Kembs lock between the Grand Canal d'Alsace and the Old Rhine

A short walk between the wild Old Rhine and the tamed canal with its array of industrial installations: the locks, the German motorway that you cannot see but can hear, the high-voltage power lines you pass under at the start of the route, but also its natural beauty: the winding, silted-up Rhine, exposed at the Istain sandbars. To fully enjoy the views of the Rhine, the route is best done in winter when the trees are still bare.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.25 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 16 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 16 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 247 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 230 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Haut-Rhin (68)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.652839° / E 7.524038°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3721ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

The car park is located between the hydroelectric plant and the locks, just before the Chalet restaurant, at the side of the road.

(S/E) From the car park, head towards the locks and cross the canal.

(1) At the end of the embankment, take the wide path on the left which runs alongside the Grand Canal d’Alsace. Ignore the first path on the right. Walk a few dozen metres past the path – which you will take shortly afterwards – then turn right to go down the steps leading to the Rhine: admire the nearby Rhine with its sandbanks and islets.

(2) Turn back and head towards the junction at the entrance to the Petite Camargue Nature Reserve. Turn left, go round the barrier and follow the path to the right. Pass under the high-voltage power lines through a clearing in the forest: during periods of high water, this path may be impassable. Pass by a flight of steps and continue straight on to reach a fork in the path.

(3) Continue straight on until you can see the Barres d’Istein through the foliage. Walk on to the information board. Opposite, on the German side, is a large sandy beach with a viewing platform. When the Rhine is in flood, the viewing platform may be with water lapping at its feet and the beach may be submerged.

(4) Retrace your steps.

(3) Take the picturesque Green Ring-marked path on the left. Continue straight on until you reach the Grand Canal d’Alsace.

(5) Follow the small tarmac road to the right that runs alongside the canal and continue to the junction near the lock.

(1) Turn left, cross the canal again to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 246 m - Car park - Grand canal d'Alsace
  2. 1 : km 0.19 - alt. 246 m - Crossing the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.11 - alt. 230 m - Old Rhine - Le Vieux Rhin
  4. 3 : km 3.1 - alt. 235 m - Green Ring trail junction
  5. 4 : km 3.37 - alt. 236 m - Barres d'Istein - Rhin (fleuve)
  6. 5 : km 3.95 - alt. 246 m - Grand Canal d'Alsace
  7. S/E : km 5.25 - alt. 246 m - Car park

Worth a visit

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