From Trois Bacs to Rocher du Calice

Near the Arzwiller inclined plane, a walk from the Trois Bacs fountain to the Rocher du Calice, following the rocky outcrops.

Details

n°997736

Creation:
02 Mar 2018

Last update:
18 May 2026

Last review:
02 Sep 2024

Activity: Walking
Distance: 3.54 mi
Average duration: 1h 55
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 322 ft
Descent: - 341 ft
Highest point: 1,115 ft
Lowest point: 823 ft

Country: France
Area: Vosges mountains
City: Saint-Louis (57820)
Start/End: N 48.710112° / E 7.186701°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3715OT
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Description of the walk

Access from Saverne: follow the Zorn valley to Lutzelbourg via the D132. Turn left onto the D98 towards Dabo. After the Lehrer crystal factory, turn right onto the D97b. Pass the inclined plane on your right and head up to Saint-Louis.
The start is at the Saint-Louis picnic area. Coming from the funicular, enter the village, continue straight on past the church and take the first street on the left (Club Vosgien sign on a wall on the right). Walk down to the picnic area. There is space for 3 to 4 cars. Otherwise, park further up in the village.

(S/E) Walk down the track to the crossroads and take the track on the left, following the hairpin bend. Make a circular loop to the right and rejoin the path at the crossroads.

(1) Leave the track and head down the path on the right which leads to the shelter and the Fontaine des Trois Bacs.

At the Trois Bacs, continue downwards following the markings. The path winds along the hillside beneath rocky outcrops. Keep a close eye on the terrain, as the markings are not always very clear. Reach the stream’s valley floor.

(2) Stay on the path to climb up towards the Rocher du Calice. There are two points where the markings are unclear, both in hollows.
The first time, the path seems to disappear. Climb up to the left via a few steps, then follow to the right beneath the rocks.
The second time, the direction of the arrow is unclear. Do not head straight into the valley, but turn left. Cross a small stream via a footbridge, then take the steps on the right.

(3) Continue for about ten metres to go round the rock hollowed out by a small cave. There is a bench here where you can rest. Go back a little way and head up towards the track.
Take this to the left, ignoring the signposting heading to the right, and follow it. You will rejoin the stream’s valley floor.

(4) Continue along this track to return to the first junction. Please note that this section is not signposted.

(1) Follow the route you took on the way out to return to the car park (start/finish).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,112 ft - Car park and picnic area
1 : mi 0.43 - alt. 1,030 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
2 : mi 1.14 - alt. 850 ft - Thalweg
3 : mi 1.68 - alt. 994 ft - Rocher du Calice (Phalsbourg)
4 : mi 2.37 - alt. 1,037 ft - Thalweg
S/E : mi 3.54 - alt. 1,115 ft - Car park and picnic area

Notes

Club Vosgien markings: Yellow Rectangle-White-Yellow Rectangle and Blue circle for half the walk.
At the start: picnic area with tables, shelter and barbecue.
Another shelter at Les Trois Bacs.

Worth a visit

Nearby:
- the Arzwiller inclined plane,
- the Lehrer crystal works,
- Lutzelbourg Castle.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5

Route interest
4.5 / 5

RAUCH ANDRÉ

02 Sep 2024 at 11:09 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

PERFECT FOR A FAMILY HIKE

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Wisigoth

12 Jun 2023 at 13:01 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk in the forest near the rocks, with a well-marked route overall.

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User 877600

20 Mar 2023 at 09:58 3600

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

As for the hike, no problems, but you still need to pay attention to the signs.

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j.malick

13 Feb 2023 at 15:07 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

After the Calice rock, you need to pay attention and read the description carefully, as the signposts lead back to the road, whereas you need to take the unmarked path on the left to stay in the forest and return to the starting point. This is something you need to be aware of.

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Lysiane57

30 May 2022 at 11:29 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk in the forest near the rocks, with a well-marked route.
However, on the way back, we had trouble completing the circular. Fortunately, we met some other walkers!

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laurence Marchal

21 Sep 2020 at 21:00 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk, everything was very well signposted. It was perfect!

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bidouille67

07 Jun 2020 at 17:24 7200 • Edited: 07 Jun 2020 at 17:26 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,

The lower part of the route is beautiful, a narrow path along the hillside, passing at times under sheer sandstone cliffs.
The return journey is along a forest road with no particular charm, but that doesn't detract from the appeal of the walk.
We were amazed by the magnificent picnic area with a huge barbecue at the start/end of the route. It's worth coming back just for a meal with friends or family in this beautiful setting.
The three boats are also a place where you want to take your time, as the atmosphere is very peaceful.

Thank you for this route.
PS: no problems with the directions on the hiking sheet, I would even say that the map was sufficient!

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bernardino

18 Sep 2019 at 09:36 7200

Hello and thank you very much for your comment, when you mention this:
the explanations on the sheet are not always very clear
could you give us some suggestions for improvement so that we can make changes to the description?
Thank you in advance.

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sonia.57

18 Sep 2019 at 09:20 7200

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant, shaded walk between rocks and forest, but be warned: it's not as easy as it looks, and the explanations on the information sheet are not always very clear.

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Valbalade67

27 May 2019 at 18:47 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant hike, with narrow paths, footbridges and impressive rocks to admire.
We enjoyed our sandwiches at the picnic area at the start...
...and had dessert a little further on, at the second area in the middle of the forest, with a small spring that delighted our daughter.

Thank you for sharing!

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grandin

19 Aug 2018 at 20:12 7200

Thank you for following up, rmba. If you could include these details in your description, that would be perfect.

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rmba

19 Aug 2018 at 15:34 7200

Hello. I am the author of the route that I redid yesterday with my wife. After the picnic area, about 300 metres further on, the signpost clearly indicates the path ahead on the left, not straight ahead. The trail is well marked all the way to Rocher du Calice. There are two places at the bottom of the valley where you might hesitate. The first time, the path seems to disappear; go up to the left via the few steps that can be seen in the vegetation, then to the right under the rocks. The second time, the direction indicated by the signpost arrow is unclear. Here too, turn left, cross the stream via a small footbridge, then go up the stairs on the right.

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Mathieu blampied

19 Aug 2018 at 14:21 7200

Hello, no, we couldn't have followed the map alone because when we met the group of experienced hikers, they didn't understand the map either!
I posted this comment with no ill intent, but simply so that those responsible for the signposting and the map could review it, because for a hike that is very simple and for beginners, it would be a shame if people got lost!

Kind regards

Mathieu

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grandin

17 Aug 2018 at 20:31 7200

Thank you for your feedback, Mathieu Blampied.

First of all, it's important to note that neither Visorando nor the author are responsible for signposting. Signposting is often included in the description when it exists on the ground, but otherwise, the description and map are supposed to be sufficient.
Visorando does not mark the suggested walks.

That said, do you think that if you had just followed the description and the map, without looking for markings, you would have fared better?

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Mathieu blampied

16 Aug 2018 at 20:54 7200

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Hello, we wanted to do this hike, but unfortunately we were misled from the start because we set off from the signpost on the right when it was actually on the left! We couldn't continue because the signposting was very poor! We came across two groups of experienced hikers who had also found the hike on this website and couldn't find their way either!
I'm sure this hike can be enjoyable, but I think the signposting and the description of the stages need to be reviewed! Thank you.

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