Linthal walks

Starting from a chapel in the village of Linthal, you’ll climb through the forest overlooking the village, passing through pretty, flower-filled clearings and enjoying lovely views of the village below.

A pleasant circular route for tackling the Petit Ballon from the south through forests and pastures. The gradient is fairly steady and the paths are well signposted. The climb is quite shaded, which is a welcome feature.

The Petit Ballon is a must-see summit in Alsace. Rising to an altitude of 1,272 metres, it offers a splendid view of the Vosges mountains. There are various ways to reach it. This circular hike takes you to the Petit Ballon from the village of Linthal. The climb starts in the forest, then becomes more open from halfway up to the final viewpoint at the summit. For those who would like to do the hike in the opposite direction, it is more difficult.

A very varied route to reach the highest point of the Vosges and walk along the ridges, enjoying numerous panoramic views of the surrounding valleys. The Petit Ballon massif also offers a very beautiful setting.

A challenging climb to the Grand Ballon from Sengern (past Guebwiller). The route passes by the beautiful Lac du Ballon and the Gustiberg farmhouse inn, both of which offer very pleasant places to stop for a break.

Starting from the Hilsen farmhouse inn, this walk follows a ridge leading to the Petit Ballon. There are numerous viewpoints overlooking the Vosges, the Alsace plain and beyond.

Why not set off to explore the Grand Ballon d’Alsace on a lovely circular walk? We suggest a loop with a gentle, shaded ascent that’s pleasant on hot days. Only the sections before the Grand Ballon are exposed to the sun; the rest of the way, there’ll always be a tree to shelter you from the heat.

This walk, mainly through woodland, follows the River Lauch before climbing through the Belchenseebach Gorge, past a succession of magnificent waterfalls, to reach the romantic Lac du Ballon.The path is sometimes steep and some sections are slippery, but they are safe and the view is well worth the effort. A relaxing return journey with the option of stopping for a bite to eat at a farmhouse inn.

A beautiful hike in the Vosges, alternating between forest and stubble fields. Stunning views from the Grand Ballon.

This walk, suitable for most people, presents no particular difficulties. It will allow you to discover the heritage of the village of Lautenbach and enjoy a beautiful view of the Florival Valley and the Vosges ridges.

This is a very pleasant hike that also offers views of the Alsace plain. The different environments you will pass through will delight walkers who take the time to look around.

Departure from the Col de Boenlesgrab, passing by the Refuge de la Schellimat, near Hilzen, via Bockswasen, then by the Refuge des Amis de la Nature below the summit of the Petit Ballon, then continuing after the summit along the ridges via the Col du Petit Ballon, Steinberg and its megaliths, then Grothkopf.Return via the farmsteads of Kahlenwassen (near the Virage Pinot) and Buchwald, the former intermediate station of the German cable car, then via the Strohberg farmstead before descending via Brudermatt to the Col du Boenlesgrab. This hike takes you across magnificent high-altitude stubble fields and offers numerous 360° views of the Vosges peaks and nearby Alsatian valleys.

This hike takes you around the thatched roofs of the Petit Ballon, allowing you to enjoy views of the surrounding peaks and the thatched roofs that are so characteristic of these Vosges peaks.

A short forest hike that goes around the Rundkopf and passes over its summit. The undergrowth is truly magnificent, especially in autumn, when the fallen leaves offer some beautiful views.

This walk or snowshoe hike offers superb views all around the Petit Ballon. Alternating between wide tracks and narrower paths, the route passes through both wooded areas and perfectly open ridges. Numerous farm inns (some of which are closed in winter) and mountain huts line the route.

This walk takes us to the Kletterbach waterfalls, the Gustiberg farm and the magnificent Lac du Ballon in its picturesque setting.

Above Lautenbachzell, this day hike will take you through several different landscapes of the Vosges: orchards and villages in the valley, pine forests, beech woods and stumps. You will reach the Grand Ballon, the highest peak in the Vosges, after walking along the Lac du Grand Ballon and passing near waterfalls.

An original route to get to Lac du Grand Ballon avoiding the road. You will discover beautiful trees, a waterfall and views over the Petit Ballon and the Black Forest along the way.

The aim of this hike is to reach the Petit Ballon with as little climbing as possible. Due to its position, away from the other peaks of the Vosges, the view stretches far into the distance.

A hike offering magnificent views over the Munster Valley, the Alsace Plain, the Black Forest and, on a clear day, the Jura and the Alps!

Moderately difficult hike on the heights of Petit Ballon.

The route begins in alpine pastureland, then passes through very shady forests.

A short and easy hike that will allow you to discover the imposing granite ‘megaliths’ of the Steinberg, with views stretching far into the distance. Ideal after a meal at one of the farmhouse inns near the Petit Ballon.

Panoramic walk amid sculptural rock formations, witnesses to the ancient past of the Vosges mountains. This site is also famous for being a high-energy place in Alsace!

Enjoy panoramic views of the Munster Valley from the Steinberg stubble fields and the path to Lameysberg, then on the way back, enjoy the scenery on the slopes of Petit Ballon from the Herzog Trail viewpoint.

A lovely walk that winds through woodland and stubble fields, with the odd slightly technical section but nothing too difficult (you do need to stay alert). Beautiful views over the Alsace plain and the Kaiserstuhl, and further afield towards the Jura and the Alps. This walk is also dotted with farm inns, all of which are well worth a visit: Wassmatt, Buchwald, Kahlenwasen, Hilsen, Strohberg. But you’ll have to choose...

This hike, suitable for those with some hiking experience and/or good physical fitness, will allow you to discover the Murbach valley and its famous abbey, which exerted political, spiritual and cultural influence over a vast territory for over a thousand years. Along the way, you can enjoy several views of the abbey and the Murbach valley, as well as tables and benches where you can rest or have a picnic.

The hike starts in Murbach and allows you to discover several attractions in the valley: Murbach Abbey, the Notre Dame de Lorette Chapel and the ruins of an ancient castle, the Hohrupf.

This hike will allow you to discover the Murbach valley and the ruins of Hohrupf Castle.

A beautiful hike around the Murbach Valley with elevation gain and length suitable for experienced walkers. Mainly in the forest, it offers two beautiful viewpoints at the ruins of Hohrupf Castle and at the end of the walk at Ebeneck.

With its lake, forests, scree slopes, waterfalls, peat bogs and rushing streams, the bottom of the Florival valley around the Lauch river is home to many wonders. This is a short hike, but it requires a good level of fitness to tackle some steep slopes and tricky sections.

Lakes and waterfalls, stubble fields and forests, peat bogs and scree slopes, springs, high-altitude beech forests... the Hautes Vosges sometimes offer a remarkable variety of landscapes within just a few kilometres, provided you are willing to climb a few slopes.

There are numerous lakes and passes in the Vosges. Among them are Lac du Ballon and the Col du Haag. It is possible to walk from Lac du Ballon to the Haag. Of course, those who wish to do so can continue the hike to the summit of the Grand Ballon, which is a further 30 minutes’ walk away. From the pass, the view opens out over the Thann valley and the Thanner Hubel. It is a short hike that can easily be completed in 1½ hours there and back.

The starting point for this hike in the Petit Ballon massif is at Wassmatt, at an altitude of over 800 m, which reduces the elevation gain. After reaching Buchwald with its hundred-year-old beech trees and panoramic view of the Wasserbourg valley, the Alsace plain and the Black Forest, the route takes us to the peaks and then plunges through the forest to Boenlesgrab. The return journey, which is more peaceful, passes through Dreischoepf and Hanspen before reaching Wassmatt again.

A circular walk leading to the Ebeneck hilltops, offering superb views of the Alsace plain, the Black Forest and, weather permitting, the Alps on a clear day.

The Petit Ballon tour starts at the Wasenmatten farmhouse inn. A challenging start (+300 m) precedes a gentle descent with superb views of the surrounding mountains - the Vosges, the Black Forest, the Jura and, for the lucky ones, the Alps.

At the bottom of the Munster Valley, at the foot of the Petit Ballon road, this is a hike for those who enjoy walking through the magnificent forests of the Vosges to discover history at the battle sites of the 6th Company of the 7th Battalion of Alpine Hunters, who fought magnificently here in June 1915.

This hike follows part of the route for the ascent of Mont Sidi-Brahim, continuing with the ascent of Mont Hilsenfirst (1,274 metres above sea level). This route is ideal for those who enjoy climbing the steep paths of the magnificent Vosges forests, whilst paying respectful and contemplative tribute to the sites of the heroic events of the First World War.

A walk exploring the fortified castles around Guebwiller

This walk takes you to Hugstein Castle. It is mainly through woodland and offers the chance to spot wildlife or, at the very least, the many tracks they leave behind.

Discover the Petit Ballon and its superb panoramic views of the Hohneck, Schlucht, Schnepfenried and Grand Ballon peaks and the valleys of Metzeral, Linthal and Wasserbourg, not to mention, in good weather, the Black Forest and the Swiss Alps.

This family walk takes you around the highest peak in the Vosges Mountains (1,424 metres). While enjoying breathtaking panoramic views of the Alsace plain, the Black Forest, the Jura and the Bernese Alps, you will discover the rich flora and history of the Grand Ballon.

A relatively easy walk starting from the Grand Ballon car park, offering a chance to take in the two highest peaks of the Vosges and their magnificent scenery.

This circuit will take you to the highest peak in the Vosges, offering views of the Alps in good weather. You can admire the surrounding Vosges peaks and high-altitude villages such as Geishouse and Goldbach-Altenbach. At the start and finish points, you will find various places to eat and a shop selling local products. During the walk, don't hesitate to stop at the Haag farmhouse inn to enjoy their local cuisine or to quench your thirst.

An easy route, gently undulating across the highest peaks of the Vosges, through stubble fields and forests. Magnificent views over the surrounding valleys.

A short, easy route starting from the Grand Ballon car park, offering a chance to take in the scenery from the highest point in the Vosges.

This is an ideal short walk in hot weather, starting from the Col du Haag and passing successively by Lac du Ballon, the Roedelen farm and the Grand Ballon. As the circuit is located on the northern slope of the Grand Ballon at an altitude of over 1,000 metres, there is no need to worry about excessive heat.

A pleasant circular on the heights of Rimbach-près-Guebwiller in beautiful forests, passing through Münsteraeckerle and Judenhut. Halfway through, why not stop off at the very friendly and cosy Ferme Auberge du Glasshütte?

A hike with very varied landscapes and paths: small hiking trails, forest paths and exceptional views of the surroundings of the Munster Valley, the Grand Ballon and the Alsace plain from the summits of the Petit Ballon and Steinberg.

Near the source of the Lauch, on the secondary ridge between Breitfirst and Petit Ballon, Lauchen is an area of stubble fields with remarkable views and forests, including the most beautiful and highest altitude beech forests in the Vosges mountains. It is also a peaceful area, within the Guebwiller integral biological reserves, dominated by the Klintzkopf, home to the emblematic animal of the Vosges, the capercaillie or wood grouse.

Discover the landscapes of the Vosges mountains on this beautiful hike, which starts at Lac de la Lauch and takes you along the ridge road to Markstein.

This is a varied route, as it winds through the forest and the Vosges hills, offering magnificent views of the valleys and surrounding ridges at every turn. The Lac de la Lauch, whose dam dates back to 1894, is as beautiful as ever in its green setting.

Lake, high-altitude forest and stubble fields: a concentration of the beauty of the Vosges with the added bonus of a magnificent panorama. Refreshments available at a farmhouse inn along the route. Particularly pleasant in autumn when the beech trees turn yellow and mushrooms abound in the undergrowth.

The first part of the route climbs through the forest before arriving at the Ferme-Auberge du Rothenbrunnen, and the return route to Sondernach offers remarkable views stretching from Schnepfenried to the Hohneck massif.