Oltingen walks

Stage 13 – From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. This demanding stage takes us over five successive passes: after Hauenstein come Schafmatt, Salhöhe, Bänkerjoch and finally the Staffelegg Pass. Between these passes, the terrain becomes more intense with the ascent of the Geissfluh, a steep peak marking the border of the canton of Basel-Landschaft. The route alternates between dense Jura forests, peaceful clearings and a few open pastures, offering a beautiful variety of landscapes and atmospheres.

Fourteenth stage From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. This relatively short stage takes you from the lowest pass in the Jura, the Staffelegg, offering breathtaking views of the Herzberg, Asperstrihe and Wasserfluh. You then cross vast alpine-style pastures before entering the peaceful Linnerberg forest. Take the time to stop in front of the majestic Linn Linden Tree, a legendary tree over 700 years old, with a circumference of over eleven metres, which has survived three fires. The hike continues with a long descent through the impressive Aare Gorge, finally leading to the charming historic town of Brugg, rich in heritage and atmosphere.

A spring walk, a good 19 km warm-up that follows the Aare between Olten and Aarau. Nothing exceptional, but a few lovely stretches along the water’s edge, with plenty of water birds whose song is unfortunately drowned out on several occasions by the railway line, which is never far from the path. The Gösgen nuclear power station is ever-present during the first half of the route, which circles around it.

The Swiss Jura Belchen, the Alsatian Belchen (Ballon d'Alsace) and the Black Forest Belchen all form the peaks of a right-angle triangle, mystical sunrise observation point dating back to Celtic times (Belchen comes from "Belenus" the celtic god of sun). You'll gain access to this exceptional viewpoint through the "Devil's" gorges lined with steep walls, waterfalls, caves and caverns. The way back, along the "military path" is full of vestiges and ends with typical Jura landscapes.

In 1805, Napoleon and Francis I of Austria imposed the border on the Rhine. Rheinfelden then became Rheinfelden Baden, a German industrial town, and Rheinfelden Argovie, a Swiss spa town.The route runs along the German bank, which is equipped with viewing platforms and benches, to the hydroelectric dam and then along the more wooded Swiss bank. Return via the historic town and its old bridge, the Altebrücke.

From the German bank, an easy walk along a path lined with statues and dotted with panoramic viewpoints, information boards and benches takes you to the oldest dam on the Rhine. From there, you cross over to the Swiss bank, which is more wooded with its cliff face running alongside the river, to reach the Roman ruins and the salt works at Riburg. Return via the historic Swiss town and its famous Markgasse, then across the Altebrücke – an old bridge steeped in history spanning the Iseli, which links the two Rheinfelden.

A walk along the banks of the Rhine, close to the water’s edge and across the river. It runs from Germany to Switzerland via a bridge and an island, and from Switzerland to Germany via the Rheinfelden dam. There are numerous vantage points along the way, including a section through the old town of Rheinfelden (CH).

A pleasant walk from a typical village in Basel-Landschaft. From Reigoldswil to Wasserfallen, there are green hills, idyllic forests, waterfalls, flower-filled fields, giant objects, llamas and even the highest point in this Swiss canton, with a magnificent view of the Alps.

Augusta Raurica, situated in Augst, Switzerland, is an archaeological site showcasing particularly well-preserved remains from the Roman Empire. Very close to Basel – and therefore to France – it is well worth a visit. Every point of interest on site is clearly highlighted, and there are plenty of educational displays to answer all your questions. Although the route is short, plan to spend the whole day there if you want to see everything and visit the museum as well. This is just a suggested route, but feel free to deviate from it a little if you fancy it!

Fifteenth stage From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. This stage marks the end of the ridge trail, running from west to east through the typical landscapes of the Swiss Jura. To conclude, a gentle descent winds its way through the vineyards, taking you to Dielsdorf, a charming village nestled at the foot of the Lägern, the last rocky outcrop of the eastern Jura.

Twelfth stage From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. From Balsthal, the route begins with a steady climb to Roggenflue (998 m), offering a breathtaking view of the Swiss Plateau and two giants of the Jura: Mont Tendre and La Dôle. The hike continues through a majestic Jura beech forest, nestled between 600 and 900 metres above sea level, where the tranquillity of the forest accompanies your steps to Roggenschnarz. There, a spectacular descent awaits you: hundreds of steps carved into the slope lead you to the Wishöchi Pass. After this passage, a new ascent guides you to the picturesque hamlet of Bärenwil, before reaching the highest point of the stage: the Belchenflue (1,099 metres). The descent to the southern slope of the Solothurn Jura reveals a landscape steeped in history, dotted with concrete blocks, anti-tank obstacles and bunkers, silent witnesses to Switzerland's fortifications during the two world wars.

The route is shaped like a figure of eight. The first part involves walking around the Hunzelbachtal via the sculpture trail, St Maurice’s Chapel and the remarkable little stream, 800 metres long, which disappears into a sinkhole (3 km route). In the second part, back in Nordschwaben, the walk heads to the highest point of the Dinkelberg, the Hohe Flum, at 535 metres. Here you can visit the tower with its panoramic view and the café-hotel-restaurant (closed on Thursdays and Fridays).

This version of the Albsteig (Black Forest) takes you on a 112-kilometre journey through the Alb Valley along the river from Albbruck to the Feldberg, the highest peak in the southern Black Forest. The first stage takes you upstream from Albbruck through and along the picturesque Alb Valley and, towards the end, through the Höllbach Valley up to Göhrwihl.

This variant of the Albsteig (Black Forest) takes you through the Alb Valley along the river from Albbruck to the Feldberg, the roof of the southern Black Forest, covering around 111 kilometres. Along the route, the Albsteig crosses two other long-distance hiking trails, the Schluchtensteig near St. Blasien and the Westweg on the Feldberg. The multi-day tour described here takes you along the western route to the Feldberg and back down to Höchenschwand via the eastern route. From there, the Wolfssteig (23 km) takes you down to Waldshut-Tiengen and finally by train back to the starting point in Albbruck.

Discover the Ruschbachtal (Nature Reserve) with its pretty wild stream and waterfalls to reach Saint-Chrischona, a small hamlet in the Swiss canton of Basel-Stadt. It is situated at the highest point in the canton, 522 metres above sea level, and is home to Switzerland’s tallest television tower (250 m). From there, you’ll have a superb view of the Jura and the Alps.

On the itinerary: a panoramic view, the highest point in the canton of Basel-Stadt, the tallest tower in Switzerland, an evangelical mission, two restaurants, the countryside and tranquillity close to the city. We first descend through woods and fields before climbing back up to the charming Bettingen district of Sankt Chrischona, at an altitude of 522 metres. Numerous paths and benches invite us to stroll around and discover this peaceful spot.

The route is largely in open country. The paths are wide and well signposted. On the way there, we’ll walk past Eichener See to see if it’s there, as it’s a seasonal lake. Information boards along the route and inside the shelter explain how this lake works. We will then cross a small wood and the Dinkelberg hills to the south of Eichener See before reaching the village of Eichen. We will cross the Dorfbach, which flows only through Eichen, and leave the village after a short walk through its eastern part.

The main attraction is Eichener See. You’ll probably need to visit several times as it’s quite rare. It may appear once or twice a year; in some years, not at all. After a period of heavy rain, groundwater from a cavity 50 metres deep rises through the subsoil and fills the basin. It’s a magical spot. We’ll then head up into the hills north of the Dinkelberg.

A pleasant little stroll through Inzlingen, going round the castle and then up towards the Eiserne Hand with a snack break in the shelter of the Buttenberg. Return via the Erstelweg and the sports facilities on the heights of Inzlingen.

A short walk, mainly through woodland, on the hills above Grenzach. To the west of the forest, there is a magnificent view of the Rhine, the hydroelectric power station and the locks, as well as the port of Birsfelden, the city of Basel, the Swiss Jura and Alsace. On the way back, we walk alongside the border and its boundary markers for two kilometres. At the eastern edge of the forest, there is a lovely view of St-Chrischona before heading back down to the car park, skirting the small gardens. The route is signposted throughout along wide paths; it is pleasant and easy.

This ninth stage will take you from Görwihl to Albbruck. The route follows the Albsteig Schwartzwald. You will enjoy the pretty waterfalls of the Höllbach and follow the Alb to its confluence with the Rhine. Once you arrive in Albbruck, the end of the hike, you can choose between Albbruck or Laufenburg, a beautiful German-Swiss village, for your overnight stay.

This variant of the Albsteig (Black Forest) takes you on a 112-kilometre journey through the Alb Valley along the river from Albbruck to the Feldberg, the roof of the southern Black Forest. Stage 2 takes you from Göhrwihl back down into the Alb Valley, then over the Dachsberg, to the Albstausee reservoir and up to Häusern.

A walk straddling the Swiss and German border on the hills above Basel (Basel in German). You’ll cross from Switzerland into Germany almost without realising it. You’ll know you’ve crossed when you see the border markers on whichever side you’re on. The route takes you past the Saint-Chrischona telecoms tower and its church, then on to the pretty castle at Inzlingen, surrounded by lovely moats.

This nine-day route allows you to discover different aspects of the southern Black Forest.Starting from Steinen in the Kleines Wiesental, you will cross beautiful forests to reach the pretty village of Kandern. Then, for four days, you will follow the Schwarzwald Westweg trail, passing through the highest peaks of the Black Forest: Belchen, Feldberg and Herzogenhorn.You will also stop off at Titisee, a pleasant lakeside resort. The second part of the route is devoted to the Albsteig, a trail that follows the River Alb from its source at the foot of the Feldberg to Albbruck, where the River Alb flows into the Rhine. On the way, you will stop at Sankt Blasien, a remarkable town with a magnificent cathedral and cloister.

This first stage will take you from Steinen to Kandern. Starting from Steinen in the Kleines Wiesental, you will cross beautiful forests to reach the Black Forest trail: the Westweg Schwarzwald in the pretty village of Kandern.

Discover the southern tip of the Black Forest, with the hill overlooking the beginning of the Alsace plain to the west, the town of Lörrach and Germany to the east, and the city of Basel and Switzerland to the south. You can also visit the magnificent Burg Rötteln, a 14th-century fortified castle, the most south-westerly in Germany.

A pleasant little route through the forest, going from Obertüllingen to the Daur Hütte and back. Magnificent panoramic views from the car park over Basel, the Jura, the Alsatian villages and the Kembs-Loechlé lock, the Vosges... On the way back, views of the villages of the Black Forest foothills, Lörrach, Rötteln Castle, the Wiesental, Riehen and St. Chrischona with its tower and, depending on the weather, a few Alpine peaks can be seen to the east through the gap in the hills.

Set amongst deep forests, clearings, sun-drenched pastures, streams and ponds, this route offers varied and contrasting landscapes. The paths are wide and signposted, except for the picturesque trail along the Soormattbach stream, between the start and the point (1). This walk is best undertaken in dry weather, as the Soormattbach stream, which we will follow, sometimes to the right, sometimes to the left, can burst its banks during rainy or stormy periods. To cross the village and reach the Schützenhaus restaurant as well as the Hauingen shooting club’s premises in the middle of the forest, we will walk along tarmac roads.

The route runs partly through woodland and partly through open countryside, and involves a steep climb up the Dornhalde slope. There are stunning views from this same slope towards Basel, Chrischona, the Wiese Valley and even the Alps, weather permitting. You can stop for a break halfway along the route at Café Hygge on the Rechberg.

Departure from Haagen near Lörrach. A beautiful route through the Kleines Wiesental valley to Sallneck, with a detour via Raich. However, I would like to point out that there are gradients of 8% in some places.

A walk mainly through woodland on the heights of Hägelberg. As the car park is situated almost at the highest point, the walk initially descends slightly towards the village across open ground, offering stunning views of the Alps in good weather. The paths are wide and signposted, except for the first section.

A pleasant walk, mainly through the forest. Panoramic view from the castle, which is open to visitors: see § practical information. Restaurant, terrace in good weather. Rötteln Castle car park, 120 spaces.

A pleasant walk entirely through the forest on wide, shaded paths. There are numerous benches along the Moosweg. Beautiful views from the Fohrenbuck car park towards Lörrach, as well as from points (2) and (4) over the Alsatian villages of the Sundgau and the Rhine plain.