Discovering the Dabo region: the Saint-Martin boundary stone

Set off to explore the sights around the Rocher de Dabo, a historic Celtic, Roman and medieval site. Magnificent trails, druidic stones and cosmo-telluric waves, valley floors where streams and rivers meander.

Details

220562
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.86 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 288 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 290 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 556 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 345 m

Description of the walk

Park at the Rocher campsite car park on the right of the RD45 coming from Dabo.

(S/E) Head towards the RD45, cross it and continue on the forest road opposite. Follow theGR®5markings (red rectangle).

(1) At the fork, go straight ahead and stay on the forest road. Ignore the turnoffs to the left and right.

(2) Leave the forest road and take the path downhill on the left. Cut across a track and continue straight ahead.

(3) Cross the stream via a charming little bridge built by the Dabo Vosges Club, continue straight ahead for a few metres, then turn sharply left and head uphill. Immediately after crossing the forest road, turn right towards Barbelsahnthal (Red Rectangle).

(4) At the crossroads, take the second path on the left, then keep to the right to reach a small street, Rue du Puits. Follow this street to the left and you will come to the RD98d.

(5) Cross it and continue on the left (Yellow Rectangle and Yellow Easel markings).

(6) At the last houses, take the street on the right, then the path on your left that runs alongside the departmental road (yellow rectangle, yellow easel). Continue to the Borne (or Pierre) Saint-Martin. This forest boundary marker dates from the mid-18th century. The Pierre Saint-Martin stands at an altitude of 490 metres.

(7) Then head north-west and continue straight on for about 150 metres to reach the access road to the Kempel forest house. Turn left (red, white and red rectangle) then immediately right and you will come out on the RD98d.

(8) Cross the departmental road and continue straight ahead on the path heading south-east. This path has two hairpin bends and descends to the Grossthal stream, then climbs back up southwards, crossing the Muhlberg. Follow the red, white, red rectangle markings (look for the signs on the trees) until you reach the forest road you took at the start.

(1) Turn right, cross the RD45 and continue straight ahead to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 550 m - Car park near the campsite.
  2. 1 : km 0.3 - alt. 529 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 0.97 - alt. 492 m - Downhill trail on the left
  4. 3 : km 1.15 - alt. 475 m - Bridge over the stream.
  5. 4 : km 1.63 - alt. 503 m - Second trail on the left.
  6. 5 : km 2.51 - alt. 546 m - RD98d, on the left
  7. 6 : km 3.02 - alt. 522 m - Street on the right
  8. 7 : km 4.61 - alt. 501 m - Saint-Martin marker
  9. 8 : km 4.93 - alt. 481 m - RD98d, trail opposite
  10. S/E : km 8.86 - alt. 552 m - Car park

Notes

Most of the trails used are maintained and marked by the Club Vosgien, which consists of 120 sections spread across departments 54-57-67-68-88-90. To support them, please consider joining one of the sections near you.

Water points:
At the car park at the start of the Rocher campsite during opening hours.
Village of Dabo.

Worth a visit

Pierre Saint-Martin: this is a group of three boulders known locally as the remains of a giant table or a megalithic tomb. Today, it marks the boundary between the municipalities of Dabo, Haselbourg and Haegen (67). Before the Revolution, it marked the boundary between the county of Dabo and the Abbey of Marmoutier. It bears two dates, 1750 and 1828 (boundary marking of the Lamarck forest), the number 223 (boundary marking of the Haselbourg forest), the inscription "Martin Stein" and the coat of arms of Marmoutier Abbey "M" (Saint Martin is the patron saint of Marmoutier) and for the county of Dabo.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
dalapin
dalapin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route, not too long. Don't hesitate to climb up to the Dabo rock, as you can park at the start of the road. Trees still block the pretty path that runs alongside the road after La Hoube, but you can get through by climbing over or under the trunks without too much difficulty.

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auntyFanfan
auntyFanfan

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route in the woods surrounding the Dabo rock. A slightly monotonous section on the path that runs alongside the country road after La Hoube. It is best to do this route in fine, sunny weather, which was the case on 5 September, as it takes place exclusively under forest cover.

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Archimede
Archimede
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I confirm that the "yellow ring" markings are present from the start to the end of the hike (from the car park).
My GPS gives a total of 10.2 km.
I would like to point out that trees are currently being felled (July 2021) along the road between La Hoube and La Pierre St Martin. These trees are falling onto the path, making it impassable for at least a few days (weeks?). Either follow the road from La Hoube or follow the red triangles via Kuhbergkopf (I have not tested this second option).

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Charles 67
Charles 67

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike along shaded, well-maintained trails. You can extend the route to the Dabo rock.

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maurito67
maurito67

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, not difficult in terms of terrain, best done in warm weather as it is often in the woods, crossing two streams.

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Nisse Corinne
Nisse Corinne

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful, easy hike

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bri1
bri1

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike in beautiful weather. We measured the distance at approximately 13 km with an elevation gain of 400 m.

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agneshein
agneshein

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very beautiful hike. We found lots of mushrooms along the way. And afterwards we ate the dish of the day at the Katz restaurant. ;

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Christine Bouché
Christine Bouché

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A short hike we did in glorious weather; to avoid getting lost among the different signs (crosses, colourful trestles), there is only one sign to follow throughout the walk: a yellow circle
Plenty of shade...ideal for hot weather...two passages over a stream will cool you down.

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Spica.57
Spica.57

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Lovely walk

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