Le Donon

A short hike up one of the most famous peaks in the Vosges du Nord, famous for its Gallo-Roman remains and from where you can enjoy a wide panorama. The ascent is more gradual and less busy than the descent.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.12 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 265 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 265 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,008 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 743 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the Maison Forestière du Haut Donon (large car park), shortly after the pass of the same name, on the D993 road towards the German military cemetery (north-east).

Multiple signposts (including Blue Cross and Red Rectangle)

(S/E) Take the small road heading south-east towards Le Donon") and pass a house with a clearly visible blue rendering. The path then makes a wide right-hand loop, first climbing between meadows and then into the forest. Reach a forest road on a flat area.

Blue Cross markings

(1) A path leads off opposite towards the summit of the Donon: do not follow this path (which will be used on the return journey) but take a few steps to the left and then turn right onto a path parallel to the previous one, heading towards Schirmeck via the Col des Deux Donons. Stay on this main path, ignoring the side paths. Initially under forest, the terrain becomes clearer as the climb progresses, which is very gradual with a few false-flat sections.

Red Rectangle markings

(2) At a fork in the road, with the summit of Petit Donon clearly in sight, turn right up the path (while the left-hand path descends) and pass a cross-country ski trail sign.

(3) When the path heads due south, turn right at an acute angle onto a steeper path (the path is inconspicuous; look out for the arrow indicating the change of direction on a tree on the left-hand side of the path). After a few hairpin bends, find a wider path. Follow this to the right for about a hundred metres, then turn left to pick up a path that winds upwards. Reach a natural rock shelter (sign). Turn right before the shelter and you will soon reach the Donon orienteering table. Continue as far as the temple, which is clearly in view.

(4) Cross the temple to reach a rock platform with another orientation table. Then head for the telecommunications tower, which is clearly visible to the south-west. The path leading to it can be reached in two ways:
- when you are on the western platform, go down a stone staircase on the right as you look towards the temple, then take the path around the platform to the left;
- when you are between the eastern orientation table and the temple, take the path around the temple to the right.
Heading south-west, descend the wide path (with a few sandstone steps) to the flat area where the telecommunications pylon stands.

(5) Go around the pylon area to the left and make a left hairpin turn onto a steep paved path. Just before you reach a road below, turn right down a flight of stone steps. Cross the road and take a woodland path opposite. The path soon gives way to a track that runs downhill around the top of the pylon. Turn sharp left onto the path and continue downhill until you reach a crossroads that you used on the outward journey.

Multiple markings (including Blue Cross and Red Rectangle)

(1) Continue south down into the undergrowth, then turn right. At a fork in the road, take the right-hand path along the edge of the meadow. Go past the house with the blue rendering and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 743 m - Haut Donon Forest House
  2. 1 : km 0.53 - alt. 798 m - Carrefour de la boucle
  3. 2 : km 1.96 - alt. 851 m - Bifurcation
  4. 3 : km 2.17 - alt. 874 m - Bifurcation
  5. 4 : km 3.03 - alt. 1,008 m - Donon (le)
  6. 5 : km 3.32 - alt. 964 m - Telecommunications tower area
  7. S/E : km 5.12 - alt. 743 m - Haut Donon Forest House

Practical information

Hiking boots required.

Shelter available just before (4), below the summit, and at the summit below the temple itself. No water points on the route.

The hike can of course be done in either direction, but the one proposed here allows for a more gradual ascent overall (even if some sections are steep).

1:25,000 scale map required (at least the one that accompanies this description).

This hike was done three times by the author, the first on 11 December 1994 and the last on 10 November 2024.

In the nearby area

During the walk :
- Gallo-Roman remains (information panels): temple at the summit (4) and other remains between (4) and (5).
- First World War remains (information panels): shelter just before (4) and artillery position at (5).
- Extensive panorama from the two orientation tables on either side of the summit. Dating from 1884, the language used and the difference between"Deutschland" and"Ausland" remind us of the status of Alsace-Moselle at the time.

Off the trail (near the Col du Donon)
First World War memorial sites:
- French military cemetery: on the left of the D392 road heading towards Raon-sur-Plaine.
- German military cemetery: take the D993 to the north-east, then the D145 to the north. Note several former military shelters along these roads.
Monument to the smugglers: on the D392 road, just before Raon-sur-Plaine.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 101 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
jluc67140
jluc67140

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very knowledgeable

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23ppj88
23ppj88

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very well signposted route;

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User 6120514
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We went for a walk in fine weather on a weekday, so it wasn't too crowded. Magnificent panorama once we reached the temple.

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User 25623380

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

As a beginner hiker, I printed out the map! Perfect details - Super panoramic hike

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User 25843478

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Nice circuit. Perfect to take this loop to get to the temple, it's much gentler on the way in and quicker on the way back down.

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Neo_567
Neo_567

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Be careful: in snowy conditions, the paths are likely to be a little icy from other hikers.
So if you have them, use studded soles in these conditions.

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Claire de La Halte
Claire de La Halte

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A route where it's impossible to get lost. It was great to climb all the way up to the Donon with hardly anyone around! The icing on the cake was the magnificent autumn weather, which gave us a splendid view!

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visozim
visozim

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Route followed to the letter according to your description.
Perfect for the advice in (1) not to take the direct path to the "Sommet du Donon" signpost but the parallel path after taking a few steps to the left. This makes for a gentler ascent towards the Donon.
We were lucky, as the site wasn't too busy that day.

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Vanessa poupouille
Vanessa poupouille

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Small mishap after the blue house
Then I think we took the blue cross markings for too long because we ended up on the parallel of the parallel on which we had just been.
Otherwise, it was a lovely walk in less than 3 hours for 5 and 3 year olds.

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Titimeo
Titimeo

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

The layout is great. But be careful, there is no longer a path between 1 and 2. You need to stay on the forest path that deviates from the route but joins it further on at level 2.

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David Von Gluck
David Von Gluck

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

We, who are used to walking more, took a diversion to the Petit Donon, which is less frequented and, in my opinion, more beautiful even if less impressive. The diversions took an hour and added around 160m of ascent.

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fenique
fenique

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

It's very pretty, and I hiked with children aged 7. It's best to bring good shoes and walking sticks.

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Christophe Fevrier
Christophe Fevrier

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice walk. Curiously, the route was unusually inaccurate.

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Iktus313
Iktus313

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Lovely hike, more interesting in one direction than the other.
Breathtaking views!

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Magali_J88
Magali_J88

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very nice walk with beautiful views. The outward route is not very busy, unlike the return route. I would therefore advise you to follow the direction indicated in the description.
This walk should be done outside weekends and holiday periods to avoid the crowds at the Donon.

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