Raon-sur-Plaine walks

A pleasant forest route offering beautiful views between two passes and allowing you to visit a site steeped in mysterious legends.

A beautiful hike through the Vosges forests, on the border of three departments (Bas-Rhin, Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle). Pass along the Roman road and the former border from 1871 to 1918, then on to Grand Rougimont (622m), the highest point in Meurthe-et-Moselle. Descend to the ruins of Moises and return along the Saussenrupt stream via the Trou Marmot.

Set off to explore the Cascade de la Crache waterfall, the Rocher de la Hazelle rock with its view over the Plaine valley, and the Dolmen de la Hazelle dolmen above the village of Raon-sur-Plaine.

A hike along the Donon fortified positions trail. From September 1914, the Vosges front stabilised on the ridges and the Donon became a defensive position of prime importance. In 1915, the Germans embarked on a colossal construction project.

A hike at the foot of the highest point in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department, in a mainly forest setting, far from the crowds and the beaten track. A moving visit to the graves of German soldiers from the First World War.

Circuit passing through the peaks of Grand and Petit Donon, using the marked trails of the Club Vosgiens and theGR®5. Forestry work is taking place for one month until May 2024 between (10) and (11).

From the Col de Prayé to the Lac de la Maix via La Corbeille, walk along the peaks to discover some interesting sights: cup-marked stones, remains from the First World War, views of Alsace and Donon. 16/09/2024: Starting point changed. The access road and car park at Lac de la Maix are inaccessible for an indefinite period.

A short hike up one of the most famous peaks in the Vosges du Nord, famous for its Gallo-Roman remains and from where you can enjoy a wide panorama. The ascent is more gradual and less busy than the descent.

This walk offers some wonderful discoveries: first the temple perched on the summit of the Grand Donon, then the German military cemetery near the Col de la Côte de l’Engin, and finally the summit of the Petit Donon, which offers a beautiful view.

Leaving from the Lac de la Maix, in a beautiful setting, we pass through the Clairière de Prayé, the Haut du Bon Dieu and the charming Fontaine Colas Lorrain spring. We also visit two sites of trough or cup rock. A hike through beautiful woodland with pleasant stretches of open country.

A circular hike starting in the forest and leading to the remarkable rock formation of the Chapelle de Bipierre, then continuing along the ridge via the Hautes Chaumes, with views of the Donon throughout. The hike ends at the peaceful Lac de la Maix.

A pleasant hike in warm weather as it is mainly in the shade and mostly on paths, allowing you to discover Lac de la Maix.

Keen to explore the archaeological sites around Lac de la Maix and its surroundings, we followed the trails marked by the Club Vosgien. On the way back after La Haute-Côte, we came across a few sections that reminded us a little of the legendary Roches or Hirschsteine trails between La Schlucht and the Hohneck; namely, very rocky paths featuring quite challenging sections interspersed with numerous springs. Best avoided during wet weather

In the Bruche Valley, this circular route on the heights of Rothau, starting from the Étang du Coucou, takes us towards the peaks of La Chatte Pendue and La Haute Loge. The Auberge du Bambois is the perfect stop for a gourmet meal.

A circular route following the border with Germany between 1870 and 1918 and the German and French fortifications from the First World War between Bionville and the Col de la Chapelotte.Walk along the ridge, between the rocky outcrops, blockhouses and trenches, following the Sentier de Mémoire (Memory Trail) between Roches Ganaux and Col de la Chapelotte.

This hike leads to the Chatte Pendue viewpoint and the summit of Hautes Loges, which offer a breathtaking 360° view of the neighbouring peaks: Donon, Rocher de Mutzig, Massif du Champ du Feu and Col du Hantz. The only difficulty is the climb to La Chatte Pendue. So start slowly.

A circular walk mainly through forest. Starting from the enchanting setting of the Étang du Coucou, you will discover the ruins of the Château de Salm, currently undergoing restoration. You will then climb up to the promontory of the Chatte Pendue with its orientation table, make a short stop at the Monument des Passeurs, and then follow a slightly wilder path to the Tourbière de la Maxe. July 2022 modification of the route between (8) and (9) due to poor trail maintenance: temporarily leave the blue cross markings in place.

Mainly on shaded paths through the woods, this hike offers various points of interest, including the pretty Étang du Coucou lake surrounded by fir trees, the Chatte Pendue with its magnificent view of the Bruche valley and the Champs du Feu massif, and the Romanesque ruins of Salm Castle.

A walk that follows the first section of the ‘smugglers’ trail’, which was used during the Second World War to smuggle escapees, draft dodgers and patriots from annexed Alsace into occupied France, emerging at Moussey 88. A memorial marking this historical event can be found along the route. At the former Franco-German border, you’ll discover sculptures created by contemporary artists. You’ll also pass through a nature reserve and a quiet zone. On the return leg, you’ll climb the Chatte Pendue; its summit offers breathtaking views of the Donon, the Alsace plain, the Champ du Feu and Climont mountain ranges, and the Hautes Vosges. TheGR®532also takes you to the ruins of Salm Castle, which is currently being restored.

This first stage is probably the hardest day of the route. Beautiful views, pleasant trails and few forest roads. A steep climb at the end of the day explains the "Difficult" rating.

Three days of hiking and camping around the Val de Senones, passing by beautiful viewpoints. Campsites at the Tête du Coquin and the Haute Loge.

This hike follows part of the Sentier des Passeurs trail. It offers beautiful views of Haute Loge and the Hautes Chaumes, as well as picturesque surroundings around Lake Maix. This route is not difficult, except for its length.

Encounter the Mennonites in the Salm region. This community originated from Anabaptists who fled the Zurich region of Switzerland where they were persecuted. Many of them emigrated to the United States and created the Amish movement. Information panels are located along the route.

A beautiful hike in the heart of nature to the Hautes Chaumes from Moussey. The length and elevation gain are perfect for an average hiker.

This hike starts on a forest trail in a wild environment and then continues in open country on the Hautes Chaumes. Next, head south towards the Abri de la Haute Loge shelter, then north to walk along the ridge. Return via the Basse des Loges and the Chemin des Italiens.

I had wanted to hike in this mountain range for a long time, and now I've done it! There were signs prohibiting passage on a previous route, but I didn't really know where to find them, so I set off on an adventure and ended up finding an "authorised passage". So, under a bright sun, I was able to access these iconic red sandstone rocks and enjoy the exceptional 360° view from the Grand Rougimont viewpoint over the Donon and the Lorraine plateau. For those who appreciate the iconic natural curiosities of the Northern Vosges, don't hesitate to visit the Trois Pierres and Petit Rougimont: they are well worth the detour in a magnificent forest setting!

A beautiful walk with many breathtaking views of the Bruche Valley, the Donon, the Alsace plain and the Struthof memorial. A simple route in terms of length and elevation, with a mix of forest roads and woodland paths.

Here is an alternative route along the Roche Solaire sculpture trail. This section of the route takes in nine sculptures from 2010 and two from the most recent symposium in 2023. In the middle of the forest, you will see works created by artists from a variety of backgrounds, including France, Denmark, Japan and Poland.

Continue exploring the Roche Solaire sculpture trail, around and on the Kohlberg, at the foot of the Donon. On this route, you’ll discover works by artists from Germany, England, France and Ukraine. Stunning panoramic views of the Bruche Valley and the Alsace plain. It is entirely possible to complete both circular routes in a single day; to do so, the waypoint (7) from thefirst section becomes the waypoint (1) for this new route, and you simply need to follow the new stages.

From Moussey (Vosges), a circular hike that passes through the Rouges Terres to climb the Hautes Chaumes and then the Haute Loge: 360° view. Return to the starting point via the Sentier des Passeurs. This section of the historic trail is the Vosges part, with the French part starting at the Maison Forestière de Salm in Alsace. From 1940 onwards, this trail was used by smugglers to guide escapees, those refusing to participate in the STO (compulsory labour service) and all kinds of people who wanted to flee Nazi barbarism to free France. Most of the elevation gain is concentrated in the first part of the hike, up to Haute Loge.

A fun hiking trail where around forty very diverse works produced during previous biennials remain in place. From the start, the ascent runs alongside the Grand Goutte stream and leads to stubble fields halfway along the route, offering a 360° view of breathtaking horizons. We reach the highest point at an altitude of 933 metres. The descent is just as interesting, with many surprises along the way.

Let's follow the route that prisoners took in all weathers from Rothau station to the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp. They were not equipped with hiking boots or sticks to climb this mountain.

A hike in the forest of Celles-sur-Plaine, from Pain de Sucre to Roche du Coquin. Discover an observatory built and used by the Germans from 1915 onwards to alert the anti-aircraft defences along the route, knowing that the French air force was entering Alsace via the Col du Donon.

A beautiful hike through the forest with some slightly wild passages and beautiful views of Rocher du Canceley and Grand Rommelstein.

A magnificent hike, with no major difficulties apart from access to the Grand Rougimont - the ruins of Turquestein Castle - the fairy rock and the boundary stone trail, which will take you back to the Middle Ages. Moderator's addition on 23/08/2021: This hike will soon be prohibited as it is on private property. See the comments at the bottom of this page

This superb walk in the heart of the Vosges mountains is, in itself, an open-air history book. From Foudray, the route climbs towards Solbach and the legendary Col de la Perheux, reaching the green landscapes around Belmont before descending towards Waldersbach and then Foudray. Its church, with its 13th-century Romanesque bell tower, is now a temple, beside which lies the tomb of Pastor Oberlin.

Loop connecting the various villages in the Chirgoutte valley, which were part of the former seigneury of Ban de la Roche. Circuit on the western slope of the Champ du Feu, alternating between forest, pastures and gorse heathland. Beautiful views of the Donon and Climont mountains.

This hike will take you through Ban-de-la-Roche, a place dear to Pastor Jean-Frédéric Oberlin, who served there for 60 years. The route will take you through magnificent landscapes, past a little-known castle (or what remains of it) and to the highest point in the Bas-Rhin.It is a fairly long hike with a significant elevation gain, classified as difficult, which I completed in about 7 hours of walking.

Nice walk into the woodlands with a viewpoint over the Rocher du Hohwalsch. The viewpoint at the rocher du Hohwalschplatz gives you a nice view of the surroundings, even until the lake of Gondrexange.