The Savoureuse Valley

Ponds, waterfalls, woodland: a genuine walk in the great outdoors to reconnect with yourself and breathe in the fresh air to your heart’s content. One of the most beautiful walks near Belfort.

If it has rained recently, the waterfalls are magnificent.
The walk is signposted with a Blue Disc.

Details

n°1203357
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.60 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,686 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,683 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,596 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,932 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the Malvaux car park, at the start of Rue de la Papeterie.

Blue Disc Markings

(S/E) From the car park, turn right onto the Chemin de la Goutte Thierry, which runs below the Chemin Marcel Tassion. It passes a former holiday camp. Immediately afterwards, the path climbs to the right through a fir forest before joining a forest track.

(1) Cut across the forest track, then head up alongside the Goutte du Bon Pommier stream before joining the forest track via a series of tight bends.

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

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

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

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

(6) When you reach La Chaumière, cross the D465 and take the path which descends steeply at first before turning right.

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

(8) Walk along the embankment and turn left onto the path that runs alongside the River Savoureuse via the ‘sentier des cascades’. At the junction, carry straight on.

(9) When you reach the Saut de la Truite, cross the D465, go round the car park, then head back down
along the river on a stony path which later becomes tarmac. It runs past a former weaving mill and leads you back to the starting car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,936 ft - Car park at the start of Rue de la Papeterie.
  2. 1 : mi 0.26 - alt. 2,100 ft - Forest track
  3. 2 : mi 1.13 - alt. 2,959 ft - Forest track, on the left
  4. 3 : mi 1.49 - alt. 3,320 ft - Grange Plateau
  5. 4 : mi 2.03 - alt. 3,461 ft - La Gentiane
  6. 5 : mi 2.61 - alt. 3,573 ft - Tête des Redoutes ski lift
  7. 6 : mi 2.83 - alt. 3,560 ft - Crossing the D465
  8. 7 : mi 3.14 - alt. 3,396 ft - Chemin Boigeol
  9. 8 : mi 3.61 - alt. 3,025 ft - Étang du Petit Haut – Walk alongside the - Savoureuse (rivière)
  10. 9 : mi 4.33 - alt. 2,290 ft - Saut de la Truite
  11. S/E : mi 5.6 - alt. 1,936 ft - Car park at the start 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 the opposite direction. This allows you to walk uphill alongside the waterfalls and minimise the risk of slipping.

Between points (7) and (8), the route runs alongside the Ballons Nature Reserve. Dogs must be kept on a lead.

Visorando was provided with information by Mr Chevalley, a volunteer at Balisage90, based on leaflets published by the Belfort Department of Territorial Affairs.

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

Worth a visit

The Ballon d’Alsace State Forest (Lepuix).

The forest covers three-quarters of the commune of Lepuix. It provided an important source of raw materials, initially used for the mines’ foundries, then for the timber industry with the construction of several sawmills. In those days, timber felled in the mountains was transported down into the valley using a ‘schlitte’: a large ash-wood sledge that was lowered along a track of logs and hauled back up on men’s backs.

The Petit-Haut Pond

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

Waterfalls and torrents

The River Savoureuse, which flows through Belfort, rises at the summit of the Ballon d’Alsace. In this area, it is more like a torrent, before calming down as it reaches the Étang du Petit-Haut. It then picks up pace again at the Cascades du Rummel and the Saut de la Truite. By the time it reaches Malvaux, the Savoureuse will have dropped more than 600 metres in altitude.

Nearby attractions:

The summit of the Ballon d’Alsace, an exceptional natural site. The summit nature trail offers stunning views over the neighbouring valleys, the Vosges ridges and even the Alps on a clear day. As a designated conservation area, the flora and fauna here are protected by the Ballons Comtois Nature Reserve and the Natura 2000 network.
The route runs alongside the Natura 2000 area but does not enter it. Dogs are allowed on the route, provided they are kept on a lead.

Natura 2000 is a network of European natural sites selected for the rarity or fragility of their wild species – both animal and plant – and their habitats. Natura 2000 implements measures to preserve ecological diversity and promote regional development. Dogs are not permitted within the Natura 2000 zone, even when kept on a lead. Please do not stray from the path.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Marc1.xsi
Marc1.xsi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, but be warned: the first 3 km are tough – it’s a really steep climb and the scenery isn’t particularly interesting – but the rest of the route is stunning and shaded.

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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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