Walk in the old bed of the Rhine: the Petite Camargue Alsacienne

de fr

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.

Technical sheet

n°242955
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.01 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 9 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 9 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 249 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 239 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

On the Grand Marais path
The Highland cows of the Petite Camargue
Central marsh from the hexagonal observatory
West Pond from the Ornis observatory

Description of the walk

Walk in the old bed of the Rhine.
Park in the small car park on Rue du Canal in Rosenau.

(S/E) Head towards the path along the canal that starts to the right of the lock at the sign for "Petite Camargue Alsacienne". Ignore the paths that descend to the right and stay on the bank of the canal. After 600 metres, the "Belvédère du Grand Marais" offers a view of the Untere Au.

(1) 400 metres further on, leave the bank and take a path on the right that leads into the forest. Follow it to the Grand Marais observatory. Return to the bank and continue upstream for 150 metres.

(2) Take the beautiful path on the right towards the Mittlere Au, which passes between ponds and marshes. It leads to the large Georges Muller observatory. When you leave the observatory, take the first path on the left, on duckboards, between streams and ponds: this is the observatory trail. After the hexagonal observatory, follow the curve of the large pond on the left until you reach the crossroads.

(3) Leave the path on the right, a shortcut(1) that leads to the exhibitions and fish farm, and stay on the left towards Mittlere Au. You will pass an observatory on the left, then a shelter and a feeding trough for Highland cows. Further on, the path runs along the western edge of the fishermen's pond and joins the tarmac road. The lock and lock keeper's house(2) are 200 metres to the left for a possible return trip.

(4) Turn right onto the path that runs alongside the road, then cross over to the Ober Au observatory. Continue along this path, which crosses the road again and runs alongside it to the Petite Camargue visitor centre and its information panels.

(5) Take the path to the north-west and then north. It leads to the fish farm. You will come to a terrace where you can observe the groundwater sources and then a bridge over the Augraben. Further on, the "Sentier des Mares" (Pond Trail) on duckboards offers a pleasant detour to the right. You will reach the heart of the site, opposite the majestic main building of the former imperial fish farm.

(6) Turn left towards the "NatuRh'info" shop. Set back from the road is the small Ornis observatory, which offers a view of the western pond. Retrace your steps and walk along the educational building and then the Cina building (Au nature initiation centre) towards the Grand Marais trail, which starts on the left just at the end of the building. After the rhizosphere, you can enjoy a final observatory overlooking the beautiful northern pond. Turn left as you leave the observatory and continue straight on towards the Grand Marais. At the crossroads, leave the path and the bridge over the Augraben on your left and continue straight on (Club Vosgien Triangle Vert signposting).

(7) After 100 metres, continue along the Grand Marais path and turn right (except during the breeding season(3), when you should continue straight ahead towards the fields via the Triangle Vert trail). The trail runs alongside the trees bordering the Grand Marais and then the hillock on the banks of the Canal de Huningue to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 240 m - Car park on Rue du Canal
  2. 1 : km 0.98 - alt. 242 m - Path on the right - Canal de Huningue
  3. 2 : km 1.69 - alt. 242 m - Mittlere Au trail - Petite Camargue Alsacienne
  4. 3 : km 2.32 - alt. 242 m - At the crossroads, keep left
  5. 4 : km 3.11 - alt. 242 m - Cross the road and turn left
  6. 5 : km 4 - alt. 248 m - Entrance path between the trees
  7. 6 : km 5.05 - alt. 242 m - Turn left towards Naturh'info
  8. 7 : km 5.66 - alt. 241 m - On the right (unless prohibited). - Augraben (river) - Tributary of the Grand Canal d'Alsace
  9. S/E : km 7.01 - alt. 240 m - Rosenau lock

Practical information

The route passes by eight observatories, so allow plenty of time for the walk as it would be a shame not to stop and take a look.
A victim of its own success, the heart of the Petite Camargue is very busy at weekends when the weather is fine. During the week, it is peaceful.

(1) Shortcut: You can shorten the route to less than 5 km by turning right at point (3) to reach the fish farm and point (6).

(2) The lock keeper's house near the Saint-Louis lock, 200m from point (4), is a place for information, exhibitions and relaxation: from March to mid-October, Wednesday to Sunday from 1pm to 5pm.

(3) During the spring breeding season, some paths are closed off by barriers. Alternative routes are then put in place. This is the case at point (7) between1 March and1 July.
You must then take the path through the fields (marked with a green triangle) and continue straight ahead until you see the large Au pond (Bartenheim fishermen) on the right of a hunter's shelter, which you can reach by turning right at the first cross path. Follow the edge of the pond to return to the canal bank.

If the cross path is no longer passable, continue straight ahead to the cycle path. Turn right along the pond and continue to the lock and car park.

In the nearby area

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 21 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
ajvoyage
ajvoyage

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

a very pleasant and easy 7 km walk

Automatically translated

Nine 68
Nine 68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

During the week, there aren't too many people, but from point 7 onwards it becomes significantly less interesting due to the prohibition on taking the initial path.

Automatically translated

Alpha mans
Alpha mans

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very pleasant, shaded, natural route, with only the last 2 kilometres being slightly less interesting.
Don't forget your binoculars 😂

Automatically translated

BERTHOD Michèle
BERTHOD Michèle

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

in general, the start is often problematic. It would be better to say: The trail starts along the canal on the right as you look at the lock, at the sign...
In 1/ I would suggest instead: 400m further on, take the path on the right; follow it to a fork; take the left fork to go to the Grand Marais observatory; go up...
No other comments, the hike is very beautiful

Automatically translated

neyrac07
neyrac07

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

a lovely family walk to enjoy between mid-September and the end of February, with migratory birds present

Automatically translated

Harmo Dan
Harmo Dan

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A lovely walk for water bird enthusiasts too

Automatically translated

katiorek
katiorek

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk, best enjoyed in warm weather (as it is well shaded) and during the week outside of holiday periods... so you can be alone in the world :-)

Automatically translated

Dany68300
Dany68300

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful hike to do with the family in hot weather

Automatically translated

FJ6888
FJ6888 ★

Thank you for your feedback, and we are delighted to hear that you had a good day

Kind regards

Automatically translated

ptk
ptk

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Hello,
This was our first guided walk with Visorando. We were more than delighted. The route was perfect and so useful (we would never have spotted the charming little side paths).
Our hike took twice as long as planned because we kept stopping (the good weather helped). We regret not bringing binoculars and a telephoto lens.
It was a little frustrating to have to finish on the Triangle Vert trail given the time of year, but it was no problem to complete the route.
We will definitely be back in different seasons. Thank you very much for the quality of the description and guidance.

Automatically translated

FJ6888
FJ6888 ★
• Last modified:

Hello, everyone
Thank you for your feedback
There are fewer birds in winter, but the season has the advantage of offering a clearer view without foliage, and when ice and snow cover the ponds, the place is magnificent, especially the central marsh (Mittlere Au).

Automatically translated

Papinouxe
Papinouxe

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A short spring walk, not many birds yet and a "slightly muddy" route, definitely worth repeating... which is why, for the moment, I'd give it a "good" rating in terms of interest

Automatically translated

FJ6888
FJ6888 ★

Regarding the detour to be taken during the breeding season from the point (7) (from 1 March to 30 June).

After verification, the farmer who for years had allowed access to a 50-metre stretch perpendicular to the marked Triangle Vert trail, leading to the path that goes to the fishermen's pond and then to the Huningue canal, is now exercising his rights. He has ploughed the trail.
A post with a sign explains that you must continue straight ahead to the cycle path that runs alongside the Rosenau road and the other fishermen's pond.
The cycle path, which you take on the right, then leads to the car park. The distance is extended by approximately 200 metres.

It should be noted that a path has already been created on site, running parallel to and a few metres away from the disappeared path. This new path is now on the neighbour's field. It remains to be seen whether the neighbour will accept this fait accompli.

Automatically translated

FJ6888
FJ6888 ★
• Last modified:

Good evening, ChrisetMag

Thank you for this information.
I will see if a solution is possible.

Automatically translated

ChrisetMag
ChrisetMag

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Beautiful hike, no difficulty, very flat... very good description, impossible to get lost!!! Thank you.
A short stretch of road needs to be added at the end of the route (during the breeding season), as the farmer no longer wants people to walk through his fields. You have to walk to the end of the road and then retrace your steps... This last part of the walk isn't very interesting as a result.

Automatically translated

Other walks in the area

Walking La Petite Camargue by Rosenau

Visorando member
La Petite Camargue par Rosenau
↔6.41 km ↗+4 m ↘-4 m ◔1h 50 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Haut-Rhin
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.

Walking Walk along the old bed of the Rhine: along the Au

Visorando member
Promenade dans l'ancien lit du Rhin : au fil de l'Au
↔6.22 km ↗+21 m ↘-12 m ◔1h 50 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Kembs (Haut-Rhin)
In the heart of the Au, an 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 Canal de Huningue, by a pond or a lock, on the banks of canals or streams, water is omnipresent.Please note: the Scheidgraben path before point ::10:: is currently submerged (November 2026), making this hike difficult to complete.

Walking Following the route of the waters of Saint-Louis

Visorando member
La Piste de l'Eau de Saint-Louis
↔3.97 km ↗+4 m ↘-4 m ◔1h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Saint-Louis (Haut-Rhin) (Haut-Rhin)
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.

Walking Walk along the old bed of the Rhine: from the Huningue Canal to the Old Rhine

Visorando member
Promenade dans l'ancien lit du Rhin : du Canal de Huningue au Vieux Rhin
↔10.15 km ↗+77 m ↘-78 m ◔3h 05 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Kembs (Haut-Rhin)
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.

Walking In the heart of the Au plain, Rosenau, daughter of the Rhine

Visorando member
Au cœur de la plaine de l'Au, Rosenau la fille du Rhin
↔13.55 km ↗+30 m ↘-30 m ◔3h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Kembs (Haut-Rhin)
The Plaine de l'Au is a wetland area on the floodplain of the Rhine in the Three Borders Region, where the river, before its course was corrected by dykes (19th century) and then channelled (early 20th century), spread out into multiple branches.Between the Kembs hydroelectric power station in the north and the Grand Marais trail in the south, water accompanies us throughout this route, where biodiversity and human activities strive to coexist harmoniously. Please note: the Scheidgraben path between (6) and (7) is currently submerged (November 2026), making this hike difficult to complete.

Walking The Saint Louis Neuweg neighbourhood and its discovery trail

Visorando member
Le quartier Saint Louis Neuweg et son sentier de découverte
↔6.50 km ↗+4 m ↘-4 m ◔1h 50 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Saint-Louis (Haut-Rhin) (Haut-Rhin)
On the edge of the Petite Camargue Alsacienne is a quiet residential area that is part of the Saint-Louis conurbation: Neuweg. It is well worth a visit and, at the end of the walk, you will come to a small forest where you can learn more about water along a discovery trail.

Walking A short tour of Brestenberg through fields and forests

Visorando member
Petit tour du Brestenberg par champs et forêts
↔4.05 km ↗+52 m ↘-52 m ◔1h 20 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Bartenheim (Haut-Rhin)
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.

Walking The heights of Blotzheim via the snail hills

Visorando member
Les hauteurs de Blotzheim par les collines des escargots
↔13.10 km ↗+193 m ↘-187 m ◔4h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Bartenheim (Haut-Rhin)
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 long. Please note (November 2026): a tree is blocking the path just before the point (2), which is difficult to get past. You will need to go straight ahead to (14) and turn left towards (4) to continue the route.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of the author. Do not copy them without permission.