Le Hohwald

Large circular above Le Hohwald: Neuntelstein Rock, Col de la Rotlach, Champ du Feu, Chaume des Veaux, Col du Kreutzweg, Grande Bellevue, the footbath, etc.
Classified as difficult due to its length, mainly shaded and ideal for hot weather. Numerous viewpoints and pleasant forest passages.

Details

34702233
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 20.91 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 668 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 675 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,099 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 590 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park near the Protestant church.

(S/E) From there, take the fitness trail, starting to the left of the presbytery garage. At the houses, turn right to reach Rue Principale and follow it to the right until you reach the Adelaïde Hautval Fountain.

(1) Walk up the car park towards the Giants and, after greeting them on your right, take the first path on the right, marked with a red diamond. Cross the tarmac road. At the next fork, go down to the right and do not follow the blue disc. Come out onto Rue du Louisental, turn right, pass the cemetery and walk alongside the sequoia park.

(2) Turn left onto the path marked with a yellow triangle and keep to the right a few dozen metres further on. Cross the Route Forestière de la Grande Ceinture and take the path opposite.

(3) Once on the forest track, turn left and then immediately right, continuing to follow the yellow triangle markings. Cut across another marked path, go straight ahead and cross the D130 to rejoin the path leading to the Neuntelstein rock. Magnificent, unobstructed view: the Bernese Alps are visible on a clear day.

(4) Leaving Neuntelstein, take a short detour off the trail to the right to see other impressive rocks.

(5) Continue westwards.

(6) Return to the yellow triangle marked trail and join the forest road leading to the Col de la Rotlach.

(7) Turn left to pass behind the Rotlach inn, then keep right to take the asphalt road marked with a blue rectangle and yellow cross.

(8) Leave the road and take the path on the right with the double markings. Continue to the Vieille Dairy Farm.

(9) Take the path marked with a red disc towards Champ du Feu Serva.

(10) Don't miss this change of direction and turn right, following the clearly visible red disc. Join the D214 and follow it to the left for about 50 metres.

(11) Ignore the Disque Rouge markings and take the path on the left that runs alongside the road and starts at the end of the car park. Return to the road, cross it and join the D414. Turn left, cross the first path, then the second, and immediately after this, turn left for a short cultural detour into contemporary art, but also to enjoy the sweeping views from this spot!

(12) Continue straight ahead until you reach the tower, which you should go around on the left.

(13) Turn left onto the path marked Croix Bleue, heading towards La Chaume des Veaux.

(14) Change direction by turning right onto the Chevalet Jaune trail and you will reach what is undoubtedly the most impressive viewpoint on this hike. On a clear day, you can see the Bernese Alps from here.

(15) Continue on to the Col du Kreutzweg. Cross the D425 and continue straight ahead to reach the Adventure Park.

(16) Take the forest path on the far right, marked Chevalet Jaune, which joins the Route Forestière de la Ceinture further on. Continue to the right, then leave the forest road and turn right to the Grande Bellevue viewpoint. Here you will find a table and bench where you can rest, but the height of the vegetation obscures much of the view of the valley.

(17) Return to the forest road and turn right.

(18) Turn left onto the path marked with a red rectangle crossed out in white. Follow it to the Witterhallhof crossroads.

(19) Take the paved Rue de la Mairie on the left and continue to the Pédiluve.

(20) Keep to the right, then take the stairs on the left to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 610 m - Protestant church
  2. 1 : km 0.52 - alt. 598 m - Fontaine Haïdi Hautval (Witterthalhof)
  3. 2 : km 1.5 - alt. 590 m - Towards the Neuntelstein rock
  4. 3 : km 3.45 - alt. 824 m - Fork in the road
  5. 4 : km 4.73 - alt. 970 m - Viewpoint
  6. 5 : km 4.85 - alt. 948 m - Rocks off the trail
  7. 6 : km 4.97 - alt. 963 m - Head towards La Rotlach
  8. 7 : km 6.5 - alt. 954 m - Col de la Rotlach
  9. 8 : km 8.02 - alt. 912 m - Fork in the road
  10. 9 : km 8.99 - alt. 936 m - La Vieille Dairy Farm
  11. 10 : km 10.31 - alt. 1,014 m - Fork in the road
  12. 11 : km 10.84 - alt. 1,059 m - Car park
  13. 12 : km 12.32 - alt. 1,086 m - Contemporary art
  14. 13 : km 12.92 - alt. 1,098 m - Tour Club Vosgien
  15. 14 : km 14.57 - alt. 921 m - Fork in the road
  16. 15 : km 15.11 - alt. 925 m - Viewpoint
  17. 16 : km 16.52 - alt. 769 m - Crossroads at Alsace Aventure park
  18. 17 : km 17.85 - alt. 857 m - Grande Bellevue viewpoint
  19. 18 : km 18.42 - alt. 809 m - Fork in the road
  20. 19 : km 20.36 - alt. 626 m - Witterhallhof crossroads.
  21. 20 : km 20.76 - alt. 595 m - The footbath, after the - Andlau (rivière)
  22. S/E : km 20.91 - alt. 610 m - Protestant church

Notes

Club Vosgien shelters at (4) and (9).
(20) Depending on your fitness level, you can also follow the steep road uphill to reach the Protestant church (S/E).

Worth a visit

(S/E) Protestant church, built in 1900 in granite and Vosges sandstone by Haas Hautval, the father of Adélaïde Hautval.
Fountain paying tribute to Dr Adelaïde Hautval, a psychiatrist born in 1906 at the Protestant presbytery, a member of the Resistance and "Righteous Among the Nations".

(20) The footbath: don't hesitate to take advantage of its therapeutic, refreshing and restorative properties and enjoy its beneficial effects.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 24134552

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, ideal for experienced hikers. The trail is relatively easy from a technical standpoint, with a gradual, steady climb that distributes the effort evenly throughout the route. The scenery is absolutely stunning throughout the hike, with breathtaking views that more than reward the effort. A wonderful experience, highly recommended for those who enjoy long walks in the great outdoors.

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xerocrete
xerocrete

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike and a reliable description.

I would add two additional pieces of information:
At point 1: on the road to Louisenthal, right at the start, there is a pretty little chapel slightly higher up on the left that is worth a quick detour.
At point 6: an alternative route to the Rothlach Pass is to take the path called "Herrenpfad" instead of the Bornes trail.

And one small "negative" point
At point 7: the tarmac road is unpleasant and quite long (about 1.5 km).

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Christelle1488
Christelle1488

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

But what a superb hike!
Although all the hikes on offer are always enjoyable, this one was a real treat.
It had been a long time since we had enjoyed ourselves so much.
The different views on a clear day are breathtaking.
It wasn't difficult for us, but it might be a bit long for beginners.

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Justepas
Justepas

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route, I recommend it.

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damdamfr
damdamfr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, well-shaded hike with varied landscapes and stunning views.
Well worth doing, with plenty of options for extending or shortening the route.

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LNV63
LNV63

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely shaded walk with beautiful views. Definitely worth doing again.

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maxwell2
maxwell2

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very well-described hike, with plenty of shade, ideal for hot days. Lovely views.

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virgule
virgule
• Edited:

To be continued. Very beautiful area.

I'll go, but I plan to take a little shortcut.

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