Station to station in the Forest of Fontainebleau: ponds and boulders

Description

• Start: Stop at Fontainebleau-Foret (train from Paris-Gare-de-Lyon on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; departures from Gare de Lyon at 08:19, 09:19, 10:19 and 11:19). D + 0:00.
• Upon alighting from the train, head backwards 200 m in order to go under the railway.
• Take the underpass (to your left) and continue straight ahead (south-west on Route d’Aumale) for 1.5 km.
• At the intersection with the Route du Rocher Cassepot (1), take trail 14/15 on your right (north-west, Yellow-Blue markings).
• Trails 14/15 zigzags a lot towards the west. After about 2 km (2), in a flat area (signs), trail 15 turns right but stick to the trail 14. The trail makes a large turn and progressively in the east.
• At first the ascent is gently then becomes increasingly steep, with a rocky finish. At the top (3), take Denecourt trail 3 (Blue markings) left to the Grand Panorama du Rocher Cassepot (4) (marker 135 on the IGN map). D+0h25
• Make a 90 degree turn to the right (south), onto a wide driveway marked in yellow. When it has curved most of the way to the left, cut right between the rocks for about ten metres to the Denecourt 3 trail (Blue), which will resume to the right as if to close the circle.

Soon afterwards, reach the junction with Denecourt trail 3-4 (5), and take it to the left (west). N.B. If you come across the crossing with the trail 14 (3) again, this is because you cut over too soon; in this case, turn back on yourself to trail 3 to the junction with trail 3-4 (5) that you take to the right (west).

• (6) Cross the D606, then the plains of Cabaret Masson. Reach the sign at the start of Denecourt trail 4 (Blue). D+0h55 Keep right at the fork, at the sign that reads “Carrefour de Belle-Croix, 1h"; the two branches meet at the Grotte aux Cristaux/Carrefour de Belle-Croix.
• Trail No. 4 climbs and follows the contours, zigzagging for 45 minutes in a generally westerly direction. It then curves to the south, to the Grotte aux Cristaux cave (7). D+1h30
• After your visit to the Grotte aux Cristaux cave, take Denecourt trail 4-5 heading south.
• You pass Fontaine Maria.
• Trail 4-5 continues in a straight line due south for about 1.5 km (the noisy D142 gradually distances itself). Then the trail heads to the left, to the beautiful Mare aux Ligueurs (8) D+1h55. Head around and go to Fontaine Sanguinède, D+2h05
• Continue on the Blue-marked trail. Arrive at a paved path (9), take it to the right (west) to the D607. The cross (busy road, caution!). Continue slightly right on a poorly marked path (west) to the D301 (10). Cross it.
• A large pine tree with a blue mark indicates Denecourt trail 6. D+2h15 Follow the track to the right (west).
• The path ascends to the left hillside. At an intersection on a slope that is fairly poorly indicated, turn right on the Blue trail 6-6. D+2h25
• (11) Head back down (north) to the valley bottom, then rise steeply on the other side.
• Almost at the top of the climb, a chasm has a sign that reads "Danger", then, immediately after is the Mare aux Sangliers (12). D+2h30 It's beautiful, both the pool on the top of the plateau, and its rocks and valley views.
• Continue on trail 6-6 turning right (north-east) following the edge of the plateau. Although trail 6-6 continues on the level, turn in a hairpin bend to the left (west) into an unmarked path down to the bottom of a thalweg.
• Back in the plains, cross trail No. 6 that goes to the right (13) D+2h45. Continue straight (south-west of Route du Chaos d’Apremont).
• After a climb that becomes increasingly steep, you reach trail No. 6 (14) D+2h55. Take it to the right (west).
• Magnificent panoramas of the Gorges of Apremont. D+3h05
• At the crossroads (15) +D 3h15, take No. 6-6 to the right (north), then (D+3h20) No. 6 to the left (north and then west).
• Mare aux Biches. D+3h35
• Continue on No. 6, passing the Brigands’ Cave (D+3h40) and then down the stairs to the Carrefour du Bas-Bréau (D+3h40).
• Turn right on Route des Artistes (towards the right; various markings) to Carrefour de l'Épine (17).
• Go under the road by the underpass.
• Admire the rocks (and climbers in season) of Cuvier Châtillon. D+4h05
• Follow the north loop of the Denecourt trail 5 (Blue), which zigzags between the rocks and moves up and down generally to the east. The path descends to a sandy plain with an isolated rock marked with a B. D+4h35. Turn to the left. A steep climb, then a relatively flat walk on a plateau.
• Pass by Mare aux Canards (D+4h45). 3-5 minutes later in a clearing surrounded by pines, a rocky cliff edge, curved Blue markings in the wrong direction (towards the right when the path goes to the left), take an unmarked path (18) that goes left at a right angle (north) D+4h50. This path leads to the magnificent Mare à Dagneau D+4h55.
• Go around the pond on the right. Arrive at a crossroads of several roads (19). In front of you, straight ahead (north-east), Route du Ragot. Come on, one last effort: turn right (south-east), not on the main path but a little to the right on Route de la Mare in Piat.
• 300 m further on, find the beautiful Piat pool (D+5:00), with its water lilies and frog... Head around it and return to the crossroads (19) by the main road (Route du Cuvier Châtillon, towards the left, i.e. north-west).
• At the intersection, turn right onto Route du Ragot (north north-east).
• After about a kilometre (20), the road makes a 90° turn to the left: we turn right (east) on route de la Table du Grand Maître.
• Cross the D142. Here it is, the famous table: a real table, with carved legs and seats, all in stone.
• Follow the Blue trail 12 straight ahead (north-east).
• After a few hundred metres, where trail 12 bends to the left we continue straight (Route du Limier, north-east).
• (21) Once again we find the Blue markings of trail No. 12, which we will follow to the right (east).
• Cross the D606 (22). Continue straight (north-east). One more stretch and the Bois-le-Roi railway station is 2 km straight ahead ! D+6:00