The Route des 25 Bosses

Parking at Le Vaudoué, in the car park at the end of Chemin de la Fontenelle. Access via the A6 motorway, ‘Ury’ exit. Drive past the well-signposted Rocher Cailleau car park, then take the first right upon entering the village (the car park is not signposted).

Very dense red markings throughout the route. Only the section from the car park (S) to the route itself (1) is marked in a different colour, namely the red and white of the^GR®®. In a few places, you will find arrows and coloured dots (yellow, orange or blue): please ignore these, as they are markings for pure rock-climbing routes. Given the nature of the terrain and the highly winding nature of the route, it is not possible to provide a detailed description rock by rock or bend by bend. The following description provides the general route and key landmarks, such as the forest plot numbers shown on signs attached to the trees.

(S/E) From the car park, turn right (north-east) onto Chemin de la Mée. After about 100 metres, at forest plots nos. 168 and 169, you will cross the Circuit des 25 Bosses (red double-headed arrow on a tree trunk).

(1) Take the path on the left. At a T-junction, turn right onto a wider track and continue to a crossroads (plot no. 164). Turn left at a 90° angle onto an ascending path. Reach the summit of Rocher Guichot (first hill). Then turn right to descend. At the bottom of the descent, find a good path through a wood of pine and birch trees. At the end of this path, at a T-junction with the Chemin du Guichot (signpost, plot no. 164), turn left. At the next T-junction, turn left onto the Chemin de la Plaine de la Mée (signpost).

(2) At the next junction (parcels nos. 142 and 143), turn right onto the Chemin des Sables du Cul de Chien (signpost). At the Fork in the road that follows, take the left-hand path and head uphill. At the top of the hill, stay on the ridge with a depression on your right (an old sandstone quarry?), ignoring the tracks on either side. Then turn left and descend into a sunken path. At the bottom of the descent, turn right at a right angle between two rocks. Cross a sandy area with large boulders. Go round a large boulder on the right, continue between the rocks and come out onto a wide path.

(3) Cross the wide path (Chemin de la Plaine de Jean des Vignes, plot no. 139) and continue straight ahead. At the T-junction ahead, turn right. At the next Fork in the road (not shown on the IGN map), turn right for a very short climb. Further on, cross the Chemin du Mont Pivot and continue along the path opposite to climb the said Mont.

(4) At the summit of Mont Pivot (signpost), turn right (north-east) and follow a route along the ridge or just below it on the right-hand side amongst the rocks. You will reach a rock which you can either climb (using your hands) or go round to the left, then veering sharply right very quickly. Finally, descend and go round an anti-erosion barrier on the right. Climb back up to reach the secondary summit of Mont Pivot (signpost). Then veer right and make a short descent to a path. Continue straight ahead and climb back up, keeping to the right. A short, easy climb takes you to the summit of Rocher de Jean des Vignes (note the chalice carved into the rock below on the right).

(5) Continue on roughly level ground, then turn left and descend through a maze of rocks. At a junction (not shown on the map), continue straight ahead (plot no. 129). Climb again and, on the flat section, veer to the right. Then turn right, descend briefly and climb again to reach another summit (marker). Continue on roughly level ground and, at a fork in the road, take the path on the right to enjoy a view over a “sea of sand”. Turn left then descend through the rocks. At the bottom of the descent, go round a vertical rock on the right and climb up the winding path. Once at the top of the hill, walk along level ground then descend a path with wooden steps. Reach the Chemin de la Vallée Close (signpost, plot no. 117).

(6) Cross the path then turn left. Climb gently uphill through the pine forest, turn right, climb a steeper slope and reach the summit of the Roche au Four. Turn left to begin the descent. Reach a sandy crossroads with small wooden houses on the left (plot no. 116).

(7) Take the^second path on the left. At the end, turn right. At the next junction, turn left. You will reach a crossroads near the Croix Saint-Jérôme. Turn right (west-north-west). At a Fork in the road, take the path on the right.

(8) At the junction, turn right and climb the Butte de la Justice de Chambergeot. Descend on the other side. At a Fork in the road, continue straight ahead (ignore the path that descends slightly to the right). Walk on level ground or a slight descent. Cross a sandy track (plot no. 117) and climb steeply. Then walk through a plateau landscape (some wet patches possible). Turn left to descend. Continue along the hillside. Climb again amongst the rocks, using your hands in places. Reach the Pignon des Maquisards, situated slightly to the right of the route.

(9) Retrace your steps briefly and continue down the path to the right. At the bottom of the descent, ignore a path on the right and continue straight ahead uphill. Walk through the ferns and, at a fork, take the path on the right and descend. Then climb back up, weave your way through the rocks and reach the Maison Poteau.

(10) Continue eastwards, on roughly level ground or along the hillside. Pass a rock shelter marked “Danger” (presumably due to the risk of collapse). Wind your way between the rocks, using your hands where necessary. When you reach a more open area, turn right and head for a sort of clearing (view of the monument to the Maquis on the right). Continue southwards, amongst the rocks, and follow a few narrow passages between them. Descend through a pine forest and reach a path on the boundary between plots 114 and 118.

(11) Take the path opposite and climb, heading left at first then veering right. Pass a secondary summit (large boulders), descend then climb again. Then walk on roughly level ground amongst the rocks. Veer left to avoid a gap between tall boulders. Then turn right and take a small rock-climbing step to follow a “passage” between two rocks. At the end, don’t miss a left turn followed by a right turn. Continue through a maze of rocks, taking more or less narrow “gorges” where you shouldn’t hesitate to use your hands. Follow the red markings carefully. Finally, descend and join a path used by the^GR®®1.

(12) Continue straight ahead and climb a path with wooden steps. Go round a large boulder on the left (fence) and reach a viewpoint. Descend through the rocks, passing through a chimney-like section (you can go round it on the right). Climb back up, pass a beautiful viewpoint, then descend again through narrow passages between the rocks. Climb back up through a pine forest and reach a summit (no view). Descend and reach the Chemin de la Gorge aux Poivres (signpost).

(13) Continue straight ahead (plot no. 126) and climb up a south-facing path. Pass a viewpoint, make a brief descent and climb back up. Pass under a rock and reach a summit. Descend, initially steeply then more gently through a pine forest. Cross the Chemin des Potets (plot no. 127) then turn right uphill (wooden steps). Pass a summit, descend again, climb back up through a pine forest and reach the summit of the Rocher de la Tortue (signpost).

(14) Descend then pass the base of a rock shaped like a tortoise (hence the name of the previous summit). Continue the descent along a pleasant sandy path. Cross a wider track (parcels nos. 149 and 148) and reach the Chemin de Melun at Le Vaudoué. Continue straight ahead along a path that climbs slightly. Cross a small sandy area. Further on, climb up onto a rock slab (you can go round it on the right). Continue along a sandy path that winds between the rocks. Stay on level ground for a while then descend, still winding between the rocks. You’ll come to a signpost.

(15) Turn left at a right angle towards Potala. Cross a paved path and climb a steep slope. Descend a gentler slope. At the bottom of the descent (tree opposite with a red marker), turn left. Join a path coming from the right and continue to the left. Then veer right, climbing up a good path. You’ll reach a sort of pass with a small hill on your left; turn right. Then veer left downhill. Next, don’t take the path you can see on the left but head right through the rocks. Head downhill and, at a fork in the road, take the left path uphill. After a large boulder (fence), turn right, go downhill and find an information panel about medieval engravings in the region’s forests. Cross the path and continue straight ahead along an ascending track. Go round a boulder on the left, veer right through the rocks, go downhill and arrive at a crossroads of tracks in a sparse woodland (the result of a recent forest fire).

(16) Turn left and climb towards the rocks. Then walk along the top of the rocks, keeping an easterly bearing. In places, you will need to jump from one rock to another: if you feel uneasy, do not hesitate to go round the difficult section (usually to the left). Descend to a rock shelter with a chimney (note another chalice carved into the rock here). Then turn sharply right. At a fork in the road, take the sandy path on the left. A sign indicates that, due to erosion, the route has been altered: turn right and, at a T-junction, turn left. Follow the red markings carefully. After taking some wooden steps, pass under a rock. Then make an easy scrambling move to get back onto the top of the rocks, where, once again, you will need to make a few jumps. Then descend towards a desolate area (recent fire) and follow the edge of this area on the left-hand side. Cross a wider path and continue north, then north-west.

(1) Turn left onto Chemin de la Mée and you will very quickly reach the car park (start/finish).

Equipment and conditions:
- The hike follows paths or tracks but very often takes place directly on the rock. It is therefore essential to wear hiking boots, preferably low-cut (though high-cut boots will do the job), or trainers with good grip.
- Whilst not presenting any major technical difficulties, this hike involves a fair number of easy rock-climbing sections, many passages where you have to squeeze between rocks, and several where you have to jump from one rock to another. A good sense of balance is therefore required. Hikers using walking poles should be aware that, in the situations described above, these poles can prove to be quite cumbersome.
- Do not undertake this hike in wet weather as the rocks are too slippery.
- Long hike with no water sources: bring sufficient supplies.
- A 1:25,000 map is essential; a compass is useful. Despite the density of the markings and their maintenance (thanks to the trail markers!), it is recommended that you pay close attention so as not to lose your way. A good sense of direction is required. If you haven’t seen a marker for some time, don’t hesitate to retrace your steps until you find the markings again.

Other possible starting points:
- Coming from Milly-la-Forêt via the D16, the first car park you come to is known as the “cemetery car park”. At the eastern end of this car park, take the Chemin de la Plaine de Jean des Vignes north-northeast and start the route at point (3).
- From the Croix Saint-Jérôme car park (not shown on the map), take the Chemin de la Vallée Close and join the route at point (6).
- From the car park on the D64, near the A6 motorway, head north-west along the Chemin de la Sambine. At the T-junction with the Chemin de Melun au Vaudoué, turn left and join the route between points (14) and (15). Allow approximately 45 minutes extra for the return journey.

Alternatives:
Shortcut on the Rocher Cailleau circular route (if you’re tired at the end of the hike or don’t like jumping from rock to rock) – At point (16), turn right (west) and you ’ll soon find the path back to the starting point.
Western circular route – Follow the route to the Pignon des Maquisards (9) and make the descent. At the bottom, take a path on the right that leads back to the Chemin de la Vallée Close. Then head south-east along the Chemin du Pied des Monts. Turn right onto the Chemin de la Mée and keep heading south-west until you reach the starting point. Allow around 3½ hours for the whole walk.

This walk has been completed 10 times by the author, either in full or as a half-circular route, the first on 17 June 2001 and the last on 21 June 2015.

- Varied landscapes: mixed woodland, rocky outcrops, plateaus, etc.
- Numerous viewpoints.
- Pignon des Maquisards (9): monument in tribute to the "Publican" network.