Niffer walks

A walk in the Haut-Rhin starting from Niffer and its lock. Along the Rhône-Rhine Canal, then across the plain facing the Black Forest, and back via the Grand Canal d’Alsace (the canalised Rhine).

A Way of the Cross, a golf course, a chapel, viewpoints, vineyards, a village, a campsite – this is what this trail, which is signposted all the way, has to offer. We will walk along the Wiiwegli (Red Diamond with a yellow bunch of grapes) and the Way of St James (yellow shell on a blue background), following a Way of the Cross (Stationenweg) on the way there. At the Maria Hügel pilgrimage chapel, we will stop to admire the view over the Rhine plain and the Vosges. There are plenty of benches, and a flight of steps leads to a shelter and picnic tables. The return journey will follow a marked local path. The walk passes through the charming village of Bamlach and its campsite.

Before the construction of the Canal of Alsace (1928), the Rhine extended its arms east of the Huningue Canal (1806) over a wide area of 1km to 2km. From the Rhone Canal on the North Rhine to the Barre d'Istein on the Old Rhine, along paths and trails often in the protected areas of the "Little Alsatian Camargue.", you'll discover numerous natural and industrial sites related to the history of the Rhine. Begin with a stroll between the drawbridge of Kembs (1831) and l'Ecluse Le Corbusier (1961).

Between the marina and the Ferme du Moulin, this unpretentious little walk allows you to enjoy the tranquillity of the banks of the Canal de Huningue, the Grand Canal d'Alsace and the Augraben, which still feature a few oxbow lakes and ponds, natural remnants of the old bed of the Rhine.

A circular route that mainly follows cycle paths. The route, running alongside the water, allows you to discover the local flora, fauna, history and industry between Kembs-Loechlé and Kembs

A very beautiful short hike through vineyards and orchards with breathtaking views of the Alps, the Jura, the city of Basel, the Alsatian villages of Sundgau, the Rhine Valley and Kembs just opposite on the way there, and the Black Forest and Blauen on the way back. In the first half of the route, follow the Wiiwegli (wine trail) markings, red diamond with a yellow bunch of grapes, towards Blansingen. The markings are present at each fork. However, you will need to be vigilant at the start of the route and look out for the markings so as not to give in to the temptation to continue straight ahead on a more visible path. Our path branches off twice to the right between the orchards and then twice with a left-right turn on grassy paths.

Set off to discover three castles on this walk around the village of Hombourg. One of them is now in ruins; you’ll have no trouble recognising it, of course. But of the two that are still standing, one is an impostor – can you spot the fake?

The route is mainly open, winding through the vineyards. There are stunning views throughout the route of the villages in the Rhine Valley, the Jura, the Vosges and Istein. There are numerous benches and picnic tables along the route. Information boards (in German) on wine, history and geology are dotted along the route. From the car park, information boards and the Saint-Vit Chapel opposite, set in the rock, herald the richness of the route, which is “to be savoured”.

The Plaine de l’Au is this wetland region on the Rhine’s floodplain in the Land of the Three Borders, where the river, before its course was straightened by dykes (19th century) and then channelled (early 20th century), spread out into multiple branches.Between the Kembs hydroelectric power station to the north and the Grand Marais trail to the south, water accompanies us throughout this route, where biodiversity and human activities strive to coexist harmoniously.The time given does not include stops at the five observation points and other points of interest along the route.

Two centuries ago, the Rhine flowed in braids. From 1842, with the construction of dykes by Tulla, then around 1930 with the construction of the Grand Canal, the river was brought back into a single channel and the Rhine ecosystem was profoundly altered. Today, there is a stark contrast between nature, which is becoming re-vegetated and adapting to the drying up of the river with diverse and unique flora and fauna, and the intense industrial activity surrounding navigation and hydroelectric power.

Walk from the car park near the turbine roundabout in Kembs, towards Rosenau Sud along the Rosenau Stream, through Rosenau to the Huningue Canal, then back to the starting point along the towpath.

In the heart of the Au, the alluvial terrace of the Rhine between Huningue and Kembs, the history of Rosenau is closely linked to that of the Rhine. Throughout this route, between the Grand Canal d’Alsace and the Huningue Canal, by a pond or a lock, on the banks of canals or streams, water is ever-present.

A short walk between the wild Old Rhine and the tamed canal with its array of industrial installations: the locks, the German motorway that you cannot see but can hear, the high-voltage power lines you pass under at the start of the route, but also its natural beauty: the winding, silted-up Rhine, exposed at the Istain sandbars. To fully enjoy the views of the Rhine, the route is best done in winter when the trees are still bare.

Leaving Habsheim, discover a panoramic view of the surrounding towns and villages as you climb higher! Finish with a short tour of the centre of Habsheim, then through charming residential areas.

A pleasant, uneventful walk that starts in Sierentz and passes through fields and the Hardt Forest. The route is mostly on flat ground, part of which consists of tarmac paths for pedestrians and cyclists.

This hike takes you up to the heights between the villages of Habsheim, Zimmersheim and Eschentzwiller to enjoy beautiful views, with short passages through the charming residential areas of these three villages.

A lovely and varied circular walk starting in Efringen-Kirchen, first through the village, then through a small wooded area and along the Old Rhine. From there, the route takes you to the Isteiner Klotzerfelsen rock formation with the St Veit Chapel, which is situated in a rock niche. The rest of the walk takes you through vineyards, offering frequent beautiful, sweeping views of the surrounding mountains.

La Bellevue de Habsheim, an apiary, donkeys, sheep, goats and cows, a remarkable garden, calvaries, a shelter, the Rixheim school orchard, the reservoirs and relay antenna in Habsheim, numerous viewpoints over the Rhine plain, the Black Forest, the Vosges, the Tour de l'Europe, Habsheim, Rixheim, the Stellantis site, Entremont Park... so much to see on such a short route!

A family hike that follows the Sentier des Croix to the Chapelle des Malgré-nous, then climbs the hills to follow the Sentier des Deux Chênes, decorated with wooden sculptures and dotted with educational panels.

Do you live in the urban area of the three borders and want to get away from it all without travelling dozens of kilometres? Come and discover the Petite Camargue to get some fresh air and observe many species of birds and plants in a well-preserved area. Leaving from the pretty village of Rosenau, you'll find it hard to believe that you're only 4 kilometres away from the airport as the crow flies.

A national nature reserve, the Petite Camargue Alsacienne now covers 904 hectares, including nearly 200 hectares of water. Originally, in 1982, it covered 120 hectares around the buildings of the Imperial Fish Farm (1852). It is here, in the wild heart of the Au wetland plain, that you can walk along some of its most beautiful paths and discover the exceptional flora and fauna of this marshland landscape, thanks to the groundwater.

The Rixheim Hills Route crosses the southern part of the town, passing through an urban area, then winds through the countryside and orchards on the heights overlooking the Alsace plain, offering beautiful views of the Hardt Forest, the Black Forest, the Jura, the Vosges, and, on a clear day, the peaks of the Swiss Alps. The entire route is marked with the Red Ring by the Club-Vosgien.

Walk from the centre of Zimmersheim up a steep climb towards the Schoofberg, where the reservoir is located. Pass through the Buchwald and Zuhrenberg woods to enjoy views of the Alps in good weather and a bit of cool air. Return via the south of Zimmersheim, across open terrain.

A short, unpretentious hike. Starting at the ACL foyer in Bartenheim, the outward journey takes you through the fields of Bartenheim and Brinckheim, and the return journey takes you through Hochaloch along the Muehlgraben.

The hike alternates between fields, forest edges and villages. Go through the fields of Bartenheim and Brinckheim, pass the small village of Stetten to reach the Gros Chêne. The return route is via the village of Helfrantzkirch, the fields of Kappelen and Brinckheim, and the HochaLoch along the Muehlgraben.

A trail giving you the possibility to explore a large number of running vineyards throughout the Bartenheim and Brinckheim hillsides.

The hike alternates between fields, forest edges and villages. Go through the fields of Bartenheim and Brinckheim, passing the small village of Kappelen. The return journey is through the fields of Kappelen and Brinckheim, then HochaLoch along the Muehlgraben.

A wide circular route with varied landscapes around the village of Obereggenen along paths lined with cherry trees and vineyards, with a section through the forest to approach Schloss Bürgeln. Superb in spring when the cherry trees are in bloom.

Family walk around Brestenberg hill between Bartenheim and Brinckheim, passing through sunken lanes typical of the Sundgau hills. Enjoy the forest and the view of the Vosges mountains and the Black Forest.

On the heights of Blotzheim, the Grand and Petit Schneckenberg (snail hills) form a wooded area close to its natural state, criss-crossed by streams and surrounded by fields, copses and a few vineyards.A multitude of trails and paths offer beautiful walks in the hills, where you can enjoy the peace and quiet and a few views of the neighbouring mountain ranges, the Vosges, the Black Forest and the Jura.Two versions are available, 10 or 13 km.

Overlooking the Rhine’s alluvial plain—a barren landscape where the Hardt Forest struggles to survive—the hills of the Bartenheim heights enjoy very rich soil. Set upon this fertile silt, on either side of the ridge between Helfrantzkirch and Bartenheim, lies the most beautiful forest in the Sundgau: the Schneckenberg Forest (see Practical Information). A short walk through the forest or along the forest edge for tree lovers.

This walk crosses the vineyards between Hartberg and Hummelberg, follows the ridge line between the vineyards and the plain, runs alongside the Läufelberg and the Reckholder, skirts around Fischingen and finally leads to a meal at the Fünfschilling inn. Beautiful views along the route towards Alsace, the Jura and the Black Forest.

A lovely, easy walk along the hillsides overlooking the village of Mauchen, passing through vineyards and orchards full of cherry trees.

This is a small nature trail made by the city of Saint-Louis. It passes through the 3 of drinking water catchment points in the city where 535 cubic metres of water are pumped every hour and then stored in a 6000-metre-cubed tank. The trail has a dozen panels explaining the difficulties of supplying drinking water and the surrounding environments.

The landscapes are very varied as you walk along the Rhine and then the Kander, passing through Eimeldingen. They are urban but also bucolic: the village of Märkt, the bridge over the A5 motorway, the gravel pit, the path along the Rhine, the mouth of the Kander, the path along the Kander with two small bridges, the fish pass and the forest.

The vast renaturation project on the Rhine Island, which began in 2013, is nearing completion. A new river, the Little Rhine, has appeared between the Grand Canal and the Old Rhine. The land and water around it has been completely transformed, allowing many plant and animal species to return or remain. This walk takes place in a rapidly changing natural environment, where everything is set to change for the greater benefit of biodiversity.

The entire route is open country through vineyards with beautiful views of Basel, the Jura, Alsace, the Vosges and the Piedmont hills of the Black Forest. The outward journey is mostly along the Wiiwegli (wine trail), while the return journey is mostly along a local trail marked with yellow diamond signs.

A lovely circular walk starting from Kappelen, passing through Ranspach-le-Bas and the hills of Helfranzkirch, combining woodland, fields and village outskirts.