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Walk in the old bed of the Rhine.
Car park near the KembsDam on the German bank: Rheinstraße 1, 79576 Weil am Rhein, Germany.
(S/E) From the car park, walk to and cross the footbridge overlooking the five monumental sluice gates that regulate the flow of the Old Rhine. Pass the mini power station A, then over a fish ladder and around the new mini power station B on the left. Continue for 100 metres along the bank of the Grand Canal.
(1) Leave the bank of the Grand Canal, going down to the right towards the Old Rhine. Cross the bridge over the source of the Petit Rhine. Continue for 100 metres with the power station's tailrace on your right, which flows into the Old Rhine, then turn left towards a barrier where the "Sentier du Petit Rhin au Vieux Rhin" trail begins.
(2) The trail winds its way through the trees, leading to a lookout point and back. After a right turn, the trail leads to an access ramp on a hillock on the left. Enjoy the view from observation point No. 1 of the ponds, reed beds, forest plantations and the birds that inhabit them.
Retrace your steps to find the path that leads to the banks of the Old Rhine.
(3) As you climb the dyke, look to your right to see the dam downstream before continuing along the Old Rhine on this shaded path, a former towpath.
The vegetation is dense and the path is dotted with observation points, some of which can be reached via short side paths leading to the riverbank (please follow the instructions on the signs at each entrance).
(4) Take advantage of an opening on the left to reach the end of the "Sentier du Petit Rhin au Vieux Rhin" (Little Rhine to Old Rhine Trail), where observation point No. 2 has been installed. Highland cattle, sheep and goats can often be seen from this spot or nearby. Return to the towpath. After 1 km, turn left towards a bridge over a branch of the Petit Rhin, offering a 360° view of the area.
(5) From the bridge, continue between the two branches of the Petit Rhin. Enter the forest to reach, before a left turn, the mouth of thefirst branch, which flows into the Vieux Rhin, slightly hidden by vegetation. Further on, rapids on the Old Rhine herald the Istein bar 500 m downstream, a rocky bar where many birds gather, as well as numerous swimmers in summer on the German bank.
(6) Shortly after the Istein bar, a path on the left climbs parallel to the towpath. It turns left and leads to a picturesque cross-country trail to the Grand Canal. It crosses the forest, a bridge over a wetland and then a dry area, home to orchids, and leads to a carriageway. Opposite, climb the hill to reach the bank of the Grand Canal.
(7) On the right, the two large locks at Kembs seem very close (they are 1 km away, see During the hike or nearby). Take the return path to the left upstream. (See alternative in Practical information).
The ballet of barges on the Grand Canal breaks up the monotony of the long tarmac road.
You can also alternate with the parallel path below, which is more shaded and offers a few views of the renaturation area while waiting for cross paths to be created. Continue to observatory No. 3.
(8) The bank of the Grand Canal is several metres above the water and often offers views of the ponds, dry meadows and plantations on the southern part of the Rhine Island. A stop at or near the observatory often allows you to see the Konik Polski horses that have been introduced to the island.
(1) Continue walking and return to the starting point, then the fish pass, the dam and the car park (S/E) with the Huningue-Village Neuf nautical base on the right and the port of Basel on the left in the distance upstream of the Grand Canal.
Visorando member
Moderate 
