Bert Loorbach, the author, is an avid motorcyclist himself and lived in France for a year and a half. During that time, he dedicated himself to mapping France's lesser-known and beautiful back roads specifically for motorcyclists.
This is the fifth route in the book and is a circular route north of Gérardmer.

There are hotels and campsites in the vicinity, these are included as POIs.
This route includes several beautiful passes (cols) such as the Col du Surceneux, Col de Mandray and the Col du Haut Jacques.
You pass several small villages where you can also stop for a drink and a bite to eat; there is always a restaurant or café open somewhere.

The ride starts and ends in Gérardmer, nestled among mountains covered in dense pine forests on the largest lake in the Vosges, Lac de Gérardmer. It's a great base for several rides, and this is one of three routes that start here.

You first drive to Xonrupt where you take the D23 which turns into the D73. Here you drive along the Petite Meurthe, a small river further north towards Fraise, where you drive a short distance on the D415 to follow the D23 again over the Col de Mandray. This first part of the route takes you over beautiful narrow roads through green valleys and forests with beautiful panoramas along the way.

You continue towards St. Die where you can stop to visit the city with various old buildings and museums.
From St. Die, you'll drive via the Col de Haut Jacques on the D420, a beautiful, winding road to Bruyères. You'll then continue through the lovely Vologne valley to just before Docelles, where you'll turn off and continue on the D11 to Gérardmer, the end of the route. Another beautiful ride on a winding road through the valley and the Rougemont forest.