The Savoureuse Valley

Ponds, waterfalls, undergrowth: an authentic walk in the heart of nature to reconnect with yourself and breathe deeply. One of the most beautiful hikes near Belfort.

If it has rained recently, the waterfalls are magnificent.
The hike is marked with a blue disc.

Details

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Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.01 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 514 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 513 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,096 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 589 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Malvaux car park at the beginning of Rue de la Papeterie.

Blue Disc Markings

(S/E) From the car park, take the Chemin de la Goutte Thierry on the right, which runs below the Chemin Marcel Tassion. It passes in front of a former holiday camp. Just after this, the path climbs to the right into a fir forest before joining a forest road.

(1) Cross the road, then walk up alongside the Goutte du Bon Pommier stream and follow the winding path back to the forest road.

(2) Follow the road to the left for 200 metres, then leave it and climb up to the right to the Plateau de la Grange.

(3) Cross a farm track. When you reach a refuge chalet, take a good path on the left to La Gentiane (downhill ski run).

(4) Walk along the car park, past the gendarmerie building and the Refuge des Amis de la Nature.
Cross the D466 and take the path above it. Walk along the road on your left.

(5) Pass at the foot of the Tête des Redoutes ski lift. Continue along the path that runs alongside the departmental road.

(6) When you reach La Chaumière, cross the D465 and take the path that descends rapidly before turning right.

(7) Cross Chemin Boigeol and continue downhill to Étang du Petit-Haut.

(8) Walk along the dyke and turn left onto the path that runs alongside the Savoureuse river via the waterfall trail. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead.

(9) When you reach Saut de la Truite, cross the D465, go around the car park, then walk down
along the river on a stony path, then a tarmac road. It runs alongside an old weaving mill and takes you back to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 590 m - Parking is available at the beginning of Rue de la Papeterie.
  2. 1 : km 0.42 - alt. 640 m - Forest road
  3. 2 : km 1.82 - alt. 902 m - Forest road, on the left
  4. 3 : km 2.4 - alt. 1,012 m - Plateau de la Grange
  5. 4 : km 3.27 - alt. 1,055 m - La Gentiane
  6. 5 : km 4.2 - alt. 1,089 m - Tête des Redoutes ski lift
  7. 6 : km 4.55 - alt. 1,085 m - Crossing the D465
  8. 7 : km 5.05 - alt. 1,035 m - Chemin Boigeol
  9. 8 : km 5.81 - alt. 922 m - Étang du Petit Haut - Walk along the - Savoureuse (rivière)
  10. 9 : km 6.97 - alt. 698 m - Saut de la Truite
  11. S/E : km 9.01 - alt. 590 m - Parking is available at the beginning of Rue de la Papeterie.

Notes

If it has rained recently, the waterfalls are magnificent. However, the path near the waterfalls may be slippery. In this case, I recommend doing the route in reverse. This allows you to climb alongside the waterfalls and minimise the risk of slipping.

Between points (7) and (8), the route runs alongside the Ballons Natural Park. Dogs must be kept on a leash.

Visorando was informed by Mr Chevalley, a volunteer member of Balisage90, based on brochures published by the Belfort department.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

The Ballon d'Alsace national forest (Lepuix).

The forest covers three quarters of the commune of Lepuix. It provided an important raw material, first exploited for the mines' foundries, then for the timber industry with the construction of several sawmills. At the time, wood cut in the mountains was brought down to the valley using a schlitte: a large ash sledge that was pulled down a log track and carried back up by men.

The Petit-Haut Pond

The gateway to a nature reserve, the Petit-Haut Pond was built in the 19th century to compensate for the low water levels of the Savoureuse River and ensure the smooth running of the valley's textile industries and sawmills. On the north bank, a young sphagnum bog is currently developing, which could evolve into a peat bog.

Waterfalls and torrents

The Savoureuse River, which flows through Belfort, has its source at the summit of the Ballon d'Alsace. In this area, it is more like a torrent, before calming down as it reaches the Petit-Haut Pond. It then picks up speed again at the Rummel and Saut de la Truite waterfalls. The Savoureuse River will have lost more than 600 metres in altitude by the time it reaches Malvaux.

Nearby attractions:

The summit of Ballon d'Alsace, an exceptional natural site. The summit discovery trail offers exceptional views of the adjacent valleys, the Vosges ridges and even the Alps on a clear day. This is a listed site, and the flora and fauna are protected by the Ballons Comtois nature reserve and Natura 2000.
The trail runs alongside the Natura 2000 area but does not enter it. Dogs are allowed on the route if kept on a leash.

Natura 2000 is a network of European natural sites selected for the rarity or fragility of their wild animal and plant species and their habitats. Natura 2000 implements measures to preserve ecological diversity and develop the territories. Dogs are not allowed in the Natura zone, even on a lead. Do not stray from the path.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Goretex
Goretex

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful reconnaissance hike on this sunny day.
Steep climb but normal for the 500m elevation gain.
The waterfalls were magnificent at this time of year, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves (however, it was very rough terrain for taking a group of seniors, so we will try to do it again in the other direction).
The blue round markings were impeccable until we reached the trout restaurant, where we lost sight of them.
As night was falling, we hurried and, unable to find the path, took the road back down to the car park, but it was too long (3 km) and dangerous.
Thanks to Mr Chevalley.

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Pierrot DAVID
Pierrot DAVID

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

I confirm that the start of this route is quite physically demanding and adds little interest to the hike. But you have to find a way to get to the summits. The Plain de la Gentiane refuge is abandoned, overgrown with vegetation and hermetically sealed, so there's no point in thinking about resting there or stopping for a picnic.
However, from La Chaumière onwards, it becomes much more interesting: viewpoints, crossing a field of moraines, the bucolic setting of the Petit-Haut lake and a very pleasant descent along the Savoureuse with its succession of small waterfalls.
Also worth noting is the unusual old signage in the form of enamel signs from the Michelin company, installed in 1936 and still in very good condition (see explanation on the sign at the Petit-Haut pond).

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Feudewotan
Feudewotan

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Quite a strenuous climb, uninteresting start, walking through nettles and brambles with nothing special to see.
Once at the summit, the landscape is much more pleasant. And the descent via the waterfall trail is superb. We did this hike during the August heatwave, which made it very pleasant and perfect for cooling off. Be sure to be well equipped for the descent.
The end of the route is also uninteresting.

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JOSETTE25
JOSETTE25

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike with attractions all along the way (autumn nature, ponds, waterfalls).
Steep climb to the highest point, but doable.
No problems with signage if you follow the blue circle.

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gillouripoux
gillouripoux
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful parish-specific to Brittany hike, which I personally extended by 6 kilometres.
. We climbed to the top of the Ballon d'Alsace and came back
to the route (Saut de la Truite).

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Laurence Rizk
Laurence Rizk

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This route through the fir forests is well worth the detour, especially to see the Rummel waterfall, which is partially frozen, and the snow-covered forest paths. At the Saut de la Truite restaurant, we hesitated because the sign for the Malvaux car park is located below, on the other side of the road, which is very busy in winter and therefore not visible.

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freyjojo
freyjojo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Information for dog owners.
The hike between points 7 and 8 runs alongside the Ballons Comtois Nature Reserve, where dogs are not allowed, even on a leash. At point 7, a sign may cause confusion as it refers to the GR 5 trail leading to the Fagnes and the monument to the deminers, rather than the GR5 trail leading to Le Petit Haut.
I checked with the reserve managers, who informed me that animals on a leash are allowed on the trail as it runs along the edge of the reserve.
Best regards

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Edellupo
Edellupo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A real hike, with a 500m elevation gain in the first 3km. A short detour to the Wissgrut Virgin viewpoint and return via the gentian field. Superb. Descent via these magnificent waterfalls.
12 km, 3 hours.

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Vincent_visorando
Vincent_visorando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very beautiful hike.

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Cribou
Cribou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We had a lovely hike, starting with the waterfalls and returning via the gently sloping path.
The difficulty is moderate if you are reasonably fit. However, for someone who is not very active, the climb can be quite tough.

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