The beautiful rocks of the Kemberg massif

Hike in the Kemberg massif and its pink sandstone rocks. Developed by the Club Vosgien, with footbridges and protective railings, these rocks offer magnificent views of Saint-Dié and its surroundings.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.54 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 682 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 677 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 734 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 453 m

Description of the walk

The hike starts at Croix Saint Georges, on the D58, between Saulcy sur Meurthe and Taintrux. Parking is available at the pass, on the right-hand side when arriving from Saulcy-sur-Meurthe.

(S/E) In front of the sign with the map of the Kemberg massif, take the path leading from the car park for 100 metres, then turn into the first path on the left and walk a good hundred metres.

(1) Follow the path on the right, marked with a yellow diamond. Steep climb! At the top of the climb, turn right and continue along this path, still following the same markings, until you reach a forest track.

(2) Turn right, then 50 metres further on, take the path on the left marked with a yellow cross until you reach a fork.

(3) Turn onto the path on the left marked with a yellow cross and continue to the foot of the Roche de l'Enclume.

(4) Climb to the top to admire the view. On the way down, take the path on the right marked with a yellow triangle. A little further on, turn right, still following the same markings, and descend to a forest path.

(5) At the bottom, at the fork, take the forest path on the right marked with a blue cross and follow it.

(6) Leave the forest track and take a path that climbs to the left towards Ronde Tête, marked with a yellow cross.

(7) At Ronde Tête, continue along the path that descends towards Roches Saint-Martin, marked with a yellow diamond.

(8) At the forest track, turn right and walk to the pass and its picnic area. Climb up opposite towards Roches Saint-Martin. On the way down, take the same path you came up.

(8) Continue along the forest track, passing in front of the Fontaine des Chevaux.

(9) Just after the fountain, take the path that climbs steeply to the left towards Roche du Kiosque. Pass the pass and the paragliding launch area, and take the path that climbs opposite, still towards Roche du Kiosque, marked with yellow diamond signs. At Roche du Kiosque, continue on the same path.

(10) Leave the path and turn right towards Pierre Percée, located 100 metres away. Just before the rock, follow the path that descends to the left. This path goes around the rock from below and climbs up the other side. Then climb up the rock and return.

::10: Turn right onto the yellow diamond-marked trail to Roche d'Anozel.

(11) After admiring the landscape, take the path that descends steeply below the rock. At the bottom of the descent, follow the forest path to the right.

(12) Leave the forest track and take a path that descends to the left, marked with a yellow triangle. Follow this path downhill until you reach a forest track.

(13) Cross the road and continue along the path that descends to the left towards Les Censes de Grandrupt, still following the same markings.

(14) Cross the small forest road and continue along the path opposite, marked with a yellow cross. After 200 metres, ignore the path that climbs to the left and turn right.

(15) Take the path that climbs to the left towards Pierre de Laitre, still marked with a yellow cross.

(16) At Col de Climont, take the path on the right, which climbs (very steeply!) towards Roche de Froide Fontaine. Then descend and cross the pass.

(16) Continue straight ahead on the path (which climbs again!) towards Pierre de Laitre, marked with red crosses.

(17) Turn right to climb up to Pierre de Laitre, admire the landscape (a magnificent spot!) and descend.

(17) Continue along the Red Cross marked trail to Censes de Grandrupt. Return to the forest road.

(14) Cross the small forest road again and take the path on the right marked with a blue ring. Continue along this path until you reach the crossroads you passed on the way out.

(1) Take the path on the right in the opposite direction to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 453 m - Croix Saint-Georges car park
  2. 1 : km 0.22 - alt. 470 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 1.04 - alt. 560 m - Forest path
  4. 3 : km 1.56 - alt. 579 m - Forest path on the left
  5. 4 : km 2.46 - alt. 648 m - Roche de l'Enclume
  6. 5 : km 2.92 - alt. 579 m - Path on the right at the fork
  7. 6 : km 3.95 - alt. 555 m - Path climbing to the left
  8. 7 : km 4.51 - alt. 624 m - La Ronde Tête
  9. 8 : km 5.05 - alt. 561 m - Arrival on forest path (pass twice).
  10. 9 : km 6.09 - alt. 579 m - Path climbing left towards Roche du Kiosque
  11. 10 : km 7.66 - alt. 721 m - La Pierre Percée
  12. 11 : km 9.57 - alt. 712 m - La Roche d'Anozel
  13. 12 : km 9.93 - alt. 658 m - Path descending to the left
  14. 13 : km 10.78 - alt. 557 m - Crossing the forest path
  15. 14 : km 11.58 - alt. 469 m - La Cense de Grandrupt
  16. 15 : km 12.14 - alt. 461 m - Path climbing to the left
  17. 16 : km 12.83 - alt. 515 m - Col de Climont
  18. 17 : km 13.48 - alt. 568 m - Fork towards Pierre de Laitre
  19. S/E : km 16.54 - alt. 454 m - Croix Saint-Georges car park

Notes

Picnic area at the start.
Picnic area with shelter and even a barbecue at Col des Roches Saint-Martin.

Worth a visit

Don't hesitate to climb every rock. They all offer remarkable views.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Sylvie.l
Sylvie.l

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike

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Sylvie.l
Sylvie.l

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very beautiful route with stunning rock formations and breathtaking views. However, the detour to the Roche de Froide Fontaine is not worth the effort, as it is just a pile of rocks with no view of the valley and overgrown with vegetation. Otherwise, this hike is well worth doing. 18.76 km with an elevation gain of 819 m, taking 7 hours including breaks.

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vos88
vos88

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A wonderful discovery of the Kemberg massif. Much of the hike takes place in the woods with beautiful views along the way. The short circular loop at the end is only worth it for the Pierre de Laitre viewpoint, as the Roche de Froide Fontaine is abandoned and there are no longer any views.

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pge92
pge92

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done with the family, including a teenager and a 12-year-old.
Great route through pink sandstone, fairly shaded. The first climb is quite tough when you're cold, but after that it's fairly easy (except for the mini climbs before some of the rocks). The remarkable rocks provide nice places to stop for a break with views and footbridges. We had lunch at the pass at the foot of the Roche Saint Martin, where there is a picnic table. We could have eaten up on the Saint Martin rock too, but the sun beats down hard at the top.
Thank you for this very nice hike.

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dombio
dombio

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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T0urmaline
T0urmaline

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

This walk was a wonderful discovery of Kemberg and its rocky outcrops, which offer superb panoramic views.
Access to the last two rocks is quite challenging and the view from the Roche de Froide Fontaine is rather limited: nature is doing its thing and the trees are growing!

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alsa
alsa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We skipped the small circular because the weather was turning bad. The route offers one rock after another, providing impressive views of both valleys. A very beautiful hike!

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danielrollet
danielrollet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, yesterday I did this route clockwise, including Les Roches Saint-Martin, which, in my opinion, are the most beautiful.
On the way back (on the way there for the others, point 1 of the description), I didn't take the very steep descent, I preferred to go around it. Result: 1,500 metres and +100 metres more. If I'm not mistaken, this means we see seven rocks.

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Emma Le Kit
Emma Le Kit

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike

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Maminouxe
Maminouxe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Given as average, we would say rather difficult, good equipment necessary. The forest is not very beautiful, but fortunately the rocks made this outing attractive. We reduced the route to level 11 to reach level 2.

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Maminouxe
Maminouxe

Very beautiful route, but can it be shortened (given our old legs...) while still including the beautiful viewpoints? Thank you.
Found by reducing to level 11....

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jremy
jremy

Hello. Perhaps do it in several stages, parking the vehicle in different places. Study the map.

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Maminouxe
Maminouxe

Very beautiful route, but can it be shortened (given our old legs...) while still including the beautiful views? Thank you.

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jremy
jremy

You're welcome

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MARIERANDO
MARIERANDO

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Thank you for sharing these beautiful walks with us!

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