Freistett alluvial forest

Short hike through one of the remaining areas of alluvial forest in the Rhine plain. Numerous ponds and abundant wildlife.

Details

1727537
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.98 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 10 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 11 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 139 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 127 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The start and finish are at the Freistett harbour car park. To get there from France, it is best to cross the border at Gambsheim, then take the first road on the right towards Kehl. Freistett harbour is about 500 m away.

(S/E) Leave the car park, cross the canal and follow the road on the right for about 200 m.

(1) Take the first path on the left, then turn right at the next intersection and continue straight ahead, ignoring a path on the left, until you reach a crossroads

(2) Turn left and walk along a pond. At the edge of the forest, the path crosses abandoned orchards. After a left turn, take the path on the right and you will arrive at a dyke. Follow this dyke on the right until you reach the next crossroads.

(3) Then turn right, heading north, to enjoy views of a pond and follow this path to a bridge.

(4) Turn back to the previous crossroads.

(3) Walk along the dyke to the right until you reach a fork.

(5) Take the path on the right to a football pitch. Pass to the right of a shed and walk along a fence. Where the path turns left, continue straight ahead along the pond. Cross a small bridge and arrive at a crossroads.

(6) Turn onto the path on the right. Pass a gravel pit on the left and walk along a pond on the right. Continue to the next crossroads.

(7) Turn right and, after about 150 m, you will come to a lovely viewpoint over the pond on your left.

(8) Turn back to the crossroads.

(7) Turn right. At the next crossroads, turn left and then left again to reach the road that runs alongside the Rhine.

(9) Turn right and cross the footbridge over the diversion canal. Climb the stairs leading to the Rhine dyke. Turn right and follow the dyke to the car park at Freistett harbour (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 129 m - Freistett harbour car park.
  2. 1 : km 0.31 - alt. 128 m - 1st path on the left
  3. 2 : km 1.06 - alt. 130 m - Crossing the small lock.
  4. 3 : km 2.42 - alt. 131 m - Crossroads leading to a viewpoint.
  5. 4 : km 2.86 - alt. 129 m - Bridge over the river.
  6. 5 : km 3.86 - alt. 138 m - Crossroads where you must leave the dyke.
  7. 6 : km 4.64 - alt. 132 m - Turn right at the crossroads
  8. 7 : km 6.05 - alt. 133 m - Crossroads for another viewpoint.
  9. 8 : km 6.24 - alt. 131 m - Viewpoint overlooking a pond.
  10. 9 : km 7.38 - alt. 130 m - Route along the Rhine. - Rhin (fleuve)
  11. S/E : km 8.98 - alt. 129 m - Freistett harbour car park.

Worth a visit

Observe black poplars (endemic tree), swans, cormorants, egrets and ducks.
From spring to autumn, the trees are covered with vines (wild clematis).
Nearby is the fish pass at the Gambsheim dam.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
weissguyot
weissguyot

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk, sunny on this early December day. Quite a few birds, swans, ducks, geese, herons. Very rare passerines.
Please note: at point 5, you will find yourself on a dyke that has been quite damaged by wild boars. At this point, be sure not to miss the discreetly signposted path that leads into the forest on your right. You will arrive at a house (farm?) and a little further on, at the edge of the pond, you will find an open construction trailer that has been converted into a dry place to eat. There is a bench next to it. Further on, the gravel pit is really noisy. Point 8... if you can find it (!) will allow you to take some beautiful photos.
In general, follow the route carefully to avoid getting lost between two dead arms of the Rhine. So thank you Visorando + GPS.

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randos67
randos67

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely afternoon stroll, easy to follow if you follow the visorando track on your smartphone. A project to extend a gravel pit is likely to radically alter the route. To be checked in the future.

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Francesco67
Francesco67

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant journey

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visorandochristine57
visorandochristine57

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy and varied walk, with the opportunity to see quite a few birds.

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Itoupitou
Itoupitou
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Good walk in autumn colours Many remarkable waterholes with swans.

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tchequemat
tchequemat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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J-L Renard
J-L Renard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Fortunately, the GPS coordinates are there to help you find the departure car park.
As for the rest, it was a lovely walk in glorious sunshine.

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Maupiti43
Maupiti43

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk in this dense forest dotted with numerous bodies of water. Not much wildlife at this time of year, but the new autumn colours give this little walk a "I'll be back" flavour...

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Lenz
Lenz

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We really enjoyed this easy and varied walk! Thank you so much!

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Goofie
Goofie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello
First of all, I'd like to thank the author of this beautiful ballad hike, which was carried out in beautiful February weather. Whether it's the forest, the wildlife (especially birdlife at this time of year), the permanent land-water atmosphere with all these magnificent ponds, diversions, oxbows, etc., everything contributes to a pleasant tour that can be enjoyed by everyone, including small children. everything contributes to a pleasant tour that can be enjoyed by everyone, including small children. Beware, however, of the wind, which is cold at the moment, on the Rhine embankment.
We've therefore rated all the criteria as "very good", because it's well worth the effort
A word of warning, though: hiking in Germany is very different from hiking in Alsace. The Germans, who don't have our famous and efficient Club Vosgien, signpost their routes using place names (Grossenwasserweg, Rheinweg, etc.) engraved on wooden arrows fixed to stakes or trunks and a few "landmarks", such as the black triangle that appears at times on this route. It might therefore be a good idea to give (only for certain changes of direction) the German name of the direction to follow.
If you're a regular hiker, don't worry; you can't get lost in this sector, or else you do it on purpose; but I'm thinking more of a few beginners who would like to discover this very interesting biotope...
I'd like to make it clear that this is not a criticism, but rather a potential additional help? We came across some tourists from the Doubs, who were not German-speaking either, and were a bit lost...
It's also worth noting that you can find "Kompass" maps online, which you can print out and use to map out your route, including the German names.
Thanks again to the author of this hike and have a nice day!

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claude laufer
claude laufer

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2019
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It's a lovely little walk through the alluvial forest of the Rhine, dotted with meandering white water (former branches of the Rhine).

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Lenz
Lenz

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Lovely walk along the banks of ponds and rivers but few views except along the Rhine;
I think I did this walk in 2 hours at a good pace without running ...

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Haffen Pierre
Haffen Pierre

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

To access the circuit, after the border, take :
the first street on the right
then the first on the left towards Schiffswerft
and then the first road on the right.

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