A North-South mountain biking adventure that crosses the Domaniale de la Croix aux Bois, marked by troubled landscapes and multiple small springs.
Yellow MTB marking no. 15 // Shared trail portions with walking sections
(D/A) In front of the church, Place de Termes
(1) Start to the right of the starting panel and pass to the left of the church, crossing the height of the village by going straight ahead. At the exit of the village, a large crossroads, go straight onto the RD15 towards Grandpré. Ride on the D15 for about 500 meters.
(2) Leave the RD and go left up a path between the fields. Always follow this path, passing close to a pond, continue to follow it, it goes steeply up on the left and reaches the RD41 above.
(3) At the D41, turn right and let yourself go down until you reach the intersection with the D946. Cross carefully and catch the path opposite. Always go straight up until the Domaniale forest. Enter the forest and always stay straight on the path. Never divert when a junction occurs.
(4) Turn right down a slope and practice it entirely without leaving. Arrive at an intersection with the beginning of a white path, go straight on this white path and descend to the forest road of Mariage, which is paved. At this road, then turn right and follow its bends without leaving.
(5) Leave the paved road, turn completely left at the bend and engage straight ahead on an ascent. Upon reaching the plateau, continue straight ahead.
(6) Do not miss the junction, on a technical descent with a slight slope at the edge of the Domaniale forest. You need to slightly turn to the right. After the descent, the path rises, bends a bit to the right, then opens onto a plateau before descending sharply straight ahead.
(7) At the intersection, turn left and continue straight ahead.
(8) Turn right at the perpendicular between the trees on a descent, cross a small stream (depending on the season there may be more or less water). After the stream, make a left-right and go back up on the path towards the forest road of Grand Bourgogne. At the road, turn left and then continue for about 150 meters on it.
(9) Leave this road by turning right to climb into the woods (an ascent of about 1.3 km). Navigate on this winding path without leaving it, until you reach the forest road of Petit Bourgogne above on the plateau.
(10) At the intersection of the forest road of Petit Bourgogne, turn left then right 200 meters further where a contact point with GR®14 is made. Ride on GR®14 until the next intersection.
(11) At this intersection, turn left then immediately right 40 meters later. Continue straight ahead.
(12) Recover the forest road of Rocan by turning left at its junction and then continuing straight, passing the Rocan forest barrier and starting a descent of about 1 km.
(13) After crossing the watercourse, arrive at this crossroads, turn left and ascend about 600 meters still on this road.
(14) Turn right on the straight path and continue straight ahead on it.
(15) At the edge of the Domaniale forest, at the top of the slope, turn left.
(16) Turn right, still on the edge of Domaniale and follow it. It alternates many climbs and descents. At this point, a possible variant to shorten the route by continuing straight until the paved forest road of marriage. Allows to only do 35 km by passing by the pond of the Demoiselle. (*see variant sheet on the site)
(17) Caution deceptive crossroads, go straight to make a slight fork following the edge of Domaniale to the right. Continue straight ahead, the descent is quite steep. At the bottom, an intersection where you must turn left to reach the forest road of Gros Chêne. Continue straight on the road until Gros Chêne where there is a picnic area.
(18) At Gros Chêne turn right and proceed along a small winding path between trees bordering meadows. Always stay on this path. Beware of the section of the path shared with other walking trails, adjust your pace.
(19) At the intersection, hug right to continue straight ahead. Exit the woods upon arriving at a white path. Follow it, passing near the stream and the hunting cabin. At the intersection with rue de la héronnière, turn right and follow this street which leads to the Maison de la Nature.
(20) Turn left onto RD947, pass in front of the artisan basketry shop, go straight up then pass in front of the old strong house of the Commander. Continue straight until the Domaniale forest. Climb the slope while staying on the main path.
(21) At the top of the slope, at the place called Jardin Gascon, admire the panorama and continue on the small path that goes left. Always continue straight ahead.
(22) At the intersection, turn left while bypassing the first stone of the Templars' ditch. Continue following the edge of the Domaniale forest. A descent leads to a small stream that must be crossed.
(23) Turn right onto the parcel lane then immediately left to climb up to the plateau. Then start a descent into the Templars' ditch down to the Fontaine aux Grès.
(24) At the Fontaine, continue straight up the climb at the edge of Domaniale. At the top of the climb, turn left on a wide path and keep to the left. Continue straight ahead until the picnic area of Chêne Bibi.
(25) At Chêne Bibi, go left, then turn left and then right for a descent to the forest road of Grand Colas. At the road, turn right and continue straight while crossing RD 947 (beware of busy road).
(26) Turn left, continue straight, turn right then immediately left and again left. Go straight up.
(27) Turn left on a descent then right at the bottom to arrive at the pond where it is possible to picnic. Bypass the pond on the left and go back up on the forest road of Mariage to the right. Continue on the forest road then turn right 600 meters further. Stay straight on the lane.
(28) Turn left into the ditch and continue straight ahead. Make a descent, continue straight at the intersection then go up and arrive at the crossroads of Mallassises. Go straight ahead. At an intersection that overlooks a regenerating parcel (place called l'Amérique), turn right at the edge of the Domaniale.
(29) A somewhat technical downhill passage.
(30) At the forest road of Chêne Pâté, turn right. In 800 meters, there is an option to descend for a picnic at the pond of the Demoiselle. Continue on the forest road until the large intersection with the forest road of Bois de Termes.
(31) At the intersection, turn right then directly right a few meters later to return into the woods. Always continue straight on flat ground on the plateau then slightly bend to the right on a descent of about 1 km. At the end of the descent, turn right.
(32) Be careful of the hairpin turn, go right then directly left on a path below. This section remains damp part of the year. Always continue straight ahead. Pass near a watercourse then slightly ascend towards the exit of the woods to regain the forest road of Chêne Pâté.
(33) At the forest road of Chêne Pâté, continue straight ahead. The road makes a loop before arriving at an intersection.
(34) At this large intersection between the forest road of Chêne Pâté and that of Noue Marion, advance into the intersection then turn left to continue descending on the forest road of Noue Marion until its end, making all the bends of this road without leaving it.
(35) At the end of the road, embark right onto the descending forest path. Continue straight on the descent, at the exit of the woods follow this path straight between the fields then continue straight until Beaurepaire. Cross Beaurepaire to the road.
(36) Cross the departmental road D946 with caution and climb the path opposite. After a steep ascent, it turns left then right along the woods. Continue to climb straight ahead until the entrance of the woods of Sarte. Ride straight in the woods.
(37) At an intersection, turn right. After a few meters on the flat, the path descends which then leads to a forest road. At the intersection with the forest road, turn left to completely ascend it and pass the forest barrier. Follow it further to reach a small road.
(38) Turn left onto the road, it descends in loops down to the village of Termes, where you will find your starting point.