Kemberg Massif in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges

Hiking in the Kemberg massif in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, covered with fir trees and offering two superb viewpoints: La Roche du Kiosque and La Roche de Saint-Martin.

Details

111513
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.78 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 348 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 337 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 709 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 393 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From Saint-Dié, take Rue de l'Hermitage, go up it and park on a no-entry road on the right, very close to the N59. It is a cul-de-sac and is the starting point for the walk (the open-air theatre).

(S/E) At the end of the road, take the underpass beneath the N59, then the path on the right. At the end of this path, turn right onto the forest road, following the sign for "Tour de Kemberg". Continue for about 100 metres.

(1) Take the small path on the left going up into the woods with a sign for "Tour de Kemberg / sapin qui pisse" (Kemberg Tower / pissing fir tree). Climb up to reach a path on the right with a sign for Chemin des Amoureux (Lovers' Path). Follow it up to a forest path. Turn left towards Roche du Kiosque. After about twenty metres, take a small path on the right with a sign for "Roche du Kiosque".
Follow the path, still marked Roche du Kiosque (marked with a yellow diamond and green rectangle), to reach the plateau with its superb panorama.

(2) Opposite the exit of the initial path, head towards Roche du Kiosque via a small path that climbs up to the rock with the superb view.

(3) Retrace your steps back to the clearing.

(2) Follow the path opposite towards Roche Saint-Martin via the Fontaine des Chevaux (the path next to it leads to the start of this site).

(4) Follow the signs for Croix Rouge Fontaine Saint-Martin. At the bottom, turn left to see the fountain. Continue in this direction towards "Roche Saint-Martin". Stay on the path to reach a forest hut on the right.
From there, head straight ahead, following the Roche St-Martin sign, and climb the path to reach it and discover a superb panorama of Saint-Dié. You can climb up onto the rock using the stairs provided.

(5) Go around the rock to return to the path you came from. At the fork, turn left towards Saint-Dié direct (Croix Jaune sign).
Stay on this path to reach a forest road at the bottom.

(6) There, turn right towards Saint-Dié via Fourcharupt. Walk along the forest path until you see the sign for Saint-Dié and the underpass on the left.

(1) Continue for 100 metres and go down the path to arrive at the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 393 m - Parking on the cul-de-sac
  2. 1 : km 0.33 - alt. 435 m - Crossroads of the loop
  3. 2 : km 2.36 - alt. 662 m - Turn-off A/R
  4. 3 : km 2.65 - alt. 706 m - Roche du Kiosque
  5. 4 : km 3.39 - alt. 572 m - Horse fountain
  6. 5 : km 3.95 - alt. 587 m - Roche Saint-Martin
  7. 6 : km 4.97 - alt. 411 m - Head towards Fourcharupt and Saint-Dié direc
  8. S/E : km 5.78 - alt. 404 m - Parking on the cul-de-sac

Notes

Walking shoes recommended.

Worth a visit

Lake Gérardmer.
The artisan confectionery shop in Plainfaing (88).

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 22 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Nathalie MOREAU
Nathalie MOREAU
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

At the start of the hike, you can indeed hear traffic on the road. But little by little, you forget about it.
It's steep... Lots of stones and a few large roots.
What a view when you reach the top! The Vosges forest is magnificent... You could stay there for hours, just gazing at it...
The descent is a little more complicated.
When we reached a more inviting path, we thought we had missed the horse fountain. But no! You have to continue downhill a little further and it's on the right (with a small wooden bridge).
The stone mountains are huge and the difference in the stones is surprising.
The view of St Dié is magnificent in all its whiteness.
To climb the stone mountain and get a better view of the panorama, you need to have a head for heights. Me... I still do. I could only get up to the first level.
A very pleasant hike.

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marine.m30
marine.m30
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Both viewpoints are very beautiful to see.
Some paths are a little more technical, so good footwear is recommended.

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Drinesan71
Drinesan71

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk away from the crowds. Three lovely viewpoints over St Dié

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Charlie105
Charlie105

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very enjoyable walk for the whole family. There's a steep climb at the start, but it leads to a beautiful view of the region. The path is fairly easy to follow thanks to the various signposts

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lemarcheur65
lemarcheur65 ★

Hello sakado35
Description updated.

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sakado35
sakado35

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The description contains errors. At the end of the path passing under the N59, turn right, and 100 metres further on, turn left towards Tour de Kemberg - Sapin qui pisse. We took a path marked with a yellow cross to the plateau before Roche du Kiosque. It is better to follow the GPS track than the description. It is a beautiful hike, especially Roche St-Martin, but you can hear the traffic on the N59 three-quarters of the time.

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ciboulette68
ciboulette68

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful view of the town of Saint-Dié. The Saint-Martin rock is majestic.
At the starting point, on the forest road, turn right and not left as indicated in the description.

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papi rené
papi rené

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route to follow, but not very interesting

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Laggy
Laggy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Complete and reliable description of the hike (except for a mix-up between right and left in paragraph (1). It should read: "...At the end of this road, turn RIGHT onto the forest road following the sign for Tour du Kemberg....". Very pleasant hike

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Gméliès
Gméliès

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this route. The excellent signposting in this mountain range allowed us to extend our walk without difficulty and enjoy the different views of the many rocks, including those of L'Enclume and Anozel

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JYL12
JYL12

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Following the storms in January and February, many trees are blocking the path. This does not hinder progress on the trail, but sometimes makes for tricky passages.
Perfect description and route, beautiful views.

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Lincy
Lincy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route for families, with beautiful views and a pleasant walk. I highly recommend it!

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EDITH14060501
EDITH14060501

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

beautiful view

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maicha
maicha

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

very nice walk, just a few minor issues with no major impact
- the GPS coordinates for the starting point correspond to the town centre, not the actual starting point
- the instructions in paragraph (1) on the forest road, "turn left for 100 metres", are confusing, as you actually turn right when you reach this road and walk 100 metres before turning left to start this superb walk
the views are splendid and the path is shaded for almost the entire route

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kipeleplus
kipeleplus

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A superb, very pleasant walk. The route is easily accessible and can be completed in an afternoon.
The various points of interest are well worth seeing.
Thank you for the route

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