A loop around the Haut du Tôt

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This is an easy loop around the pretty mountain village of Haut du Tôt, with a few botanical, geological and perhaps photographic surprises. The Neuve Roche loop offers sights that are well worth a stroll, and the modest Pissoire waterfall marks the end of the circuit!

Details

n°83180429
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.65 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,066 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,070 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,146 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,375 ft
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Photos

La Chambre du Loup
The Cross of the Year 2000
The Pissoire Waterfall

Description of the walk

The car park and starting point are located at a place called La Croix des Hêtres, just before the village of Haut du Tôt if you are arriving from Le Syndicat.

(S/E) Take the road towards the Jardins de Bernadette for about 350 metres.

(1) To stroll through the Jardins de Bernadette (as on the trail), where medicinal plants are grown outdoors and access is free, follow the large stone path on the left, continuing in the direction of the Jardins de Bernadette. (Otherwise, continue on the Chevalet Bleu marked trail, then the Anneau Jaune and Anneau Vert in the direction of the Croix de l'an 2000.)

(2) At the gardens, with a bit of luck, enjoy an outdoor photography exhibition (summer 2025: exhibition by Vincent Munier). The walk through the garden is pleasant, with some lovely views of the village of Haut du Tôt. Leavethe garden via the path that crosses the hedge and joins the Croix de l'an 2000.

(3) At the cross, turn left and follow the red triangle markings towards Menaurupt.

(4) Cross the road carefully at Grange Benoît and continue downhill. Then follow the blue cross markings towards La Sotière and La Chambre du Loup. The markings are few and far between, and even though there aren't many other paths, be careful not to go too far downhill towards Menaurupt.

(5) Start climbing towards La Chambre du Loup. The slope is quite steep and the markings are often difficult to see.

(6) At the white path, turn left to climb (blue cross markings) towards La Sotière.

(7) At the picnic area (table), turn right and follow the blue ring markings around La Neuve Roche. Information panels explain the history of the site and its geological features. Once you have completed the tour, return to the picnic area.

(7) Follow the path towards the Route de la Sotière. Cross the road, then follow the red disc markings towards Haut du Tôt, on a pretty path that joins the Route de la Sotière. Follow this road to the right.

(8) Cross the crossroads carefully and continue along the road towards Haut du Tôt. Shortly afterwards, leave the road and follow the path on the left. It joins the Chemin de Blancfaing, which you should follow to reach the village centre of Haut du Tôt.

(9) Go around the church on the right and continue along Route du Grisard, following the red ring markings towards Cascade de la Pissoire.

(10) At the intersection, follow the signs for the waterfall, then head south along the path marked with a green ring. Join a road on the left to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,621 ft - Croix des Hêtres car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.27 - alt. 2,717 ft - Turn-off towards the Bernadette Gardens
  3. 2 : mi 0.54 - alt. 2,703 ft - Bernadette Gardens
  4. 3 : mi 0.91 - alt. 2,756 ft - Cross of the Year 2000
  5. 4 : mi 1.59 - alt. 2,740 ft - Crossing the road
  6. 5 : mi 2.02 - alt. 2,467 ft - Ascent to Sotière
  7. 6 : mi 2.56 - alt. 2,946 ft - Fork towards Sotière
  8. 7 : mi 2.71 - alt. 3,035 ft - Picnic area
  9. 8 : mi 4.13 - alt. 2,841 ft - Crossing the crossroads
  10. 9 : mi 4.71 - alt. 2,726 ft - Eglise Saint-Etienne
  11. 10 : mi 5.74 - alt. 2,516 ft - Fork towards - Cascade de la Pissoire
  12. S/E : mi 6.65 - alt. 2,625 ft - Croix des Hêtres car park

Notes

Please note that forestry work appears to be in preparation in the Neuve Roche loop area, which could disrupt pedestrian traffic. Check with the town hall if necessary before completing the loop.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
mondemeilleur88
mondemeilleur88

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk with stunning scenery. You can have a picnic in the pretty village at the top of the hill and even stop for a coffee or a bite to eat. There are a few fairly challenging climbs. The path to the Pissoire waterfall is also quite technical.

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Hélène J
Hélène J

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk
The route starts through the Jardins de Bernadette, where you’ll have the chance to see an exhibition of photos by Vincent Munier. The rest of the walk doesn’t offer much, apart from a walk through a shaded area – ideal for future summer hikes. However, the view from the top of the Tête de la Neuve Roche is extraordinary. Be careful, the signposting for the circular route isn’t very clear at the start; don’t take the path below (like I did ).
The Pissoire waterfall is very beautiful. A peaceful and relaxing spot.
The whole walk was punctuated by views of numerous fields full of wild daffodils.

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Pinky07
Pinky07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a beautiful hike. There are varied landscapes around the pretty mountain village of Haut du Tôt.
three really interesting and informative sites: the Bernadette Gardens and photo exhibition, the Neuve Roche rock formations (somewhat reminiscent of the Fontainebleau forest... at altitude), and the Pissoire waterfall.
The climb between points 5, 6 and 7 is quite steep, with a particularly marshy area (forestry work) around La Sotière.
This route can be completed in well under 4 hours at a steady pace with a few breaks at the sites.

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