From Rocher de Mutzig to Les Deux Donons

This hike is not technically difficult but is very long and requires good stamina. There are several beautiful viewpoints and sites along the way.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 20.97 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 10 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,848 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,878 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,307 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 968 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from Place des Musiciens (car park), which you can reach via the Route Forestière du Kegelplatz.

(S/E) With the sequoia tree on your right, take the Route Forestière du Grassweg opposite (north-east), following the yellow and green ring markings.

(1) After about 350 metres, turn left onto the path towards the Virgin's Oak (Green Ring markings). Climb steeply and turn right at the first crossroads.

(2) At the Virgin's Oak, continue along the path marked with green circles. Ignore a path on the right, then cross the Kegelplatz and a forest road. Continue north-west, following the green ring markings. Climb a hill and cross another forest road to reach the giant sequoia.

(3) Pass at the foot of this magnificent sequoia and continue following the green ring markings. At a fork, take the left path, marked with a green ring and a red-white-red rectangle.

(4) Turn left to climb towards the Porte de Pierre (Green Ring and Red Rectangle markings). You will come to another path; follow it to the right (Red Ring markings in addition to the previous ones).

(5) At the next crossroads, go straight ahead (marked with a red ring and red rectangle; ignore the green ring markings). Take a hairpin bend to the left, then another to the right. Continue northwards, following the red ring and red rectangle markings, ignoring any paths branching off to the sides. You will reach the Porte de Pierre.

(6) Take the first path on the left towards Rocher de Mutzig (red rectangle and red ring markings).

(7) At the crossroads, turn sharply left and head south. Reach Rocher de Mutzig (magnificent view).

(8) Continue west towards the Col du Donon (marked with a red rectangle): this is the start of the first descent.

(9) At Baraque aux Juifs, continue south-west following the red rectangle markings. The path then heads west, north and then west-south-west: continue to follow the red rectangle markings until you reach Baraque Carrée.

(10) Take the forest road heading south-southeast towards the Col de la Côte de l'Engin, still following the red rectangle markings. Follow the forest road for a long way until you reach the pass.

(11) Continue following the red rectangle markings on the forest road, which initially runs alongside the D145 road. Walk south and south-southeast, following the red rectangle markings.

(12) At the pass between the two Donons, cross a tarmac road and a car park.

(13) Immediately turn right (west) onto an uphill path, marked with blue diamond signs. After about 250 metres, turn left at a crossroads. At the next intersection, turn right onto an uphill path. This leads to a track; follow it to the right for a few metres, then turn left onto a path that winds upwards. Follow the blue diamond markings shortly afterwards on the path to the summit of Donon and its Gallo-Roman temple (panoramic view).

(14) Descend on the other side of the temple towards the antenna (red rectangle). Cross a road and continue downhill.

(15) At the bottom, follow a tarmac road to the left (yellow cross markings). At a fork, leave the road climbing to the left and take the path on the right (yellow cross).

(13) Cross the car park to the right.

(12) At the pass, take the second path on the right (east, blue triangle) and ignore the paths on the left.

(16) After about 200 metres, take a path that climbs to the left towards Petit Donon (blue triangle markings).

(17) When you reach an intersection, turn right and follow the yellow disc markings. Climb up to Petit Donon. Another opportunity to take a break in front of the Donon temple.

(18) Descend via the same route.

(17) At the previous crossroads, turn right, following the yellow disc markings. After about 100 metres, take a path on the right (be careful, it is not very visible; follow the yellow disc markings towards Wisches).

(19) You will come to a forest road. Follow it to the right for a few metres and take a path that descends to the left (marked with a yellow disc).

(20) At the crossroads, turn left twice and follow the yellow disc and red ring markings northwards.

(21) At the intersection, turn sharply right (yellow disc). Return to a forest road and follow it to the right (east-northeast). Stay on this road (yellow disc markings) and ignore any side roads.

(22) At the crossroads (note the Roche Solaire), follow the Route forestière de la Basse de la Roche to the left. At the next crossroads, turn right onto this road (yellow disc).

(23) At the junction, turn left. At a fork, continue right on this road, still following the yellow disc markings.

(24) Cross the Netzenbach river on the left, then turn right onto a tarmac road. After about 50 metres, turn left to reach the Klein Wisches forest house.

(25) Take the second path on the left, between the buildings. After about 50 metres, turn right and walk along the river on your left.

(26) At the T-junction, turn left. Follow the tarmac road eastwards, ignoring the turnings on either side.

(27) Shortly before a large building, turn left. Ignore the first turn-off on the left.

(28) At the next intersection, turn left onto the Basse Claudon forest road. Continue straight ahead (north-east) until you reach a crossroads.

(29) Then turn right at an acute angle (red-white-red rectangle signpost). Follow this path to Place des Musiciens (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,371 ft - Place des Musiciens
  2. 1 : mi 0.22 - alt. 1,427 ft - Fork in the road
  3. 2 : mi 0.6 - alt. 1,572 ft - Virgin's Oak
  4. 3 : mi 1.43 - alt. 1,660 ft - Giant sequoia
  5. 4 : mi 1.67 - alt. 1,686 ft - Kappelbronn
  6. 5 : mi 2.26 - alt. 2,067 ft - Crossroads
  7. 6 : mi 3.38 - alt. 2,822 ft - Stone gate
  8. 7 : mi 4.06 - alt. 3,117 ft - Crossroads
  9. 8 : mi 4.49 - alt. 3,304 ft - Rocher de Mutzig
  10. 9 : mi 5.04 - alt. 3,031 ft - Baraque aux Juifs - Col du Narion (922m)
  11. 10 : mi 7.44 - alt. 2,431 ft - Square hut
  12. 11 : mi 9.28 - alt. 2,585 ft - Col de la Côte de l'Engin (789m)
  13. 12 : mi 10.19 - alt. 2,697 ft - Col Entre les deux Donons
  14. 13 : mi 10.24 - alt. 2,703 ft - Crossroads of the Donon circular
  15. 14 : mi 10.99 - alt. 3,307 ft - Donon (le)
  16. 15 : mi 11.94 - alt. 2,618 ft - Crossroads
  17. 16 : mi 13.35 - alt. 2,720 ft - Fork in the road
  18. 17 : mi 13.61 - alt. 2,956 ft - Access to Petit Donon
  19. 18 : mi 13.79 - alt. 3,120 ft - Le Petit Donon
  20. 19 : mi 14.27 - alt. 2,815 ft - Forest track
  21. 20 : mi 14.55 - alt. 2,618 ft - Crossroads
  22. 21 : mi 15.01 - alt. 2,438 ft - Intersection
  23. 22 : mi 16.3 - alt. 1,890 ft - Solar rock
  24. 23 : mi 17.17 - alt. 1,480 ft - Crossroads
  25. 24 : mi 18.03 - alt. 1,138 ft - The Netzenbach
  26. 25 : mi 18.24 - alt. 1,178 ft - Klein Wisches forest house
  27. 26 : mi 18.64 - alt. 1,093 ft - T-junction
  28. 27 : mi 19.44 - alt. 988 ft - Fork in the road
  29. 28 : mi 19.71 - alt. 968 ft - Basse Claudon forest road
  30. 29 : mi 20.63 - alt. 1,289 ft - Crossroads
  31. S/E : mi 20.97 - alt. 1,371 ft - Place des Musiciens

Notes

Very long hike: if you decide to set off late in the morning or undertake this hike in autumn or winter, remember to bring a head torch!

We recommend stopping in Oberhaslach to buy sandwiches before the hike at the first bakery in the village. They are excellent and huge!

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 23273669

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A two-day hike with a bivouac on 14 and 15 May 2026. A snowstorm on the Donon: we encountered hail, rain, fog, wind and even sunshine – all four seasons in one hike. Unforgettable and superb. Note: there is a source of drinking water 200 metres from the Carré hut for a mid-route refreshment stop.

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User 3626463

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

GPX track downloaded to complete this route, which was really very pleasant except for the last 10 kilometres, during which we were on large paths/roads.
Superb views of the rock and the temple.

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lvsa67
lvsa67

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Two-day hike with bivouac at Donon.
Bring plenty of water as there are no water sources available along the entire route.
Otherwise, it's a great hike with many viewpoints overlooking Alsace and the Vosges.

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Leo l'embrouille
Leo l'embrouille

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An incredible hike with beautiful scenery, but you'll need walking sticks as it's quite a steep climb.

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nicohardy
nicohardy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent circular trail, ideal for a 3½ to 4-hour trail run (at a leisurely pace), depending on your rhythm.

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Le-Marsupilami
Le-Marsupilami

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The entire circular was completed in 7 hours (departure at 7:15 a.m., arrival at 2:15 p.m.) at a fast pace to cover the walk with the still limited daylight hours in February. The description of point 27 "before a large building" should be changed, as it doesn't mean much, but rather specify to turn left just before the small bridge!
Otherwise, we could also mention the sale of honey (local, I suppose) at point 26.

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Nature57
Nature57
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with varied landscapes, completed in two days. Some of the views are truly magnificent, particularly from the Mutzig rock and the summit of Donon! The archaeological remains, the Porte de Pierre and the Giant Sequoia are well worth the effort required to complete this hike, which is indeed long and difficult for the average walker. The route and the author's description are also very good. Be sure to take enough water with you, as there are no water sources except at the end of the route. Finally, we didn't meet many people except at Donon! A wonderful memory!

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manu3354
manu3354

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I did this route on 27 and 28 March 2021, starting from Donon and camping at Rocher de Mutzig, going clockwise. A very beautiful route with lots of forest paths. Personally, I didn't mind that. Not many people except at Donon. No one else at the campsite except us. There are many water sources in the southern part. There is still some snow, but good hiking boots are sufficient.

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Vbulle
Vbulle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A two-part route with a bivouac. I encountered few people outside of Rocher de Mutzig and Donon. The various viewpoints are superb.
The path leading to the square hut is a little "damaged" (storm? logging?), but the junction at point 17 has been well cleared by the CAF Vosgien and is clearly visible.
Many thanks for this beautiful route! My only regret was finishing the hike on quite a few forest roads and even tarmac roads. A woodcutter I met on the way told me that there was a forest path running along the ridges and leading to the musicians' square from the Wisches forest house, which is worth seeing :-)

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lerbas
lerbas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 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. Done in the opposite direction, from Donon to Rocher de Mutzig and back over two half-days with a bivouac at Rocher de Mutzig tar:tar: . We encountered very few people, except at Grand Donon, which is very busy. Thank you for sharing!

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