8-shaped route starting from Markstein

This route in the Hautes Vosges is not difficult and offers beautiful views of the surrounding valleys. There are four places to eat along the way.

Details

n°723582

Creation:
13 Aug 2017

Last update:
04 Nov 2024

Last review:
12 Oct 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 12.07 km
Average duration: 4h 10
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 256 m
Descent: - 257 m
Highest point: 1,213 m
Lowest point: 1,110 m

Country: France
Area: Vosges mountains
District: Ranspach (68470)
Start/End: N 47.923091° / E 7.031983°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3619OT, 3619OTR
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Description of the walk

Access by car from Colmar: Take the western bypass around Colmar, then the D417 towards Munster, then the D10 towards Metzeral, Sondernach, then the D27 and D430 to Markstein, and park in the Markstein ski resort car park.

(S/E) Route and description modified in accordance with the notice dated 04/09/2023:
Follow the D430 towards Linthal, Guebwiller (eastwards) then, after the last chairlift, take the path on the left that goes around the Markstein refuge and follow the cross-country ski trails to the hairpin bend on the D430.

(1) Turn right onto a path (^GR®532, yellow rectangular markings) leading to the abandoned Hofried farm, then to the D431 (ridge road).

(2) Just before reaching the D431, turn right onto the^GR®5trail (marked with a red rectangle) heading north. Pass a trail on the right and continue parallel to the Route des Crêtes towards Markstein.
Return to the starting point.

(S/E) Turn left (north-west) onto the D27 towards Kruth and Thann, and continue for 300 metres from the Kruth and Thann sign.

(3) Turn left onto a path (red-white-red rectangular markings) and follow it to the Treh farmhouse inn.

(4) Continue along this path towards the Steinlebach farmhouse inn until you reach it. This path crosses the D27 and immediately joins a path that you take to the left, crossing a small metal bridge that serves as a cattle barrier. The path continues towards the D430, but 200 metres before reaching it, a path (marked with a red-white-red rectangle), which is poorly placed and can be easily overlooked, joins the D430 more quickly. Continue on the tarmac road opposite the path (marked with a red-white-red rectangle) towards the Steinlebach farmhouse inn.

(5) At the entrance to the Steinlebach farmhouse inn, turn right at an acute angle onto a path (marked with a red triangle) towards Markstein.

(6) Just after the water treatment plant, turn right onto a path leading to the Notre Dame Des Neiges chapel to arrive shortly afterwards at the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,184 m - Ski slope car park - Markstein (le)
1 : km 1.53 - alt. 1,112 m - Turn off towards the G532 (yellow rectangle)
2 : km 3.66 - alt. 1,177 m - Turn off towards the GR5 (red rectangle)
3 : km 5.94 - alt. 1,195 m - Turn-off to the Treh farmhouse inn
4 : km 7.64 - alt. 1,140 m - Turn off towards the Steinlebach farmhouse inn
5 : km 9.95 - alt. 1,138 m - Turn-off towards Markstein (red triangle)
6 : km 11.65 - alt. 1,165 m - Turn-off towards the Notre Dame Des Neiges chapel
S/E : km 12.07 - alt. 1,184 m - Ski slope car park - Markstein (le)

Notes

Refreshments are available at the start or finish near the Markstein car park, at the Markstein farmhouse inn, the Treh farmhouse inn and the Steinlebach farmhouse inn.
Check the opening days of the access road before setting off.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5

Based on 18 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5

Route interest
4.2 / 5

Nine 68

12 Oct 2025 at 17:55 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

One Sunday, sunny weather, quite busy but not annoying. Started at point 1, lost our way back after the car park...

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gui09

04 Aug 2025 at 15:37 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A nice circuit in terms of format, a short 5 7 loop. I like the idea...
No particular difficulties, I'm in...

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seba75

09 Jun 2025 at 17:35 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A beautiful and pleasant hike on the Markstein plateau
Markstein plateau. What a shady spot with beautiful views.
A few climbs, but nothing too challenging 🙂

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groupe67

04 Nov 2024 at 10:52 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, exceptional weather, magnificent sea of clouds. Meal at the Treh farmhouse inn.

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expertalu

21 Oct 2024 at 09:31 7200 • Edited: 22 Oct 2024 at 09:04 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Thank you for this walk, beautiful scenery with views of the Alps in good weather. It's a shame that the GPX tracking lacks precision

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Charry

22 Jan 2024 at 15:29 3600

Hello Marie José,
I often tell hikers to check whether the farmhouse inn is open during their hike.
Closing days vary from one inn to another, and in winter some are often only open on Sundays.
Best regards
Charry

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mariejose sester

22 Jan 2024 at 11:00 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route, easy, the weather was overcast and very windy. In winter, check the opening times of the inns.

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Charry

10 Oct 2023 at 16:40 7200

Hello Van
You're absolutely right. You can hear them coming, but it's better to look twice before crossing.
Best regards
Charry

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van

10 Oct 2023 at 11:10 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Be careful when crossing the hairpin bend in the first section, as vehicles and motorbikes may be approaching at high speed (fortunately not all of them), especially on this beautiful weekend

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Charry

04 Sep 2023 at 16:22 7200

Thanks for the change. In the description of this hike, we can also remove (S/E) between points 2 and 3.
The author of the hike came from Colmar, but you can also climb Markstein via the Thann or Guebwiller valleys.
@ +

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grandin

04 Sep 2023 at 12:47 7200

I have modified the route and description according to Charry's instructions (thank you!)

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Charry

04 Sep 2023 at 10:19 7200

To avoid the road, I had already mentioned this in other comments.
Leaving from the car park after the last chairlift, take the path on the left that goes around the Markstein refuge and follow the cross-country ski trails to the hairpin bend at point 1.
I receive messages about this hike, but as I am not the creator, I cannot modify the route!
@ +
Charry

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monique.schmitt86@sfr.fr

04 Sep 2023 at 08:50 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike at the top, breathtaking scenery, not too crowded on Sundays, but the first kilometre on the side of the road is not great

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Charry

20 Jun 2023 at 10:00 7200

Hello Eric,
Hiking in the sunshine is great, especially at this time of year. We were in the area last week and it was very windy.
I always advise hikers to stick to the lower part of the road, as you did. The path starts just after the chairlift.
see you soon!

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ericleg57

19 Jun 2023 at 22:35 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

a beautiful two-part walk along the ridge from Markstein... Be careful, it is very sunny and, despite the altitude, hot during heatwaves.
The start can be reached from below the road, which is not very obvious from Markstein but leads directly to the hairpin bend indicated at the start of the route.

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