The Chemin des Pierres-Frontière, starting from Grenzach

de fr

A short walk, mainly through woodland, on the hills above Grenzach. To the west of the forest, there is a magnificent view of the Rhine, the hydroelectric power station and the locks, as well as the port of Birsfelden, the city of Basel, the Swiss Jura and Alsace. On the way back, we walk alongside the border and its boundary markers for two kilometres. At the eastern edge of the forest, there is a lovely view of St-Chrischona before heading back down to the car park, skirting the small gardens. The route is signposted throughout along wide paths; it is pleasant and easy.

Details

n°108191306
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 2.76 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 482 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 476 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,562 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,188 ft
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Photos

View from the Hornfelsen
View of the lock and the harbour at Birsfelden and Basel
Boundary marker
View of St-Chrischona and the pastures

Description of the walk

Start at the Unterberg walkers’ car park in Grenzach. Access to the car park is via Talstrasse and then Weiherweg. At the end of Weiherweg, turn left, then go straight on. The road leading to the forest is closed to cars, except for those wishing to access the car park.

(S/E) With your back to the car park, take the path marked with a Yellow Diamond on the left towards Hornfelsen. There is also a sign for Buchsweg. Stay on this path marked with a Yellow Diamond until you reach a crossroads with a barrier.

(1) The Hornfelsen viewpoint is visible. Walk straight on for about 150 m to reach it.

(2) You’ll arrive at Hornfelsen. Enjoy the view over the Rhine, then retrace your steps to the barrier 150 m away.

(1) Head towards St-Chrischona via the Wiiwegli, on the left. You’ll soon reach a junction at the border.

(3) Leave the Wiiwegli and take the Dreiland-Wanderweg on the right, towards St-Chrischona, Bettingen. Walk along the border, past its many boundary stones. Continue to the next junction.

(4) Stay on the signposted Dreiland-Wanderweg towards St-Chrischona, on the right. The path runs alongside the border for nearly two kilometres. After a bend to the right, it emerges from the forest; there are benches where you can enjoy the view of St-Chrischona and the pastures below.

(5) Continue along the border and take the small, barely visible but signposted path on the right, which runs alongside small gardens clinging to the hillside. At the end of the path, turn right and follow the tarmac road for a few dozen metres.

(6) Turn onto the first path on the right, which is unmarked and climbs slightly across the fields. Pass by the foot of the gardens you walked past at the top of the hill, walk alongside the gardens on your left once more, and enter the woodland to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,293 ft - Unterberg – Weiherweg Grenzach walkers’ car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.77 - alt. 1,250 ft - Fork in the road towards the viewpoint
  3. 2 : mi 0.88 - alt. 1,188 ft - Hornfelsen marker – Viewpoint
  4. 3 : mi 1.12 - alt. 1,316 ft - German-Swiss border
  5. 4 : mi 1.22 - alt. 1,385 ft - Turn-off towards Bettingen
  6. 5 : mi 1.97 - alt. 1,467 ft - A narrow path winding between gardens and a tarmac track
  7. 6 : mi 2.22 - alt. 1,440 ft - End of the path running alongside the border
  8. S/E : mi 2.76 - alt. 1,293 ft - Unterberg – Weiherweg Grenzach walkers’ car park

Notes

At Hornfelsen, there is a shelter with benches and seating where you can sit and enjoy the view. There is also a terrace with an orientation table. One slight downside, however: everything is covered in graffiti, even the orientation table, which is illegible… (September 2026). Views of the harbour, the hydroelectric power station and the locks at Birsfelden, Grenzach and Riehen, the city of Basel, the Swiss Jura and Alsace. A magnificent view.

The boxwood forest, Buchswald, which originally covered around a hundred hectares, suffered extensive damage from 2007 onwards, first from a fungal infection and then from the box tree moth. By 2026, we could no longer find the magnificent boxwood hedges that we had once admired and enjoyed the scent of in this very forest...

https://www.gruenguertel.ch/fr/cherche/buchswald

Worth a visit

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