Walk from Graufthal to Rocher des Païens

A forest walk in the Northern Vosges mountains of Alsace Bossue, where you can discover all the charms of this mountain range with a must-see stop at the Rocher des Païens and a return to the troglodyte houses of Graufthal.

Details

47261176
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.36 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,047 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,027 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,217 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 666 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park below the Auberge du Vieux Moulin in Graufthal.

(S/E) Walk past the inn, then turn left onto Rue du Vieux Moulin.

(1) Leave this street and turn right onto theGR®53, marked with a red rectangle. Join a forest road at a sports field and picnic area.

(2) Cross the forest road and continue along the path on the other side.

(3) Cross the Weyerkopf Forest Road and continue along the path opposite, which curves several times before leading to a crossroads just after the Moulin de la Petite Pierre.

(4) Leave theGR® and turn left, following the red horse signposts.

(5) Turn left at the hairpin bend onto the path marked with a red diamond and continue to the Rocher des Païens.

(6) Continue, following the red diamond markings, to the multiple crossroads at Chalet Saint-Hubert.

(7) Just before the junction, look for the Losange Rouge trail on the right, then turn left, keeping to this trail.

(8) Leave this path at this point and follow a path on the right for about 150 metres until you reach a small road. Continue to the right until you reach the large building at Weckenmuelhe.

(9) Just before it, turn left and follow the path marked with a yellow rectangle (GR®532), which leads directly back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 666 ft - Car park below the Auberge du Vieux Moulin
  2. 1 : mi 0.36 - alt. 692 ft - GR°°®°°53, Red Rectangle
  3. 2 : mi 1.08 - alt. 1,079 ft - Picnic area
  4. 3 : mi 1.5 - alt. 1,204 ft - Weyerkopf Forest Road
  5. 4 : mi 2.67 - alt. 728 ft - Leave the GR°°®°°, on the left
  6. 5 : mi 3.59 - alt. 869 ft - Hairpin bend
  7. 6 : mi 3.95 - alt. 1,004 ft - Rocher des Païens
  8. 7 : mi 4.65 - alt. 1,181 ft - Chalet Saint-Hubert
  9. 8 : mi 5.28 - alt. 781 ft - Leave the main track and follow the red diamond sign.
  10. 9 : mi 5.5 - alt. 702 ft - Weckenmuelhe, GR°°®°°532
  11. S/E : mi 7.36 - alt. 673 ft - Car park below the Auberge du Vieux Moulin

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Bruno Rohr
Bruno Rohr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike with a climb that isn't too difficult. I recommend it to anyone in the area

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JEANNOT CHARLES
JEANNOT CHARLES

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A very beautiful hike, medium difficulty (the climbs are gentle). The trails are very well maintained. One small comment: the signs (C.V.) are missing at the car park next to the church.
See you soon.

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Laurent heissler
Laurent heissler

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk in the forest without any major difficulties.
It varies between narrow paths and slightly wider forest tracks.
After point 8, you can find trails that take you back to the starting point without having to use the path shown on the map, but this will of course require you to leave the beaten track and will make the walk a little longer.

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Marc ECKERT
Marc ECKERT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, ideal for hot weather, as most of the route is in the forest and therefore shaded.
The end of the route is a bit long and monotonous. I would recommend returning after point 8 by staying on the red diamond path.
There is a very pleasant picnic area at point 2.
The Rocher des Païens is a wonderful discovery.

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Cargaud
Cargaud
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy route on beautiful trails for 2/3 of the way, returning on 1/3 of a less pleasant main path...
The Rocher des Paiens rock is remarkable.
Recorded distance 13km and 3 hours of actual walking for D+ 350

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