In the Salbert Cravanche massif

Between the Vosges and the Jura, discover the Salbert massif overlooking Belfort on a hike featuring a varied route through woodland, sweeping panoramic views and local points of interest.
At the summit, there’s a superb 360° view of the Haute-Saône, some beautiful lakes at the foot of the Vosges mountains, the town of Belfort and, on a clear day, the Alps.
The route is signposted.

Details

n°995114
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.61 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 922 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 932 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,133 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,227 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Belfort (90000)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.655486° / E 6.823101°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3520ET, 3621OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park for the Salbert fitness trail, located at: La Poudrière Cravanche.

Blue Disc markings.

(S/E) Follow the first section of the fitness trail.

(1) At the bend, where the trail climbs up to the right, carry on straight ahead. The route leads onto a forest track used by theGR®®5. Head up the sunken path opposite; the path crosses several forest tracks, reaches the first defensive structures and then leads out onto the esplanade of Fort Lefebvre. Turn left.

(2) Climb the stairs to the summit platform, where there are three orientation tables (superb panoramic view of the entire Trouée de Belfort). Descend on the eastern side.

(3) Just after the footbridge, turn left onto a section ofthe GR®®5. After a short but steep descent, take the second path on the right, which continues along a level stretch.

(4) Turn left 20 metres before the junction with the forest track, cross the track and follow the path which descends steeply, cuts across another forest track and comes out a short distance from the D24.

(5) Turn right; the path continues to descend, reaches a car park and then runs along the edge of the forest.

(6) At the end of Rue de la Charpignolle (hiking information point), head uphill to the right. After the timber storage area, the path continues to climb, curves to the left, descends again, then runs alongside a group of detached houses before reaching the D4.

(7) Walk down this road for 100 metres and turn right. Walk for 200 metres to reach the starting car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,401 ft - Car park at the Salbert Vita trail
  2. 1 : mi 0.79 - alt. 1,634 ft - Straight through the bend
  3. 2 : mi 1.63 - alt. 2,087 ft - Salbert Fort
  4. 3 : mi 1.78 - alt. 2,087 ft - Start from Fort du Salbert
  5. 4 : mi 2.34 - alt. 1,985 ft - Turn left before the forest road
  6. 5 : mi 3.16 - alt. 1,260 ft - Near the D24 and the - Savoureuse (rivière)
  7. 6 : mi 3.83 - alt. 1,237 ft - End of Rue de la Charpignolle
  8. 7 : mi 4.34 - alt. 1,385 ft - Junction with the D4
  9. S/E : mi 4.61 - alt. 1,401 ft - Car park at the Salbert Vita trail

Notes

Visorando was informed by Mr Chevalley, a volunteer member of Balisage90, based on brochures published by the Belfort regional council.

Worth a visit

The Salbert, between the Vosges and the Jura:
Geologically speaking, the Salbert hill (altitude 647m) is composed of schist and is notable for being the first peak of the Vosges massif. The Mont hill, situated just further south, is composed of limestone from the Jura massif. The boundary between these two geological formations is a fault that formed the Cravanche Cave.
At the summit, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the region.

Fort du Salbert:
This Séré de Rivières-style fort was designed to monitor the transport routes around Belfort. Named after General Lefebvre, it was built in 1874 to accommodate 500 men and 44 guns. It featured artillery platforms on the rampart crowning the moat as well as above its central barracks.

An optical telegraph station:
As you approach the fort, you will notice a curious, isolated ruin; this is an optical telegraph station which was used to communicate with the forts at Mont Vaudois, Mont Bart and as far as Besançon.

An underground NATO base:
In 1953, a major NATO radar station was built: vast underground premises housing the technical installations and an air defence operations room were constructed. The base was operational for only a short time. Its entrances are now sealed off.

A mountain bike enduro area:
Several downhill mountain-bike trails wind their way down the slopes of the Salbert, with a vertical drop of around 700 metres in the heart of the forest. It is therefore not uncommon to come across fully kitted-out mountain bikers!

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

4.6 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
JMGHOST
JMGHOST

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Close to, and partly on, the Salbert fitness trail. Point of interest: Salbert Fort (former NATO fort)

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Pierrot DAVID
Pierrot DAVID

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Route close to the city. Ideal for a little oxygen therapy.

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Groupe-Rando-25
Groupe-Rando-25

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant nature route mainly through forest with a 320m elevation gain. At the top, the 360° views are very interesting (downside: from certain angles, the vegetation begins to obstruct the view).

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Luzi
Luzi
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Enjoy your walk, allow an hour and a half, a very short stretch of road with little traffic

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Le voisin du 90
Le voisin du 90

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with some elevation gain. The view of Belfort and the foothills of the Vosges is magnificent!

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theacroquer
theacroquer

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route accompanied by birdsong.
Magnificent panoramic views at the summit.
Following on from this, the Roseliere trail to the Forges pond. 4 km of ultra-flat terrain, making it very easy.

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Zimm
Zimm

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant circular in Salbert on warm, sunny days, as it is mostly under the trees. The more athletic can do it in the other direction, as the climb to the top is more direct and therefore much steeper. Very pretty viewpoint at the top offering an almost 360° panorama.

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Maurice7006
Maurice7006

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello
From the start of the VITA car park, my GPS track was 2 cm from the track to follow...
It faded as I neared the summit.
It was impossible to get lost because I have known these places for 40 years. I live in this area.

I encountered two joggers and two walkers... that's all. Due to bad weather.

Thunderstorms starting on the 4th, then rain on the 5th, 6th and 7th

Best regards, Maurice.

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JEAN PAUL BAEHR
JEAN PAUL BAEHR

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

This route partly follows the fitness trail, with beautiful views from the summit over Belfort and Lake Malssacy.
The local council should put up a sign to help visitors who are not from Belfort find
the starting point of the fitness trail.
Otherwise, everything is excellent.

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corna54
corna54

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The main attraction of this hike is the views from the summit. Personally, I found there to be a lot of woods. Just follow the blue round markings to reach the summit and return to the starting point car park.

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Olivier BORDE
Olivier BORDE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A splendid hike, what a view of the Belfort region!
The section between points 4 and 5 can be difficult and even dangerous when the path is wet.

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Alain7059
Alain7059

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike.
Superb panorama at the summit
A bit of a "long" stretch at the end when you have to walk along the road and past houses.

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hmoyal
hmoyal

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with a superb view from the summit.

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Blueanne
Blueanne

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A hike through the woods, ideal for hot summer days. An interesting route with beautiful panoramic views of the entire region from the summit of Salbert. Suitable for all seasons.

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isamiGo256
isamiGo256

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

very good hike!!!

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