Start: Stop at Fontainebleau-Forêt train stop (See useful information about transport below)
(S/E) Coming out 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. Reach the intersection with the 'Route du Rocher Cassepot'.
(1) Take trail 14/15 on your right (North-West, Yellow-Blue markings). The path 14/15 zigzags a lot towards the West for about 2 Km.
(2) In a flat area (signs), the walk N°15 turns right but stick to the trail N°14 on the left. The trail makes a large and progressive turn Eastward. At first, the ascent is gentle then becomes increasingly steep, with a rocky finish to reach the top.
(3) At the top, take Denecourt trail N°3 (Blue markings) left to the Grand Panorama du Rocher Cassepot.
(4) From the panorama, take a 90-degrees turn to the right (South), onto a wide path marked in yellow. When it has curved most of the way to the left, cut right between rocks for about ten metres to the Denecourt N°3 trail (Blue waymark), which you will resume to the right as if to close the loop. Soon afterwards, reach the junction with Denecourt trail N°3-4.
(5) Take it to the left (West). (N.B. If you come across the junction with trail N°14 again, this is because you cut over too soon; in this case, turn back to trail N°3 until the junction with trail N°3-4 which you take to the right (West)). Otherwise, walk to D606 road.
(6) Cross over, then the plains of Cabaret Masson. Join the signpost at the start of Denecourt trail N°4 (Blue). Keep right at the fork, waymark “Carrefour de Belle-Croix, 1h"; the two ways meet at the Grotte aux Cristaux/Carrefour de Belle-Croix.
Trail N°4 goes uphill then follows the contours, zigzagging, in a generally Westerly bearing. It then curves to the South, toward the 'Grotte aux Cristaux' cave.
(7) After visiting the Grotte aux Cristaux cave, take Denecourt trail N°4-5 heading South. You pass Fontaine Maria. Trail N°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' pond.
(8) Go round it and past to Fontaine Sanguinède. Continue on the Blue-marked trail. Arrive at a paved path.
(9) Take it to the right (West) toward D607 road. Cross it (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 waymark indicates Denecourt trail N°6. Follow it to the right (North-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 N°6-6. (NB If you get to a shelter under a handy rock, you missed the crossroads and must turn back.)
(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 says "Danger", then, immediately after is the 'Mare aux Sangliers'. It's beautiful; the pond on the top of the plateau, its rocks and its valley views.
(12) Continue on trail N°6-6 which turns right (East-North-East) following the edge of the plateau. Although trail N°6-6 continues flat, turn in a hairpin bend to the left (West) into an unmarked path down to the bottom of a thalweg. Back in the plains, go past trail N°6 .
(13) Walk right and continue straight (South-West, Route du Chaos d’Apremont). After a climb that becomes increasingly steep, you reach trail N°6.
(14) Take it to the right (West), magnificent panoramas of the Gorges of Apremont, and join a junction.
(15) Take path N° 6-6 to the right (North), then N°6 to the left (North and then West). Mare aux Biches. Still on N°6, pass the Brigands’ Cave and then down the stairs to the Carrefour du Bas-Bréau (junction).
(16) Turn right on Route des Artistes (towards the right; various markings) until you reach Carrefour de l'Épine and D607.
(17) Go under the road by the underpass. Admire the rocks (and climbers in season) of Cuvier Châtillon. Follow the Northern loop of the Denecourt trail N°5 (Blue), which zigzags between rocks then moves up and down generally to the East. The path descends to a sandy plain.
(18) At a junction find an isolated rock marked with a "B". In front of this rock, take a 90° left turn on a sandy path uphill. "(Warning: it is easy to make a mistake as the two ways of the blue path N°5 are close to each other; do not go past the right side of the rock.)"
Then, there is a steep climb. Just before the plateau, do not miss a detour (blue waymark) on the left towards a tunnel under the rock (market K). Carry on after the tunnel (unmarked path) until reaching a curious inscription: "Reconnaissance – Colinet". Then return to the main blue path N°5. You follow the flat edge of the plateau. Pass by Mare aux Canards, then reach an open area near a rocky cliff edge, curved with Blue markings in the wrong direction (towards the right when the path goes to the left).
(19) Take an unmarked path that goes left at a 90° angle (North). (If you reach rocks marked Q,R,S, you missed the turn). This path leads you back to the magnificent Mare à Dagneau. Go around the pond on the right. Arrive at a crossroads with several paths.
(20). In front of you, go 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 pond, with its water lilies and frogs. Head around it and return to the crossroads.
By the main path (Route du Cuvier Châtillon, towards the left, i.e. North-West). At the junction, turn right onto Route du Ragot (North-North-East). After about a kilometre the road makes a 90° turn to the left.
(21) Turn right (North-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- North-East). Once again we find the Blue markings of trail No. 12.
(22) Follow it to the right (North-East) to reach D606.
(23) Cross it then continue straight on (North-East). One more stretch and the Bois-le-Roi railway station is 2 Km straight ahead !(S/E)
