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.

Details

119348
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.12 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 265 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 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

Notes

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.

Worth a visit

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

4.8 / 5
Based on 109 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 13197186

Hello.
I went to the Col du Donon today to check out a route for an upcoming hike.
On the information sheet, you recommend taking the path marked with a blue cross: there are no blue crosses on the path in question (which can only be the one right next to the path marked with a Red Rectangle).
As a result, nobody was using it.
Is there an error on your page?
Kind regards.
Eve

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User 9051328

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A route to do during the week and in very good weather.

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User 10019725

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The Gr 5 trail, which you join during the hike, is particularly challenging in places (at this time of year) with small scree slopes and large sandstone slabs. Difficult passage requiring technical equipment (walking sticks and suitable footwear, for example) before reaching the Donon plateau.

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sylvie Spahn
sylvie Spahn

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

stunning 360° view, with the forest changing colour, magnificent.

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User 24756350

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Exceptional service that enhanced our holiday with sublime, well-marked trails

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phlrando
phlrando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done on a Friday in overcast weather but without rain: no one else on the trail! Hike accessible to any occasional hiker, to be done via the route recommended in the description: more gradual ascent.

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NRO
NRO

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The outward leg of the loop, which passes along a path strewn with stones and roots, is "fun" compared to the clear descent. The temple at the top is a real reward after the climb, which is easily manageable for a family with an eleven-year-old child. This outing allowed me to show my daughter that hiking is great, so thank you very much to the author. On a very hot day in August, we started the hike quite late (5pm), which was nice as it was sheltered in the forest. I recommend using mosquito repellent at this time of day, especially for the climb. We weren't bitten, but we could hear insects buzzing around us.

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Randochiens
Randochiens
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Too many details in the directions.
Three lines would have been sufficient as the paths are very well marked.

A very beautiful family hike, with a little technical difficulty.

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User 26626748

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very good information, especially at the start where there are two paths to choose from. The recommended one is definitely the best for doing the hike in the right direction. Varied trails, very pleasant.

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jluc67140
jluc67140

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very knowledgeable

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23ppj88
23ppj88

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Very well signposted route;

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User 6120514
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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 your route : May 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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 your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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 your route : Dec 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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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