Col de la Charbonnière (961m) walks

A hike through stubble fields and forests, with superb scenery. Departure from Belmont, with the option of refreshments at Col de la Charbonnière

This hike will take you from Hohwald to Champ du Feu and Col de la Charbonnière. There are beautiful views of the Vosges from Crête des Myrtilles.

Champ du Feu is the highest point in the Bas-Rhin at 1,099 m. At the summit, the viewing tower was erected in 1898 by the Club Vosgien. It is the symbol of Champ du Feu. There are many theories about the origin of the name Champ du Feu. It may derive from Vehfeld or ‘cattle field’, a corruption of the name Champ des Fées or Champ du Faîte (the summit), or even the charcoal burners’ fires...

Below the Champ du Feu, this pleasant route descends almost to the entrance of the village of Breitenbach. It is of moderate difficulty with some steep climbs nonetheless, especially the challenging one that ends the hike, but also some lovely descents.Forest tracks and narrow paths, beautiful trees and stunning views, plus a lovely shelter for a mid-route lunch break, feature throughout this route.

The Champ du Feu is one of the highest points in the Bas-Rhin at an altitude of 1,098 metres. As the only winter sports resort in the Bas-Rhin, the area is ideal for cross-country skiing, downhill skiing and snowshoeing, and is an icon for all generations of Alsatians.This beautiful circular route, 70% of which is in woodland, is designed for walkers and, in snowy weather, for snowshoe hikers. It mainly follows marked trails and a few forest paths on groomed snow.Two striking rock formations, beautiful trees and lovely views can be found throughout this fairly varied route.There is a lovely shelter almost at the end of the route, as well as refreshment facilities at both ends.

This hike will take you through Ban-de-la-Roche, a place dear to Pastor Jean-Frédéric Oberlin, who served there for 60 years. The route will take you through magnificent landscapes, past a little-known castle (or what remains of it) and to the highest point in the Bas-Rhin.It is a fairly long hike with a significant elevation gain, classified as difficult, which I completed in about 7 hours of walking.

Le Champ du Feu, one of the highest points in the Bas-Rhin at an altitude of 1,098 m, a winter sports resort ideal for cross-country skiing, downhill skiing and snowshoeing, an icon for all generations of Alsatians.This lovely circular route is an extension of the Champ du Feu circular route (hike No. 43137315 of 11 Dec. 2023); the first 5 kilometres are similar to the original route, but the rest changes and extends the circular route by 2 km.Eighty per cent of the route is through woodland, intended for walkers and, in snowy weather, for snowshoe hikers, and mainly follows footpaths and a few forest tracks. It crosses a few marked cross-country ski trails on groomed snow; please walk alongside these so as not to disturb the skiers or damage the trails.Beautiful rocks and trees, with lovely views, can be found throughout this fairly varied route.There is a lovely shelter near the end of the route, with refreshments available in the first third and at the start/finish.