Cascade du Lac d'Alfeld walks

Along the banks of the Doller and then the Wagenstall waterfalls, reach the peaceful stubble fields of the narrow Grand Langenberg valley near an authentic farmhouse inn. Then descend to the foot of the Ballon d'Alsace towards the impressive glacial basin of Lake Alfeld, which dominates the Doller valley. Finally, return along the tumultuous Seebach, which calms down in a wet and marshy meadow, before dying in the peat bogs of Lake Sewen. Please note that theGR®®531is sometimes obstructed (forestry work, overgrown vegetation, fallen trees, etc.) and maintenance is sometimes delayed. In this case, take the Fennematt path along the left bank of the Doller (marked with triangles and red trestles) and rejoin the route at point (1) or point (3).

Enjoy the hike! It's not very long, but there's quite a bit of elevation gain. The first part is quite steep, but the trails are pleasant

A short distance but a steep climb await you. This is therefore a fairly challenging hike. The main attraction of the hike is discovering the steep slopes of the Vosges on the Alsace side. The summit of Ballon d'Alsace is accessible by car.

If you want an alternative between several circuits between Lac d'Alfeld and the summit of Ballon d'Alsace, here is one that combines routes ranging from easy to difficult and takes you past the old farm ruins that dotted the massif before the Second World War. Here is one that combines routes ranging from easy to difficult and allows you to discover the old ruined farms that dotted the mountains before the Second World War.

The Ballon d'Alsace is accessible from several points. Its summit is accessible by road. The more athletic may wish to attempt this circular route starting from Sewen, which offers a few points of interest, notably Lake Alfeld. The return route follows the ridges for the most part, offering views that sometimes stretch as far as the first Alpine peaks when the weather permits. There are numerous shortcuts available to shorten the circular route. Hike accessible via Sewen station (11 GD RUE).

A lovely walk with views over the lakes, the summit of the Ballon d’Alsace and the Sewen valley. Our group opted to hike without snowshoes; snow cover was patchy, with more in the wooded areas.

A hike that requires sure-footedness. The path is sometimes slippery from the start up to the Col de Rode Tête, setting off from La Jumenterie to reach Ronde Tête via Lake Alfeld and its waterfalls. The route passes through Sewen and its lake before heading up to Wisgrutt. From there, theGR®5takes us back to the foot of the Ballon d’Alsace to climb to its summit: the Vierge, an orientation table and stunning views of the surrounding area. Finally, we pass by the statue of Joan of Arc before returning to our starting point.

A circular route starting and finishing at the Alfeld Lake car park. It follows the Issenbach stream to the refuge of the same name, then on to the Baerenbach Farm Inn, which is the turning point, before following the Baerenbach and Seebach streams back towards Alfeld Lake.