The heron walk in the Wantzenau forest

Walk in the Wantzenau forest, including a large part of the heron trail. A very pleasant route through fields and forests, but be careful on hot days.

Details

3274808
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.15 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 4 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 4 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 134 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 129 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the parking lot at the end of Quai des Bateliers.

(S/E) Head north-east and, at the three-way junction, turn right onto Rue de la Digue (dead end).

(1) At the end, turn left onto Rue des Morilles. Take thefirst right, Rue de l'Épinoche. At the next intersection, turn right onto Rue de la Pépinière.

(2) Stay on the road, which curves to the right and then to the left. Go through a gate.

(3) Shortly afterwards, turn right onto a signposted path (herons on wooden signs). Enter the forest and follow the Ill river on your right. Leave the river and rejoin it about 500 m further on.

(4) At the intersection that appears (still following the heron signs), turn left. At the next intersection (elevation 130), turn left. Head west-southwest through the forest and ignore all side roads. Cross afirst stream, then asecond.

(5) At the end of the footbridge, turn right and follow a path along the edge of the forest (not shown on the map).

(6) After two small wooden bridges, climb up onto the dyke and follow it to the left. Continue straight ahead (south-west). Ignore a path on the right and walk alongside a pond on your right. At the next intersection, continue straight ahead and walk alongside a gravel pit for about 150 m.

(7) Leave the road and take a path on the left that climbs up a dyke and initially runs parallel to the road. Further on, the path leaves the road and heads south.

(2) At the crossroads, go straight ahead and climb up to stay on the dyke.

(1) At the next junction, continue straight ahead and follow Rue de la Digue to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 133 m - Parking at Quai des Bateliers - Ill (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.27 - alt. 134 m - Crossroads
  3. 2 : km 0.64 - alt. 133 m - Road crossing through the dyke
  4. 3 : km 1.56 - alt. 131 m - Start of the trail
  5. 4 : km 2.96 - alt. 131 m - Fork
  6. 5 : km 4.04 - alt. 130 m - Fork at the end of the footbridge
  7. 6 : km 4.32 - alt. 132 m - High water embankment
  8. 7 : km 5.36 - alt. 133 m - Trailhead
  9. S/E : km 6.15 - alt. 133 m - Parking at Quai des Bateliers

Notes

A lovely spot for a picnic along the River Ill, very popular on sunny weekend days.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 25 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Wisigoth
Wisigoth

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant short tour

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docjo
docjo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

For a short walk, it's very pleasant and varied. We didn't see any herons despite being very quiet...

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Juliette B
Juliette B
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, peaceful walk, recommended for families, completely flat.
Shortcuts and detours are possible. For my part, I continued along the trail after point 4 to the tip, a lovely little spot at the "end of the world".
In this hot and humid season, there are lots of large puddles and mosquitoes. The route is well shaded for the most part and you can hear the sound of the water.
I started the circuit at the very beginning of the Quai des Bateliers, near the bridge over the Ill, to enjoy the facilities along the water's edge, which are ideal for a picnic or a break.
I will do this route again in the middle of winter.

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Marion-M
Marion-M

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, the scenery is lovely and the hike is easy.
Warning: avoid at all costs during mosquito season, I was eaten alive

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Dorette
Dorette

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A very beautiful walk, recommended in spring or autumn. I wanted to enjoy the benches provided, but I quickly changed my mind when I was attacked by mosquitoes, which are already swarming.

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Dedetour
Dedetour

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

When I went hiking, there were hardly any people around, but those are the moments I enjoy the most

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Tomvince
Tomvince

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2024
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, no difficulty, varied landscapes, few people. I recommend this walk.

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evallettedosia
evallettedosia
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It was a winter Sunday, when the cold bit the cheeks and nature, gently asleep, let itself be caressed by the soft light of the pale January sun. The family got ready for a walk along the Balade des Hérons, a peaceful path winding along the confluence of the Waldrhein and Ill rivers, which they knew well.

The trees, majestic guardians of the path, seemed to tell stories of centuries past. Their bark was gnawed by the discreet work of beavers, nocturnal craftsmen of this silent symphony. The traces of their labour marked the landscape, bearing witness to the secret life that animated the forest.

As they strolled along, the family made their way leisurely, soaking up the tranquillity of the place. Majestic and graceful herons flew over the calm waters of the confluence, adding a touch of elegance to a day already imbued with natural magic.

The return journey was just as enchanting, punctuated by an unexpected encounter with curious deer. Their gentle eyes reflected the serenity of the moment, and the family, filled with wonder, watched this lively scene of local wildlife.

With cheeks rosy from the cold and hearts filled with memories, the day did not end there, as the family had an appointment at the nearby Koenig Room at MMPark to attend a fascinating lecture. The speaker, Bruno Fuligini, a senior civil servant, writer, historian, lecturer at Sciences Po, and author of thirty books on political history and state secrets, including The Secret Atlas of Intelligence, stood before an attentive audience, ready to reveal the "Secret of the King."

Bruno Fuligini's style was reminiscent of the great storytellers, and he plunged the audience into a spellbinding epic. His carefully chosen words painted a vivid picture of royal intrigues, unveiled mysteries and secret alliances. The listeners were transported to another time, captivated by this story where intrigue mingled with poetry.

The evening ended in the warmth of the room with a glass of crémant in hand, minds still filled with the mysteries of the king and the wonders of nature. That January Sunday remained etched in the family's memory, a wonderful family outing punctuated by chance encounters and discoveries, crowned by the magic of Bruno Fuligini's stories.

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Elektro
Elektro

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A peaceful walk, partly along the banks of the Ill river and well shaded. Virtually no elevation gain.

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didier schmitt
didier schmitt

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

the name discrepancy between Rue de la Forêt and Rue de la Pépinière needs to be corrected as soon as possible

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Evavel
Evavel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Magnificent route, easy
Very few people during the week
The town has changed the street names!!!!!!!!!
Rue de la Forêt has become Rue de la Pépinière! We were a bit lost...
We met someone who gave us directions
The REAL herons were missing!!!!!!

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@nnik
@nnik

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The start of the walk is a haven of peace. The end is a little more monotonous. I did it alone during the week and only met two people.
Thank you for this route.

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vero crpl
vero crpl
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

a pleasant walk for a Sunday afternoon after lunch, not very long or difficult, with varied scenery.
there is indeed an error in the description: you need to follow Rue de la Pépinière on the right, not Rue de la Forêt.
this walk must be very popular when the weather is nice because even at the end of February there were already quite a few people there.

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Gallois
Gallois

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hello, there is an error in the directions at the start of the description: (do not take Rue de la Forêt on the right as advised, but Rue de la Pépinière on the right). There are then some missing details to help you find your way along the walk... Follow the signs with pictures of herons, whose beaks point in the right direction... A pleasant walk, easy for adults and children.

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dwerck
dwerck

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice walk

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