 m - Passage under the railway line
  8. 7 : km 5.1 - alt. 358 m - Crossroads
  9. 8 : km 7.19 - alt. 474 m - Path
  10. 9 : km 8.63 - alt. 435 m - Route
  11. 10 : km 9.58 - alt. 440 m - Étang du Bult
  12. 11 : km 10.46 - alt. 460 m - Fork
  13. 12 : km 10.95 - alt. 445 m - Crossroads - Étang du Riefaing
  14. 13 : km 12.16 - alt. 422 m - Junction
  15. 14 : km 13.68 - alt. 454 m - Departmental road
  16. 15 : km 14.68 - alt. 396 m - Path
  17. 16 : km 15.53 - alt. 379 m - Roches d’Olima
  18. 17 : km 16.56 - alt. 379 m - Path
  19. 18 : km 16.87 - alt. 390 m - Notre-Dame des Trois Vallées
  20. S/E : km 17.58 - alt. 445 m - Passe Communale car park

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 27997278

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely day’s walk. The best spot for a picnic is at Étang de Bult, but there aren’t any public picnic areas with tables. There are tables, but they’re on private land.

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Claire75
Claire75

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, varied walk in cool weather.
Very few people at the end of December, the ponds were frozen over, and the forest was very quiet.
The path was very well marked, with clear indications of changes in signage.
It is possible to join the route at various points.

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irma70
irma70

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk through the woods with very little elevation gain – a walk I’d recommend even with children.

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martine.morel36 @ orange.fr
martine.morel36 @ orange.fr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

As I’m not from the area, the local route crosses Avenue du Général de Gaulle in Chantraine (our car’s satnav took a bit of a while to find it). Otherwise, a lovely walk, particularly pleasant in warm weather. A few muddy patches near the finish at Bult Pond (due to timber being hauled out). The paths are very well signposted. Thanks to the route planner.

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Francis MICHEL
Francis MICHEL

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. However, it’s difficult to eat by the pond as the tables are reserved for anglers

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Christecol
Christecol

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little walk through plenty of coniferous and deciduous woodland.

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