Champ du Feu circular (long version)

Parking is available at the Serva car park, situated along Route de la Serva, almost opposite the Chalet du Champ du Feu. Coming from Rothlach or the Col de la Charbonnière, take the D414; to find it:
- opposite the Hôtel-Restaurant-Spa Mont Champ du Feu, continue along the D414 towards Belmont, pass the coach parks and you’ll find the free public car park 200 m further on.
- if you are in front of the “Cheval Alsace” lodge, you have gone too far.

(S/E) Stay on the same side as the Serva car parks, walk a few metres uphill towards the east, leaving the Chalet du Champ de Feu on your left, and on your right you will find the pedestrian start point; a large sign indicates the direction. Head into the forest, heading south, leaving the Yellow Cross markings on your right and the Red and White Rectangle on your left, and follow, in part, the cross-country ski trails (without using them), to reach the Rocher de la Princesse Emma.

(1) Continue southwards to reach the junction with the Yellow Cross trail marked by the Club Vosgien.

(2) Take this path to the left and, after a short descent, reach the Rocher de l’Edelweiss.

(3) Continue the descent and find the Blue Rectangle-marked trail (GR®531) to reach the large junction at the Col de la Charbonnière.

(4) At the car parks, with your back to the restaurant, cross the D214 to the left, taking care, and then take the path with dual markings (Yellow Saltire and Red Ring) to reach a new Y-shaped junction.

(5) Keep left on the Red Ring path and, at the bottom of the descent, reach the Kaelberhuette Farm.

(6) Turn right onto the descending path marked with a Red Ring and Blue Cross for about a hundred metres, passing the Kaelberhuette Farm on your right. At the far end of the meadow, you can see a yurt.

(7) Turn left uphill onto the path marked with a Blue Triangle. Pass a few holiday chalets on the right, then cross a small stream (the Andlau, which rises a little further up). Continue to the Auberge du Hochfeld (closed for a retreat, as indicated on the door).

(8) Leave the forest track and take the path climbing up to the left. Continue along a fairly long, steady climb, skirting the Chaume des Veaux on the right and the old Hochfeld downhill ski runs, some of whose facilities can still be seen. Enjoy the lovely view here on a clear day. Reach a multi-way junction.

(9) Turn left uphill, follow the Red Saltire markings and ignore the path leading down to the right (which becomes the Blue Saltire). Cross a small treeless area (Hochfeld) to reach the edge of the D214 road, lined with cross-country ski trails and areas for walking and snowshoeing.

(10) Turn left for about 200 m, then cross the road with care, and continue along the path on the other side in the same direction. Almost opposite the tower, turn right to reach the refuge and the sheltered, slightly sloping area, situated amongst the fir trees.

(11) Leave the refuge to the left (north-west), following the path along the edge of the forest on the left and the Vieux Pré area on the right. Join the Chemin de la Tour (marked with Red Rectangles).

(12) Continue straight on along this path to return to the Serva car park (S/E).

Important note: snowshoeing can be done independently on the Club Vosgien’s marked trails or via the resort, provided they do not cross a downhill or cross-country ski run.
Marked routes: available from the La Serva Tourist Office.
Please note: cross-country ski trails are, by local by-law, reserved for cross-country skiers.

Catering
(B/L) Mont Champ du Feu Hotel-Restaurant-Spa (next to the car park at the start).
(4) Auberge de la Charbonnière at Col de la Charbonnière; the route passes by here roughly a third of the way along the route.
Table and bench opposite the Col de la Charbonnière restaurant.
(10) Large covered shelter and a few tables with benches situated under the fir trees, less than 100 m from the foot of the tower at the roundabout; to reach this area, head slightly downhill towards the north-west.

Hazeman hire for all winter sports equipment, located below the hotel.

Circular route completed and enjoyed by the Branquignols (a famous group of epicurean Alsatian hiking friends) on 8 January 2025.

Auberge de la Rothlach on the D 214 heading north-east, about 5 km away.
Andlau Waterfall at Hohwald, heading towards Andlau, approximately 10 km away.