After a warm-up section through the village of Le Thillot, the route quickly climbs through the forest to the shelter of the Pic des Corbeaux, just below the famous viewpoint of the same name, which is well worth the diversions. After a pleasant descent to Fresse-sur-Moselle, the climb resumes towards the Etang du Frac, then continues to the Col de Couard, still in the heart of the forest. At the halfway point, the historic site of Hautes-Mynes offers a cultural break before moving on to a more rolling section via Col des Croix and Pré Martin. The western part of the route takes you over a magnificent plateau on the edge of the 1000 ponds, before a gentle descent to Le Thillot brings this superb loop to a close.