Tour du Taennchel starting from Schelmenkopf

This is a hike of around twelve kilometres that allows you to see most of the interesting rock formations in the magical setting of the Taennchel.

The walk starts at the Club Vosgien chalet at Schelmenkopf, above Ribeauvillé. To get there from Ribeauvillé, take the road to Aubure, then at the hamlet of ‘La Pépinière’, turn off towards La Grande Verrerie. Please note: this route is inaccessible in winter as the path is unpaved.

Details

313509
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.30 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 988 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,007 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,182 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,303 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

The start is near the Club Vosgien refuge at Schelmenkopf, where you can park. The car park is normally reserved for chalet guests, but you can park there if you buy a drink. Otherwise, you can park before the car park entrance.

(S/E) Take the path that starts behind the refuge, following the Blue Cross markings. The path climbs quite steeply, winding its way up.

(1) When you reach a track, head straight ahead. Walk to the next junction.

(2) At the junction, leave the Blue Cross route and turn right onto the path marked with Yellow Rectangles. You pass the Trois Tables site. You then walk to the Kutzigbuech shelter, where you can take a break.

(3) From the shelter, head towards the Rocher des Géants, following the Yellow Rectangle and Red Ring markings. Just past the Kutzigbuech shelter is Rammelfels, a viewpoint. You then pass successively by the Rocher des Reptiles, the Rocher de la Petite Fée and finally the Rocher des Géants.

(4) From the Rocher des Géants, follow the Yellow Triangles towards the Rocher de la Paix d’Udine. When you reach a fork, continue towards the Rocher de la Paix d’Udine, following the Red Rings. From here to the Rocher de la Paix d’Udine, follow the so-called Païen Wall.

(5) At the Rocher de la Paix d'Udine, there is a magnificent view over the Rhine plain. Then take the path leading back down, following the Red Ring markers, to the Abri du Taennchel (Hasenclever junction).

(6) From the Hasenclever crossroads, follow the path marked with Blue Triangles, which takes you back to the Schelmenkopf Refuge (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,451 ft
  2. 1 : mi 0.69 - alt. 3,009 ft - Crossing a track suitable for vehicles
  3. 2 : mi 1.15 - alt. 3,159 ft - Crossroads
  4. 3 : mi 1.31 - alt. 3,110 ft - Abri Kutzig Buech
  5. 4 : mi 1.91 - alt. 3,071 ft - Rocher des Géants
  6. 5 : mi 3.38 - alt. 2,956 ft - Rocher de la Paix d’Udine
  7. 6 : mi 4.62 - alt. 2,329 ft - Abri du Taennchel (Hasenclever)
  8. S/E : mi 7.3 - alt. 2,451 ft

Notes

Please note that the hike is advertised as taking 4 hours, as it is around 12 km long. In reality, as you will want to stop at every rock, it will take considerably longer. Set off early if you want to finish before nightfall.

Take water with you as there is none available along the route. Do not do the circuit in reverse as it is more difficult and you may get lost. In the Taennchel, it is forbidden to take unmarked paths. Dogs must be kept on a lead.

To reach the starting point from Ribeauvillé, take the road to Aubure, then at the hamlet of La Pépinière, turn right towards La Grande Verrerie. Then follow Schelmenkopf, Club Vosgien refuge (a few kilometres of unpaved road, to be avoided in snowy weather). Do not follow GPS.

Worth a visit

On arrival, you can enjoy a drink at the Club Vosgien refuge (weekends in season and all week in summer)

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 40 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
laika1963
laika1963

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Start from the car park before the Grande Verrerie; follow the signs for Mitelberg (Blue Cross and Blue Triangle). A very steep climb up to the Roche des Trois Tables (don’t forget your walking poles).
The rest of the walk is in the shade on a sweltering day.

Machine-translated

virgule
virgule

There you go, I used the automatic tracking feature to make the track follow the paths. I’ll go back there sometime and switch the app on.

It’s up to the next users to let us know whether they can follow the track exactly using their app.

Machine-translated

virgule
virgule
• Edited:

All right. I think these inaccuracies are down to my smartphone’s lack of precision. It’s quite an old route (2010), dating from a time when smartphone GPS systems weren’t very accurate.

Furthermore, for some reason I can’t explain, I’ve often noticed significant deviations at Taennchel between the GPS track and the theoretical route.

Basically, do I just need to make the route follow the paths?

Machine-translated

expertalu
expertalu

Thank you for this walk on such a sweltering day; it was pleasantly cool amongst the rocks. It’s a shame the GPS track is so imprecise and contains two major route errors. The main attraction of this route is the rocks around the Taennchel.

Hello,

From point 0.580 km to point 0.900 km, the path is to the left of the GPX route, not through the forest.
The path descends at the 6.030 km mark, not at the 6.390 km mark
The GPX track is generally quite far off the actual path

Machine-translated

virgule
virgule
• Edited:

Hello,

It’s a route I do several times a year; I know the area like the back of my hand.

Let me know where there are any mistakes, and I can go back and have a look.

Or post a link to your recording, and I’ll have a look.

Machine-translated

expertalu
expertalu

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this walk on such a sweltering day; it was pleasantly cool amongst the rocks. It’s a shame the GPS track is so imprecise and contains two major route errors. The main attraction of this route is the rocks around the Taennchel.

Machine-translated

User 2346527

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route.
However, a bit more tedious on the way back.

Not very busy due to the mixed weather.

Machine-translated

virgule
virgule
• Edited:

Hello, thank you for your review.

I’ve updated the description. The management has indeed put up a sign reserving their car park for chalet guests. As I only go there out of season and on weekdays to have some peace and quiet, I’ve never been inconvenienced by this restriction.

You can park before the entrance to the chalet car park. The forest is vast. Unless you’re coming with lots of cars.

The Club Vosgien chalet is a real bonus on this route. The welcome there is very friendly and the drinks are very reasonably priced.

Machine-translated

User 12350694

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Please note: there is no car park at the starting point.
Thanks to the volunteers from the Vosges Club who agreed to let us use the car park at their chalet in exchange for buying a drink on our return, which was very welcome before setting off again.

Machine-translated

virgule
virgule

Part of the route has been repaired today: the path is passable again.

Machine-translated

User 25017135

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The autumn weather on this Sunday in August was perfect for this beautiful route! The elevation gain is very pleasant as it is steady for the first 500 metres, and the descent is also gentle despite a few steeper slopes. There was hardly anyone else on the route and we only came across a few groups near the rocks. Thank you for sharing!

Machine-translated

virgule
virgule
• Edited:

Hello,

I did this route again last week. The unpaved road from the Grande Verrerie car park to Schelmenkopf is in poor condition following heavy storms. I would advise against using it in a standard car.

It is possible to walk up this path, but it is a long way. You can also get there from the centre of Grande Verrerie by turning left in front of the old Taennchel inn.

In the morning during the week, it's very quiet; I didn't see anyone on the rocks.

Machine-translated

virgule
virgule

Thank you for your review.

If you appreciate peace and quiet, it's best to avoid weekends.

Machine-translated

Nathalie et Francis
Nathalie et Francis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike with no particular difficulties, but you need to wear good walking shoes.
The trail is busier, especially around the various rocks, but this isn't a problem.
Some lovely views. Good for families.
Highly recommended

Machine-translated

Nine 68
Nine 68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A nice warm-up on the first kilometre, very pleasant up to point 6, then more monotonous but generally recommended. Not many views but this is compensated by the section along the pagan wall with all its beautiful rocks. Quite busy from points 2 to 5, the most interesting section.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.