The Colorado of Bitcherland from Haspelschiedt

A beautiful walk in the Northern Vosges to discover the Colorado of Bitcherland.

Details

37572921
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.25 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 349 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 346 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 400 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 271 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park in front of the Haspelschiedt pond, on the fishing side.

(S/E) With your back to the car park, follow the path on the left for a few metres, then turn left and follow the Eppenbrunn path (not signposted) to the first crossroads.

(1) Follow the path opposite, which climbs towards Hauersberg. After a left-hand bend, join a path on the right and continue until you reach a trail on the right, which you follow until you reach a trail marked with a yellow cross.

(2) Follow the path, marked with a yellow cross, on the right until you reach Roppeviller. Pass in front of the church and continue to Rue Principale.

(3) Follow it on the right until the end of the village, then enter the forest and continue along the same path until the next crossroads.

(4) Turn right (cross the border), then further on, turn right again and follow the path that leads to Altschlossfelsen Süd.

(5) Turn left and follow the Altschlosspfad, ignore the next path on the left (this path leads to Altschlossfelsen Nord), then, further on, you will come to the junction with the Pfälzerwald Weisses Kreuz/Grenzweg.

(6) Turn left (red disc sign) and follow this path, ignoring the paths that branch off to the right and left. After the Rastpaltz Bannholz, continue along the same path until you reach a bend, which you follow to the right to reach the Rocher de Diane.

(7) Continue along this same path, following the red disc markings, until the next junction.

(8) Turn left and follow this path downhill back to Roppeviller. You will come out onto the main road you took on the way there and, after 100 m, you will arrive at the intersection you passed on the way there.

(3) Turn left and follow the same route as on the way there, passing the church and cemetery. After these, follow the road towards Neudoerfe, following the yellow cross signs until you reach the fork you passed on the way there.

(2) Continue along the yellow cross markings and return to Neudoerfe.

(9) Turn left and return to the car park at the Haspelschiedt pond (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 274 m - Car park at the Étang de Haspelschied fishing lake
  2. 1 : km 0.43 - alt. 305 m - Crossroads - straight ahead
  3. 2 : km 1.92 - alt. 374 m - Common intersection on the way there and back
  4. 3 : km 3.34 - alt. 295 m - Common intersection on the way there and back - Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Roppevillet)
  5. 4 : km 4.88 - alt. 336 m - Crossroads - right
  6. 5 : km 5.51 - alt. 371 m - Altschlossfelsen Süd
  7. 6 : km 7.12 - alt. 319 m - Crossroads with the Pfälzerwald Weisses Kreuz/Grenz
  8. 7 : km 8.48 - alt. 351 m - Diane's Rock
  9. 8 : km 8.94 - alt. 396 m - Crossroads - left
  10. 9 : km 12.92 - alt. 273 m - Neudoerfel. Follow the - Schwartzenbach (ruisseau) - Affluent de l'Horn
  11. S/E : km 13.25 - alt. 274 m - Car park at the Étang de Haspelschied fishing lake

Notes

There are several benches and tables along the route where you can rest and have a picnic.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 40 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Thecla
Thecla
• Edited:

The path at the start doesn't go through the restricted area owned by the army at all; I think you must have got it wrong!

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Tkiene
Tkiene

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The first section is off-limits to walkers as it is on military land.
You need to follow section 9 on your map

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Thecla
Thecla

It’s certainly a very popular spot, but I’ve personally been there twice with hardly anyone else around. The path at the start doesn’t go through the restricted area at all – that’s military property – so you must have got it wrong!

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fredchristine14
fredchristine14
• Edited:

Yes, I’ve experienced the traffic jam on a weekday with hikers who thought they were all alone in the countryside

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PARUSSOM
PARUSSOM

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Nothing of interest before Ropperviller, and to make matters worse, the route there is impassable as it’s in a restricted military zone! Once on the French side, there are quite a few walkers and cyclists! Upon reaching the famous Colorado, which is entirely in Germany, there are dozens of walkers with children, dogs running free, and regular stops for people to pose and take selfies! A 1.5 km traffic jam on an ordinary Thursday! Just imagine what it must be like at the weekends! Return via a typical northern Vosges forest track to Ropperviller and along the same route as on the way there to get back to the starting point!

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Djef57
Djef57

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful circular route that allows you to cover a few more kilometres than the classic route.
Done in the wrong season, the colours are a little less vivid but still worth discovering. Advantage yesterday and during the week, very few people, only two people encountered... perfect for taking your time.
To be repeated in spring.

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fredchristine14
fredchristine14

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Too many elderly people slowed us down, which was very frustrating. They were French, a large group, so you can imagine the traffic jams, even though it was a weekday and not yet the school holidays.

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jeanluc.evelyne
jeanluc.evelyne

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

beautiful hike, accessible to experienced walkers. Easy to moderate level

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User 13685781

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great walk, but choose your day carefully as it gets very busy!

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gege54
gege54

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

very good parish-specific to Brittany tour, well worth the detour

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User 3863605

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike with plenty of shade! The start of the route is a little tricky to follow, but you can manage with the map on your mobile phone! Highly recommended!

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User 13637493

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

During our hike, the first part was not very busy, but the second part was busier

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Cube 5
Cube 5

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

When leaving the village, turn left, not near the forest but onto Rue de la Forêt

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User 26179457

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice hike, easy, shame that the start isn't properly signposted. Very popular with German hikers.

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Véro B
Véro B

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Just magnificent, but I suggest taking the same route back at Altschloss to enjoy this marvel and admire it from both directions.

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