The Wormsa Valley

de fr

The Wormsa Valley offers spectacular, unspoilt landscapes. Steep trails, waterfalls, rocky cirques and glacial moraines await you on this beautiful walk. A classic in the Vosges mountains.

Details

n°26573166
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.27 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 302 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 302 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 796 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 494 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Ascent to the lake
Wormsa trail
The Wormsa trail
The Wormsa footbridges

Description of the walk

Park in the Steinabruck car park.

(S/E) When leaving the car park, cross the bridge on the right and take the path on the left that runs alongside the Fecht. Head towards the memorial to engineer François.

(1) Turn left onto the path towards Lac du Fischboedle through the Wormsa valley until you reach a crossroads.

(2) Keep left towards Mittlach. Pass the sculpture of the last bear killed in the Vosges in 1760. You will soon come to theGR®5crossroads.

(3) Take the path on the right towards Fischboedle, following the red rectangle markings. At the next crossroads, follow the signs for Fischboedle, slightly to the left. Stay on theGR®5, also known as the Wormsa Trail. This trail climbs up the mountainside, crosses glacial moraines and crosses the stream several times via wooden bridges.
Turn left onto the carriage road and then join the GR®5/RedRectanglevariant that climbs to Lac du Fischboedle.

(4) Walk along the lake, descend via the small path, then retrace your steps and continue left on the carriage road, also known as Chemin du Fischboedle (Red Horse). Go through a tunnel and you will come to a crossroads.

(5) Leave the carriage road and take the path on the right that descends into the valley. After a few hairpin bends, you will arrive at the remains of the 14-18 cable car.

(6) Continue downhill on a wider track and return to the initial crossroads you passed on the way up.

(2) Retrace your steps to return to the Steinabruck car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 494 m - Steinabruck car park - Source de la Fecht
  2. 1 : km 0.23 - alt. 501 m - Stele of engineer François
  3. 2 : km 0.96 - alt. 521 m - Crossroads of the loop
  4. 3 : km 1.36 - alt. 529 m - GR5
  5. 4 : km 3.91 - alt. 796 m - Lac de Fischboedle
  6. 5 : km 5.09 - alt. 685 m - Trail junction
  7. 6 : km 6.03 - alt. 583 m - Remains of the 1914-1918 cable car
  8. S/E : km 8.27 - alt. 494 m - Steinabruck car park

Notes

Catering, refreshments:

  • available at the Auberge et Chalets de la Wormsa and in the centre of Metzeral

Worth a visit

Along the route:

  • Moraines of the ancient glacier
  • Small wooden bridges
  • Fischboedle Lake
  • Remains of the cable car dating from the First World War
  • Stele dedicated to engineer François.
  • Sculpture of the last bear in the Vosges.
  • Club Vosgien memorial.
  • Scout memorial

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 16 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 16081536

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Regular user of Visorando and very often satisfied

Machine-translated

sylvie68
sylvie68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike. You do need good shoes though, as the trail is very rocky but perfectly passable.

Machine-translated

jmplume3
jmplume3
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, sometimes difficult due to numerous rocky steps.
Be sure to wear good shoes and avoid this hike in heavy rain.
There are beautiful waterfalls and photo opportunities on the way up, and the lake at the end is a wonderful reward, especially as the weather was very nice on the day we went. The path down is wide and easy.

Machine-translated

Bat68
Bat68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike!
As described, the first part of the climb requires good shoes (walking sticks are very useful) as there are many scree slopes and slippery sections due to recent heavy rain.
The arrival at the lake with the autumn colours is magnificent.
The return is much easier, with wider paths that are less wet.
The estimated time was 3 hours and 25 minutes, but I did it in just over 2 hours with a brisk pace.

Machine-translated

JPElise
JPElise

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

Climb up to the lake through a physically challenging but stunning environment of moraines. The arrival at the lake is a reward for your efforts. The descent back down is very easy.

Machine-translated

BABEL67
BABEL67

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's a relatively easy hike, but part of the trail is rocky. It's slippery when wet and not accessible to everyone... The waterfall is magnificent and Fischboedlé Lake is a great place for a picnic (there's a gazebo with benches and a table). It's probably very busy in summer, but we had it almost to ourselves!

Machine-translated

FKr
FKr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, breathtaking waterfalls, rocky climb but worth it! Highly recommended!

Machine-translated

SP67
SP67

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb walk

Machine-translated

Vogepat
Vogepat

A wonderful trail when the snow melts. Full and magnificent waterfalls.
An excellent route for teaching children about the history of the last glaciers in the Vosges.
The ideal season to avoid the crowds on this trail.

Machine-translated

ZB
ZB

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 27, 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 hike with stunning scenery.

Machine-translated

PerlineD
PerlineD
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with a beautiful variety of landscapes. The outward journey is a bit challenging and may not be suitable for everyone (narrow paths, rocky/rocky trails).

Machine-translated

hp67
hp67

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, not very frequent on that day. A bit challenging.

Machine-translated

AndCol
AndCol

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The route is very interesting, starting with a little history about the First World War.
Then there's the geology: the waterfall, the moraine lakes, the scree slopes, and finally the remarkable trees and the charming village of Metzeral.

Machine-translated

jadesuzhou
jadesuzhou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I had wanted to discover Wormsa for a long time. I really don't regret choosing this route. A superb hike with beautiful, varied landscapes. Passing through moraines and over small bridges, the lake is beautiful with lots of fish, there is historical interest with the old cable car, beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and, of course, the beautiful Wormsa, which the trail sometimes runs alongside.

As I had time and wasn't tired when I arrived at the lake, I extended the hike with a return trip to Fischboedle Lake, where I was able to admire the Hohneck.

It's easy to find your way around, as the signs are clear.

Machine-translated

Angel67
Angel67

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful route that is somewhat challenging. Magnificent views.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Wormsa loop to Fischboedle and Schiessrothried lakes

Visorando member
Boucle de la Wormsa aux lacs de Fischboedle et Schiessrothried
↔11.63 km ↗+453 m ↘-452 m ◔4h 35 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Metzeral (Haut-Rhin)
A very pretty walk in the magnificent Wormsa valley, with its succession of glacial moraine fields, small waterfalls and a succession of wooden footbridges. You reach the pretty little Lac du Fischboedle with its gazebo, then further up the Lac du Schiessrothried. This section has a few technical sections, but the reward is there for the effort. The return journey is easier and takes wide, shady forest paths.

Walking Fischboedle Lake and Shiessroth Lake in Metzeral

Visorando member
Lac du Fischboedle et Lac du Shiessroth à Metzeral
↔10.50 km ↗+439 m ↘-439 m ◔4h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Metzeral (Haut-Rhin)
A magnificent walk along the Wormsabach stream and its waterfalls.

Walking Circuit of the 6 lakes around Hohneck

Visorando member
Circuit des 6 lacs autour du Hohneck
↔31.02 km ↗+1,506 m ↘-1,504 m ◔12 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Metzeral (Haut-Rhin)
A long hike around the third highest peak in the Vosges mountains and the highest in the Vosges department, following six lakes. The route offers beautiful views and all types of terrain (paths, roads, trails, forest, clearings, alpine pastures, etc.). This is a very difficult hike for experienced hikers only (length, duration and significant elevation gain). Not to be attempted in winter; best done in late spring, summer or early autumn.

Walking The Hohneck via the Wormsa Valley

Visorando member
Le Hohneck par la vallée de la Wormsa
↔13.73 km ↗+881 m ↘-879 m ◔6h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Metzeral (Haut-Rhin)
Beautiful forest and mountain trail from Metzeral to the summit of Hohneck along the magnificent Wormsa valley, beside two lakes and through the impressive Combe du Wormspel, then back to the starting point on the other side of the Wormsa.

Walking Circular towards Gaschney and the Shiessrothried and Fischboedle lakes

Visorando member
Boucle vers le Gaschney et les lacs du Shiessrothried et de Fischboedle
↔11.68 km ↗+644 m ↘-644 m ◔5h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Metzeral (Haut-Rhin)
This is a moderately difficult hike from Metzeral to the Ferme-Auberge du Schiessroth via the Gaschney, before descending to the Schiessrothried and Fischboedle lakes. This route avoids a very steep climb from the lakes to the Ferme-Auberge du Schiessroth.

Walking Under the Spitzkoepfe from the Wormsa valley

Visorando member
Sous les Spitzkoepfe depuis la vallée de la Wormsa
↔12.16 km ↗+643 m ↘-643 m ◔5h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Metzeral (Haut-Rhin)
Discover the Wormsa Valley, created by a Vosges glacier during the Quaternary period. Climb up to the glacial cirque that is home to Lake Fischboedle. From there, you will quickly reach the second lake, Lake Schiessrothried, at the foot of Hohneck. The slightly more technical return journey will take you under the terminal ridge of the Spitzkoepfe and its granite scree. The final descent will take you to the ruins of the old cable car from the First World War.This route is best enjoyed from April to November.

Walking From Metzeral station to Petit-Ballon

Visorando member
De la gare de Metzeral au Petit-Ballon
↔16.22 km ↗+832 m ↘-830 m ◔7h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Metzeral (Haut-Rhin)
Hike in the hills above Metzeral, starting from the station, with a gradual climb to Petit-Ballon, before reaching the Steinberg ridge and Grothkopf and descending towards the village via the Brietenbach slope. Throughout the route, you will enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding hills and villages in the valley.

Walking The broom trail between Metzeral and Muhlbach

Visorando member
Circuit des genêts entre Metzeral et Muhlbach
↔4.23 km ↗+134 m ↘-133 m ◔1h 35 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Metzeral (Haut-Rhin)
A pretty loop around the heights of Metzeral and Muhlbach with beautiful views of the Grande Vallée, the Vosges ridges and the Hohneck massif. The Kuhfeil lookout offers a breathtaking view of Metzeral. It is also a place of remembrance. Bitter fighting took place here during the Battle of Metzeral in 1915.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.