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Walk in the old bed of the Rhine.
Start from the car park on Rue de Rosenau near the EDF roundabout decorated with a collection of turbine propellers.
(S/E) Walk past the restaurant, take the cycle path, then turn left onto the tarmac access ramp that leads up to the hydroelectric plant.
Leave the descent to the left bank of the Grand Canal on your left. Go straight ahead and continue to the plant.
(1) Cross the canal in front of the six turbines and continue to the right towards the large locks. Leave the "Rhin et Découvertes" shops on your right and cross the bridge in front of the imposing gates closing the locks to reach a small car park on Île du Rhin.
(2) Turn right towards the Kembs dam (or Märkt dam), go through the barrier at the end of the locks, leave the path that descends in steps immediately to the left marked with a green ring (emergency path, see practical information) and continue for 700 m along the tarmac path alongside the canal.
(3) Shortly after the end of the strip of land that separates the canal into two lanes (one towards the factory and the other towards the locks), don't miss the path on the left that descends towards the Old Rhine and the Barre d'Istein. Cross the carriage road and enter the Petite Camargue Alsacienne estate via a picturesque little path that leads to the left bank of the Old Rhine.
(4) Turn right for a round trip upstream towards the Barre d'Istein.
(5) The Barre d'Istein is a rock formation that creates rapids, a wild place where many birds (and swimmers in summer on the German bank) enjoy themselves. After enjoying the place, retrace your steps. Possible alternative route, see practical information.
(4) Follow the wild banks of the Old Rhine downstream to the junction with the emergency path 700 m further on.
In dry weather and when the water is low, this crossroads allows you to take a steep descent (caution) to the right towards a pebble island often frequented by Alsatians in summer. To the left, there is a shortcut for a quick return to the locks.
(6) Continue straight ahead for about 2 km to a place called "Le Bouchon", where the Rhine and the Grand Canal are very close together. Just before reaching this point, a small fishermen's path leads down to the bank and the islets, which are sometimes accessible (if the water level is low and with caution).
(7) This beautiful spot is ideal for a break or for going down to the banks of the Rhine (small steps) to observe the German shore, the islets and the surrounding vegetation. Then return to the Grand Canal and take the wide carriageway that leads back up to the locks and the hydroelectric plant. Cross the bridge over the spillways.
(1) At the end of the bridge, before the bend, stairs descend to the right towards technical facilities and the fish pass. You will come to a small car park. Turn right to walk along the fish pass, then follow the riverbank for about 600 metres.
(8) Just after a stream, a branch of the Augraben that flows into the canal, leave the bank to the left via a wide path. Cross the road and turn left towards the EDF roundabout. Go around the roundabout on the right to climb onto the bridge overlooking a pretty, now disused lock, with a view of the Huningue Canal and its towpath, which has been converted into a cycle path.
(9) Retrace your steps to return to the starting point (S/E).
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