Le Grand Wintersberg

Circular hike starting from the Celtic spring with ascent of the Grand Wintersberg, 581 m, the highest point in the Northern Vosges, and return via the Col de la Liese chalet (belonging to the Club Vosgien) and the Heidenkopf shelter.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.44 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 425 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 418 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 581 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 199 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Source Celtique car park.

(S/E) Take the path going up to the left of the thermal spring dome, marked with a red rectangle, which is theGR® 53. Stay on this path until you reach a crossroads.

(1) Turn left onto the path marked with a red and white rectangle towards the Celtic Camp. Reach this camp at the top of Ziegenberg.
Please note that the ruins of the camp are still accessible, but unfortunately many trees have fallen on them.

(2) Take the path on the right and continue climbing. You will rejoin theGR® and its red rectangle markings. Turn left and, after crossing the circular Wintersberg trail marked with a blue ring, you will reach the Grand Wintersberg Tower
Alternative route: from the Celtic camp, descend the eastern side of the stream for 100 metres to reach a wide path on the Ziegenberg balcony. Follow it for 700 metres and climb up the stream on the right to join theGR®53.

(3) Descend opposite towards the Col de la Liese, still following the GR®. After a few hairpin bends, you will reach the pass and the Club Vosgien chalet.

(4) Continue downhill on the path parallel to the road that leaves to the right of the chalet. You will arrive at the Pottaschkopf shelter car park.

(5) Head towards the Bornberg pass via the wide path, staying on the marked trail, or follow the pleasant path further to the left that runs alongside the municipal boundary markers. Reach the pass.

(6) Follow the green disc marked trail to the Souille du Taubensee crossroads.
Directly below the watering hole, turn right onto the Anneau Rouge trail heading south-east. Stay on this trail, ignoring all the junctions on the right and left. You will reach the Heidenkopf shelter junction.

(7) Take the Anneau Bleu marked trail and continue in a south-westerly direction. You will reach a place called Les Trois Chênes, then Les Acacias.
Reach the Source Celtique car park (S/E) via the path starting to the right of the restaurant, which is theGR®53.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 199 m - Source Celtique car park - Gare de Niederbronn
  2. 1 : km 2.03 - alt. 432 m - GR crossroads
  3. 2 : km 2.74 - alt. 460 m - Camp Celtique
  4. 3 : km 3.94 - alt. 579 m - Tour of the Grand Wintersberg
  5. 4 : km 4.4 - alt. 514 m - Garnfirst
  6. 5 : km 5.17 - alt. 483 m - Abri du Pottaschkopf
  7. 6 : km 5.94 - alt. 463 m - Col du Borneberg (461m)
  8. 7 : km 8.92 - alt. 427 m - Abri du Heidenkopf
  9. S/E : km 11.44 - alt. 200 m - Source Celtique car park. Close to - Falkensteinerbach (rivière)

Notes

Club Vosgien chalet
Pottaschkopf and Heidenkopf shelters
Snowshoes for snowy winter conditions.
Hiking boots.
No water if the Club Vosgien chalet is closed

Worth a visit

(3) Climb the Grand Wintersberg Tower (25 m). Highest peak in the Northern Vosges (581 m). 360° view.
(4) Club Vosgien chalet: food available at weekends.
(7) Lovely view of the Wolfenthal district of Niederbronn.

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.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 18 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 6090958

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely spring walk, with a detour to the Roman camp if you like. Stop off at the Club Vosgien mountain hut on the way down for the cake of the day and a drink, just to support the club – the most passionate of the lot, and without whom the Vosges wouldn’t be what they are!

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User 23943317

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk; the climb is mainly at the start but is perfectly manageable.
The walk is mainly through the forest; some paths are a bit tricky, with roots, stones and fallen trees... so watch your step!
The weather was lovely but quite windy; it was blowing hard up there.
A few minor hiccups with the route, but luckily we had the track on the app.

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bonjourlesvoyages
bonjourlesvoyages

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 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 route with a nice climb right from the start. Climbing to the top of the tower is a bonus, with a 360-degree view.
Be careful when descending the steps on the way back (very dark), and it's easier with a torch!
The paths and trails have now been completely cleared. Return to the starting point on a gentle slope.
In March, we didn't meet a single soul!

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ObeeOne
ObeeOne

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A beautiful route that I would happily do again. Forest all the way with beautiful views in places, ideal for sheltering from the sun if it gets too strong.
You quickly get to the heart of the matter with a beautiful, long climb to the Celtic camp. Good physical condition is necessary, and walking sticks are useful. Good to know to avoid surprises and questions: there is a shooting club on the D1062 just after the car park/starting point. The shots can be heard far and wide depending on the calibre of ammunition used at the shooting range.
The best view is from the top of the Vosgiens club tower, with a 360° panoramic view of the Vosges, Alsace, Lorraine and Germany.
From the chalet, the descent is at a good pace along pleasant and peaceful paths and trails, with a beautiful view of the surroundings of Niederbronn and Reichshoffen from the Abri du Heidenkopf at point 7

PLEASE NOTE: From 15 September 2025, forestry work is planned in the Vorderberg massif, and some trails will be closed around point 7. Please check the Club Vosgiens signs at the various crossroads, as closed paths are marked and detour routes are indicated to complete the descent to the Celtic spring car park

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Terl67
Terl67

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please note that one section is currently closed to hiking for works. It goes all the way up to the Grand Wintersberg (3).
However, you can continue hiking directly to the Col de la Liese (4).

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sophiemanu
sophiemanu

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy route to follow

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ange92743
ange92743

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

bonjour,
Being French, I don't know if the Germans like it at the weekend, but on the day we drove it, there weren't many people on the circuit.

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marcheur5701
marcheur5701

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Walk made on Sunday 17/03/2024 ... No difficulty in finding your way. The climb to the Wintersberg tower is a little steep but once at the top, the rest of the route is much easier. A stop at the chalet of the Club Vosgien du Wintersberg is almost compulsory as the cheese tart is so excellent. (open every Sunday and public holidays).

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Laurence et Pascal
Laurence et Pascal

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 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 walk, especially on a hot day. Climbs to the tower
Very good description, except for the exit from the Celtic camp, but we soon got back on the right track. Lots of people at the Tower and at the Vosges Club chalet, but otherwise...no-one!

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vbarth
vbarth

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

TOPPP

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Waltoo
Waltoo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The day before, we had done the rock and castle circuit around Obersteinbach. We were tired and shortened the route from point 5 (Pattaschkopf refuge).

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Charles 67
Charles 67

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk with beautiful views. The description is perfect. The climb is for the first third of the route. The paths are well maintained and the markings are perfect.
Thanks to the author for sharing.

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SOCANADA
SOCANADA

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The warm-up starts straight away with a beautiful climb up to Camp Celtique. There are superb views all along the way. The climb to the Tour du Grand Wintersberg is well worth it for a 360° panoramic view. Catering available on Sunday at the Chalet du Club Vosgien.
This is a reliable description and can be done without a map, so keep your eyes peeled for signs.

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claude laufer
claude laufer

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice climb to the highest point in the Vosges du Nord.
The walk began in the greyness of November, but the difference in altitude soon rewarded us with some superb sunshine, gracing us with autumnal colours that were still very much in evidence.
At the top, the climb to the top of the Vosges club tower gave us a magnificent view of the neighbouring Palatinate!

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moggy
moggy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice route, not too strenuous, despite a steep climb at the start -> avoid this route if you are short of breath and/or stamina.
Lovely 360° panorama from the top of the Grand Wintersberg tower.
Sheltered snacks available at the C.V. chalet or the Pottaschkof refuge; otherwise, there are plenty of picnic tables along the way.

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