Arbonne Valley, Gros Buisson, Milly Rocks, Queen’s Rocks

This is an area rarely visited by walkers, which is quite unspoilt and borders on designated nature conservation areas. The route consists of sandy paths that dry out very quickly. Take care on the rocks on the plateaus, as they can be slippery in wet weather. Furthermore, the paths on the plateaus are not signposted and it is easy to get lost. A GPS or the Visorando app is therefore recommended.

Details

39583035
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.87 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 374 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 371 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 427 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 253 ft

Description of the walk

Starting point: Bois Rond car park.

(S/E) Take the TMF (Tour du Massif de Fontainebleau) southwards.

(1) Turn right onto a small path to reach the Mares des Couleuvreux.

(2) Walk alongside the wetland on your left, continuing southwards. You’ll reach the Route Forestière des Hautes Plaines, a tarmac road. To the south of this road lies a strictly protected nature reserve which is off-limits. Follow the forest road to the left.

(3) Leave this road and take the Route de la Hase to the north. Cross the Route de la Fontaine Sainte-Marguerite, continue straight ahead, then take a path sloping north-east to join the Route Descamps.

(4) Follow it to the right. Walk alongside an area burnt by fire.

(5) Pass the Route Circulaire on your right and carry on straight ahead. Do the same at the next junction and continue to the five-way junction.

(6) Head diagonally to the left (north-east) to follow Route du Sapin Blanc and reach the junction of the same name.

(7) Take the third road on the right, Route Alexandre, then turn slightly left before the Route de la Princesse to cross it further on, following the Route du Blaireau. You will reach the Carrefour du Blaireau.

(8) Take Route de la Poche, turning west. Cross the underground Aqueduc de la Vannes. Continue north-east until you reach a five-way junction.

(9) Turn left to follow Route de la Louve westwards to the Carrefour de la Louve.

(10) Turn right, then left onto Route du Louvard. Turn left again to climb up to the Hurlevent viewpoint. Follow the circular path back to the Carrefour de la Louve.

(10) Continue to the right, heading south, along the Route du Louvard. Cross the Route de Milly, join the Chemin des Pieds and follow it to the left until you reach the junction with the Chemin des Platières de la Touche aux Mulets

(11) Turn right onto this path, heading due west. Caution! The route across the plateaus is not signposted and the rocks can be slippery in wet weather.

(12) Take care at this fork: do not head down to the right but carry on straight ahead towards the west. Join the Rochers de la Reine and follow them, still heading west, to the end.

(13) Head downwards due south for about 150 m, until you come out onto the Chemin du Bois Rond, then follow this path to the left, heading due east.

(14) Turn right, heading south-west, to follow the Chemin de l’Auberge to the Bois Rond car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 253 ft - Bois Rond car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.63 - alt. 358 ft - Small path on the right
  3. 2 : mi 1.22 - alt. 407 ft - Mares des Couleuvreux - Mare des Couleuvreux
  4. 3 : mi 1.75 - alt. 413 ft - Route de la Hase
  5. 4 : mi 2.25 - alt. 400 ft - Route Descamps
  6. 5 : mi 2.68 - alt. 390 ft - At the junction, go straight on
  7. 6 : mi 3.23 - alt. 417 ft - Junction of Route Descamps and Route du Sapin Blanc
  8. 7 : mi 3.59 - alt. 410 ft - Sapin Blanc crossroads
  9. 8 : mi 4.31 - alt. 400 ft - Carrefour du Blaireau
  10. 9 : mi 4.99 - alt. 404 ft - Carrefour du Rocher de Milly
  11. 10 : mi 6.08 - alt. 367 ft - Carrefour de la Louve, circular loop of the - Hurlevent -- point de vue
  12. 11 : mi 7.41 - alt. 404 ft - Chemin des Platières
  13. 12 : mi 8.04 - alt. 400 ft - The fork in the path is not very obvious
  14. 13 : mi 9.03 - alt. 328 ft - South-facing descent
  15. 14 : mi 9.48 - alt. 279 ft - Chemin de l’Auberge
  16. S/E : mi 9.87 - alt. 253 ft - Bois Rond car park

Notes

A quick reminder: it is strictly forbidden to light fires or even smoke in the hills of the Fontainebleau Forest.
Take care on the rocks on the plateaus, as they can be slippery in wet weather. Furthermore, the paths on the plateaus are not signposted and it is easy to get lost. A GPS or the Visorando app is therefore recommended.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Pyou
Pyou
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk.

𝙿𝙾𝙸𝙽𝚃 𝙿𝙾𝚂𝙸𝚃𝙸𝙵
➤ A variety of landscapes.
➤ Several sections through quiet areas.
➤ Option to extend or shorten the route.

𝙿𝙾𝙸𝙽𝚃 𝙽𝙴𝙶𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙵
➤ A little too long and monotonous from point 11 to 13.
➤ Very busy between points 9 and 10.
➤ The descent from point 13.

𝙽𝙾𝚃𝙴 𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽𝙽𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙴
It’s a lovely, pleasant walk; anyone who loves Fontainebleau will find their way around here with no trouble at all! Around point 12, do take a look at a rock on your right that nature has split clean in two; the break is so distinct that it’s fascinating from a geological point of view. I just found the whole section from points 11 to 13 a bit too long, as the Reine rock is a lovely spot but one where you have to stay alert at all times – the path isn’t clearly marked amongst the rocks. The descent from point 13 is poorly signposted and hard to spot. I made my way down wherever I could between the rocks without finding the proper path.
A word of warning to picnickers: a fairly well-known picnic spot near the Rocher de Milly has been cordoned off due to branches falling from the large tree at its summit! It’s impossible to stop there for a break at the moment! Instead, I’d recommend stopping at the Route de la Louve – there are easily accessible rocks there, though the only downside is that it’s extremely busy!

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ealet
ealet

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A fairly rugged and very quiet route, with lovely forest tracks
I can confirm the previous comment regarding point 13 – I couldn’t find the path leading down to the Chemin du Bois Rond, and I also took a different route down before reaching point 13

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BOC
BOC

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, enjoyable route. I’d do it again in the spring or this summer, as the low sun at the end of October doesn’t allow you to fully appreciate the scenery. Especially sections 9 and 10, which must be lovely in full sunlight
At the start of section 13, at the far end of the ‘Reine’ rocks, I spent quite a while trying to find the path that heads straight down south, and I ended up making my way down through the rocks, which are quite impressive on that slope

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caq49
caq49

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

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