Thionville Woods Route

A pleasant, family-friendly route, mainly through the forest. It follows the "Beerenweg" trail, which allows you to discover the flora and fauna of this wood.

Details

701160
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.65 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 135 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 133 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 302 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 187 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Thionville (57100)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 49.380105° / E 6.114709°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3311E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

The car park at the start of the route is on your left 1 km after the village of Élange, heading towards Hettange-Grande.

(S/E) Turn right onto the cycle path at the edge of the forest.

(1) A few metres after crossing the Veymerange stream, leave the cycle path and follow the forest road.

(2) At the end of the forest road, do not return to the cycle path but take the small path on your left. Follow the cycle path.

(3) After crossing the road, go through the barrier and take the path on your right. This crosses the D14A and a small stream.

(4) When you reach Croix Hépich, retrace your steps, cross the D14A again, cross the road and return to the path you followed on the way there.

(3) Turn left and cross the road again.

(5) Take the path on your right marked with a red/white/red rectangle to the bridge over the A31 motorway.

(6) Cross the bridge and continue to follow the markings to the Oeutrange stadium.

(7) From the stadium, take the path that starts with a few steps. This discovery trail, known as the "Beerenweg", is signposted and features explanatory signs.

(8) Leave the discovery trail and follow the path on the right.

(9) Once you have crossed the stream and finished the climb, take the path on the left and pass in front of the old Club Vosgien refuge. Continue along the path until you reach the forest lane. Follow this lane to the starting car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 209 m - Car park near the village of Élange.
  2. 1 : km 0.3 - alt. 207 m - Forest road
  3. 2 : km 0.47 - alt. 209 m - Path running alongside the cycle path.
  4. 3 : km 1.86 - alt. 198 m - Croix Hépich intersection
  5. 4 : km 2.13 - alt. 192 m - Hépich Cross
  6. 5 : km 2.49 - alt. 204 m - Red rectangle intersection
  7. 6 : km 4.24 - alt. 231 m - Bridge over the A31 motorway
  8. 7 : km 5.21 - alt. 255 m - Oeutrange Stadium
  9. 8 : km 6.07 - alt. 258 m - Intersection
  10. 9 : km 6.53 - alt. 302 m - Crossroads of the former Club Vosgien refuge.
  11. S/E : km 8.65 - alt. 209 m - Car park near the village of Élanget.

Notes

Wear suitable footwear and clothing.
There are no water supply points along the route, so bring what you need.

Worth a visit

Numerous information panels about plants and animals along part of the trail.
The Hépich Cross was erected in Hépichwies, in the Thionville woods, in the late 17th or early 18th century.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Roger-57070
Roger-57070
• Edited:

Information dated 11/08/2025
Hike interrupted at point 7; reason = passage prohibited since March 2025 from point 7 to point 9 due to risk of falling trees.
User 24294224

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marchetti jean marie
marchetti jean marie

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There are a lot of forks in the road because this forest is full of paths, and the description doesn't really tell you which option to choose. It's very confusing, even if the consequences are minor because you can easily find your way back by guesswork. However, with the description in hand, you have to think and ask yourself questions every hundred metres to stay on track. The phone app is essential, and I hate that...
The signposting is random.
That said, this route is very pleasant and surprising.
I would happily do it again.

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Camina el Inca
Camina el Inca

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

One small change to note: the red/white/red markings have been replaced by blue circles from the Vosges Club. It's a very pleasant hike that takes two hours with a 10-year-old who is a good walker.
Thank you for this lovely discovery, Visorando!

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sabetnono
sabetnono

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A short hike yesterday morning, a route that is almost entirely in the woods, which was fine by us given the heatwave! Very easy to do, even with children. The only concern for me was sharing the path with cyclists. I found there were a lot of them, and while everyone is entitled to their sport, some of the paths were narrow and it can be surprising to find yourself with bikes coming at you fast at times. But it's a beautiful hike, and I recommend it to new enthusiasts and families. It's peaceful!

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PATRICIA333
PATRICIA333

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb walk in the shade of oak and maple trees – definitely worth repeating!

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jacky.tartare
jacky.tartare

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant route in the forest. The information matches the details provided by Visorando.
This is a Club Vosgien route, which is well maintained and clearly marked.

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Kennocka
Kennocka

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 12, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Approximately 9 km route. Pleasant because it is entirely in the forest, although it runs alongside the road for the first few kilometres and there are two roads to cross. After the Oeutrange stadium, there are pleasant little forest paths crossed by streams on the Beerenweg. Two bridges over the motorway. However, there is a small update regarding the markings: there is no red and white rectangle at point 5, but an orange triangle, followed by a black circle after the stadium. The red-white-red rectangle markings reappear at point 9.

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• Edited:

The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

Patorca
Patorca

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Walked today, strong winds in the plains but well sheltered in the Thionville woods. This route is interesting and easy, the trail is very pleasant; only the end of the route didn't appeal to me because of the two long straights, but it was the end, so...

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T.PhexPose
T.PhexPose

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello,

A very interesting and rather technical route, especially when it rains or the ground is wet.

Enjoy your hike!

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