Circular Winterberg to Birenberg and Insect Trail in La Petite Pierre

A lovely, undulating walk through the woodland, not particularly difficult, between Rocher Blanc and Rocher du Corbeau, returning via the Chemin des Insectes.

Details

49178593
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.98 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 235 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 232 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 393 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 220 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Rue des Bergers car park near the Salle des Fêtes in La Petite Pierre.

(S/E) Head down Rue des Bergers, then turn right after about 100 m onto Chemin Winterberg.

Signposting: Yellow Rectangle with a white cross

Continue down Chemin Winterberg until you reach Rue du Lavoir. Turn right onto this street and continue to the sharp left-hand bend.

(1) Take the forest track on the right and continue through the woodland for about 1.5 km.

(2) As you come out of the bend, leave this forest track and take the narrow path on the right. Follow several hairpin bends uphill to reach the Belvédère du Rocher Blanc (bench).

(3) Retrace your steps and rejoin the forest track by turning left. Continue to the forest road and turn left.

No signposting

(4) Take the hairpin bend to the left and follow the unmarked forest road until you reach a multi-way junction.

Yellow Rectangle Markings

(5) Turn right, pass close to the pumping station on the left and join Rue du Lavoir.

No signposting

(6) Turn right and pass close to the ponds. Continue downhill until you reach a stone house.

(7) Turn right onto the forest track towards Birenberg and continue until you reach a picnic area.

Red Rectangle Signpost

(8) Follow the winding path on the left, which is quite steep, to reach the Rocher du Corbeau viewpoint (bench) after crossing two forest tracks.

(9) Continue along theGR®®53forest track until you reach the start of a gently sloping stony path on the right known as the Chemin des Insectes.

No signposting

(10) Continue along this forest path, which winds through a meadow, passes close to mobile phone masts and joins the Chemin de l’Altenbourg. Carry straight on to reach the access road to the car park at La Petite Pierre Castle.

Red Diamond markings

(11) Turn right onto the access road to the château, pass in front of the town hall, then continue left along Rue Principale de la Petite Pierre to reach the Salle des Fêtes (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 351 m - Village Hall
  2. 1 : km 0.59 - alt. 298 m - Turn, forest track on the right
  3. 2 : km 1.98 - alt. 314 m - Path on the right
  4. 3 : km 2.45 - alt. 329 m - Rocher Blanc viewpoint
  5. 4 : km 3.64 - alt. 333 m - Sharp left-hand bend
  6. 5 : km 4.84 - alt. 284 m - Multi-directional junction
  7. 6 : km 5.19 - alt. 250 m - Junction with Rue du Lavoir.
  8. 7 : km 6.17 - alt. 235 m - Stone house
  9. 8 : km 7.81 - alt. 222 m - Picnic area and fork in the road
  10. 9 : km 8.57 - alt. 351 m - Viewpoint at - Rocher du Corbeau (Altenburg)
  11. 10 : km 9.41 - alt. 371 m - Junction with Chemin des Insectes.
  12. 11 : km 10.18 - alt. 352 m - Access road to La Petite Pierre Castle.
  13. S/E : km 10.98 - alt. 352 m - Village Hall

Notes

About a hundred metres from marker (2), there is shelter available at the picnic area.

Worth a visit

The Rocher Blanc (3) and Rocher du Corbeau (9) viewpoints.

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

4.2 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Giffe
Giffe

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Difficulties following the hike, because despite the explanations, which sometimes proved to be insufficiently detailed, it was unclear whether the path to take was the right one.

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Jym57
Jym57

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely route with no major difficulties

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jeanjacschaeffer
jeanjacschaeffer

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through La Petite-Pierre Forest with some beautiful views. The White Rock is currently closed due to nesting.

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