The Karst Trail of Malrochers

On the RN5 (Poligny - Champagnole), take the D4 towards Besain on the right. At 900m on this departmental road, parking at the start of the trail is on the left. From Besain, at the center of the village, take the direction of Molain by the D4 and 2km from the exit of Besain, parking on the right.

To deepen the visit and have a different approach to this karst environment, whether in a group or with family, you can contact the Association des Malrochers.

In two loops of about 5km, the Lapiaz and its dolines, caves, and chasms will reveal part of their mystery hidden at the heart of the approximately 800 cavities listed in this massif. This trail is enriched with explanatory panels and will lead you to discover 7 exceptional sites.

Start from the parking lot, near the Gouffre du Chat, a place for initiating cave exploration techniques. Enter the woods and turn right. On the stones naturally shaped by erosion, an artist has added strokes of paint that reveal figures, like that of the Unicorn, on the right. Continue along the path until reaching the sign indicating a diaclase. Advance into the "corridor" formed by the fissures of the lapiaz until reaching the "twin dolines": two adjacent basins. Carefully navigate the steps leading to this spring: the last step is too high to be crossed. Descent is not advised with children.

Continue along the path. On the right, a chasm, then a double fissure: the large Diaclase. The path turns left and becomes more winding. After the second cairn, continue until the educational chasm. (Warning, it is not protected. Do not venture if you are not equipped for caving.) Then follow the cavities before turning right at a hairpin bend. On the following section, walk on the stones (hold the hands of the younger ones). Reach the Gouffre des Arcades. Turn your back on Gouffre des Arcades, return on the path that turns left after about thirty meters, and walk to the Maillet Lodge. Resume the route. A sign on the left indicates black pines from Austria whose abundant tops can be seen. Another encounter with figures of stone revealed by the artist: the Bestiary, a fun assembly of animals. The path then turns left, widens, and joins the road.

Cross the road to begin the second loop of the circuit. On the right, a very small playground and its tiny stone bridge. Continue the route by following the signage straight ahead. It is temporarily a simple walk in the forest, among hornbeams and conifers. But soon, under the moss, new stone silhouettes can be discerned: the Daisy Cow, the giant tortoise. They herald the large blocks that then dot the forest where deciduous trees dominate. Advance to the Lapiaz of Besain. Very "diacled," it forms a true labyrinth. Progress through the maze of fissures of the Lapiaz.

After 20m in the forest, the path turns right. In some places, it presents itself like an obstacle course where you have to climb over the stones. At the end of 100m (barrier), turn left and walk to the crossroads. Return to the crossroads and continue straight ahead. After a few zigzags in the rocks, follow a barrier that borders a fault. Continue along the path, which is calmer except for a few passages. Descend (barrier) and climb back up towards the tables of the Lapiaz. Follow the barrier, continue to reach the junction. Go straight ahead to return to the parking lot.