Sources d'Arcier and Vaire-le-Grand

Hike starting in the village, then through the Chalèze woods to reach the Arcier springs. The return journey is along the Doubs river via the cycle path.

Details

589029
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.75 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 242 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 242 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 453 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 244 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Chalèze (25220)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.269081° / E 6.084802°
  • Accessible from the train station Gare de Novillars.
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3323ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

From Besançon, at the roundabout, head towards Chalèze and after the bridge crossing the Doubs, park in the car park on the right.

(S/E) Head towards the town of Chalèze, staying on the main road (Rue de Besançon), then turn right at the first crossroads.

(1) At the Y-junction, take Rue de Fouchère, which goes uphill. From there, follow the red and yellow markers.

(2) Take Rue du Mont, which climbs up to the woods, passing under a power line.

(3) At the entrance to the woods, turn right onto a small path marked with red and yellow signs. Continue to follow these signs.

(4) Exit onto the road, turn right and continue to the crossroads.

(5) There, take the path furthest to the left. Change of markings: white and red (GR®59).

(6) Follow the dirt track on the left to reach the Source d'Arcier, then the Source de Bergeret.

(7) Continue to the Arcier road. Turn right onto the D323.

(8) After the hamlet of Corcelle, turn left onto the path. Continue to the bridge and turn left to cross the Doubs.

(9) After the bridge, leave theGR® trail, turn left and continue for 100 metres. Turn left to rejoin the cycle route (towpath). Continue to the right along this path.

(10) After the two signposts at Roche-lez-Beaupré at the bridge over the canal, there are two options: either continue straight ahead on the cycle path (marked route) or, after crossing the bridge, take the path on the right that runs alongside the canal.

(11) Exit at the road, turn left and cross the bridge to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 248 m - Car park near the bridge over the - Doubs (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.4 - alt. 248 m - Rue Fouchère
  3. 2 : km 1.06 - alt. 304 m - Rue du Mont
  4. 3 : km 1.58 - alt. 339 m - Forest path
  5. 4 : km 2.01 - alt. 412 m - Exit onto a road
  6. 5 : km 2.3 - alt. 425 m - White/red marked trail
  7. 6 : km 2.58 - alt. 433 m - Forest path
  8. 7 : km 5.02 - alt. 259 m - Route d'Arcier
  9. 8 : km 6.84 - alt. 254 m - Forest path
  10. 9 : km 7.88 - alt. 258 m - Bridge exit
  11. 10 : km 10.99 - alt. 251 m - Bridge - Canal du Rhône au Rhin
  12. 11 : km 13.54 - alt. 249 m - Exit onto the road
  13. S/E : km 13.75 - alt. 248 m - Car park near the bridge over the Doubs

Notes

Walking shoes
For experienced hikers (uphill and downhill)
Not suitable for wet weather

Worth a visit

Sources d'Arcier, a superb site.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
cuzcodom
cuzcodom

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, the Arcier springs site is very impressive, especially at this time of year.
The descent is indeed perilous, with numerous fallen trees blocking the path. We benefited from the tracks (10 cm of snow) left by a local, which made our task easier.
There are picnic tables just after the bridge, along the greenway.

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RandoSof70
RandoSof70

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb walk, with the added bonus of sunshine and a chamois spotted along the trail.
We took the GR 59 between Arcier and Vaire-le-Grand instead of the road.
And I agree with the other comments: the descent to the springs is steep and slippery (it had rained the day before) but passable if you take your time.
Thank you for this route.

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Chti25
Chti25

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Two signposts (right turn) are not in the right place. There is a right turn, but the actual turn is about thirty metres further on, which leads to some uncertainty. A few slightly steep but passable descents. Enjoy your ride.

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Paps
Paps

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The first part of the trail runs through woodland, which is pleasant in hot weather. The descent to the springs is steep and can be dangerous in wet weather. There is an error in the hike description. It says to continue to point 9 on the GR 59, but the route marked on the map indicates that you should take the departmental road at point 7. The markings have been erased up to the bridge. The return trip along the Doubs and the canal is not very interesting.

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bili25
bili25

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A really enjoyable hike. However, not recommended for children. A good warm-up, especially at the beginning. Then a great site. The only downside is the section on the road after Corcelles.

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reitop
reitop

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice walk, except for the short stretch on the road. Thank you!

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legolfeur
legolfeur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk with varied scenery. Through beautiful, well-maintained woods, then along the Doubs river with information boards along the cycle path (quite quiet for us during the week and at this time of year) explaining the industries of today and yesteryear. Finally, the springs site, which is superb, with a descent that requires a pair of walking sticks. A lovely day out, highly recommended.

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Anguille
Anguille

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2018
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

- Best done in dry weather, as the descent to the spring (6) is quite steep. -
I really enjoyed finding myself in the woods quite quickly, surrounded by the peace and quiet of the tall trees and birdsong.
The springs are a nice place to take a break in the cool shade before leaving the woods and continuing on the rest of the route, which is on a paved road (with little traffic) and no elevation changes, surrounded by fields and a final dirt track before reaching the bridge and heading back.
Back on the cycle route, which I didn't particularly enjoy, with the sound of the main road in the background and my mind partly occupied with watching out for cyclists and other riders.

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Pierremarche
Pierremarche

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

TB walk, ground a bit slippery that day :-)

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monique37
monique37

Ornans Peusse waterfall trail closed due to risk of falling rocks

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