The Blaufels shelter through the Willer-Bitschwiller forest

Enjoy a beautiful unobstructed view of the Thann valley from the Blaufels shelter. The route is shaded as it is mainly in the forest, ideal for hot summer days.

Details

24133908
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.00 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 476 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 476 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 809 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 371 m

Photos

Description of the walk

You can start from Willer-sur-Thur station. This will also be the finishing point.

(S/E) Take the road that crosses the railway line, then take Rue de l'Antrain, which climbs through the houses. At the junction with the Thannerhubel ski lift sign, continue straight ahead, leaving the tarmac road to reach the entrance to the Willer-sur-Thur communal forest.

(1) A few metres behind the sign marking the entrance, take the path climbing up to the right, marked with a red disc, towards Rossberg via Blaufelsen. Follow these markings and this direction until you reach the Blaufels shelter. Join the Altrain forest path.

(2) Continue along this forest path, turning left. After walking for a long time along the path (more than 1.5 km), in a long right-hand bend, a path branches off to the right.

(3) Take this path up to the right, which joins a forest track.

(4) Cross the forest track and take the path ascending to the left. Continue south to the summit and the Blaufels shelter.

(5) Facing the Blaufels shelter, you will see a forest path descending to the left. Take this path towards Altrain, following the red ring markings. Follow these markings until the end of the route. After a right-hand bend, the path climbs back up to a crossroads of forest paths.

(6) At this fork, take the ascending path opposite. It quickly leads to Place Zundel.

(7) Continue along the forest path on the left, which is partially covered with tarmac. After a few metres, turn completely left onto the path leading down towards Willer-sur-Thur. After about 300 m, you will arrive at the Vogesapfàd Hisla shelter.

(8) Continue straight ahead, passing behind the shelter. The path heads east and reaches a fork in the marked paths.

(9) At this fork in the Willer - Bitschwiller paths, follow the path on the left towards Willer-sur-Thur. As you descend, cross the forest path and continue straight ahead on the descending path. Continue until you reach the starting point at the stadium and railway station (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 371 m - Gare de Willer-sur-Thur
  2. 1 : km 1.04 - alt. 414 m - Entrance to the communal forest
  3. 2 : km 1.61 - alt. 517 m - Altrain forest path
  4. 3 : km 3.38 - alt. 643 m - Fork in the path
  5. 4 : km 3.99 - alt. 721 m - Forest path junction
  6. 5 : km 4.49 - alt. 808 m - Abri du Blaufels
  7. 6 : km 5.42 - alt. 717 m - Forest path junction
  8. 7 : km 5.87 - alt. 774 m - Place Zundel
  9. 8 : km 6.3 - alt. 722 m - Abri du Vogesapfàd-hislà
  10. 9 : km 8.04 - alt. 552 m - Willer - Bitschwiller junction
  11. S/E : km 10 - alt. 371 m - Willer-sur-Thur station - La Thur

Notes

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Nine 68
Nine 68

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A nice climb to start with... No great views during the ascent, but once you reach the Blaufels shelter, you're treated to spectacular scenery. Care is needed in certain places; after point 8, there are no more CV signs for a while. The return route is very stony, which resulted in a fall. The route may be difficult for "old legs"

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Maria 1706
Maria 1706

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb hike through hills and woodland.
Easy to do even with young children.

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Jannik
Jannik

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike mostly through forest

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Gégé d'alsace
Gégé d'alsace

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route, magnificent shelter, beautiful view.
Everything to satisfy a nature lover.

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DanielJ
DanielJ

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A well-marked route that is easy to follow, whether using a downloaded map or a paper map.
What's more, it was a beautiful sunny day in February.

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laika1963
laika1963

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route, with lovely unobstructed views. Thank you for this route.

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Ashbury
Ashbury

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you, visorandonneur and moderator, for this hike.

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Roussette72
Roussette72

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route through the woods, with a few tricky sections, especially in wet weather. Beautiful views over the Thann valley. Several picnic spots. Be careful not to miss the fork at point no. 1.

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