Vosges du Nord walks

The cave dwellings of Grauftal and the castle of La Petite Pierre.

This hike in the Northern Vosges will allow you to discover five castles which, although less well known than Fleckenstein, are just as worthy of a visit! Much of the walk takes place on small forest paths, making it very pleasant in hot weather.

Why is it called the Alsatian Colorado... when it's just across the border in Germany? Our German neighbours call it the Altschlossfelsen or "Old Castle Cliffs". In any case, this easy horse ride between France and Germany, with no major difficulties or steep slopes, allows you to discover this beautiful pink sandstone rock formation, hidden among the vegetation.A short, easy hike, ideal for families with children who enjoy walking.

A breathtaking walk that will make you feel like you're travelling at the foot of the Grand Canyon. A place to visit again and again, attracting many hikers, this is a beautiful family hike with plenty of tables for picnicking in the shade of the trees.

The castles of Hanau - The Erbsenfels arch.

A walk made for children. The walk starts and ends at a superb medieval playground, with a splendid view of the Krappenfels. There are two partially renovated castle ruins and the fully renovated Fleckenstein Castle (entrance fee).

A short loop starting from Saint-Jean-Saverne will take you to the ruins of Warthenberg Castle with a superb view of Alsace.

This trail takes you to rocks and castles with magnificent, unobstructed views of the valley and Obersteinbach. You can visit the Bohemian Rock or "Tziganes", Wasigenstein Castle, Petit Arnsberg Castle and Wachtfels Rock with its breathtaking view. There is a short stretch of tarmac at the start and end of the hike. This is a fairly easy hike, but I have rated it as moderately difficult due to its length.

A beautiful walk in the Northern Vosges to discover the Colorado of Bitcherland.

A lovely, easy hike with many paths wide enough for groups and a restaurant halfway along the route!

Hike in the forest of Niederbronn-les-Bains to discover Wasenbourg Castle and then the Col de l'Ungerthal.

A walk in the Northern Vosges forest around Zittersheim near Petite-Pierre in search of 12 springs. These are small springs or trickles of water. The best known is the Source de la Moder. I couldn't find springs 5 and 8. Either they aren't marked, they've dried up, or I got distracted. Feel free to add waypoints if you find them, if possible.

Discover ruined castles: Fleckenstein, Loewenstein, Hohenbourg and Wegelnbourg (Palatinate) and remarkable rocks such as the "Krappenfels" and those that line the Sentier des Roches (Rock Trail) and the climb to Wegelnbourg. These places are steeped in history and mystery, and offer some very pretty views.

This circuit allows you to discover the ruins of Herrenstein Castle, the Hoelzernerbrunnen spring, Hunebourg Castle and the Roches trail before gently descending to the Zinsel valley and encountering the Highlands Catlles

A pleasant hike to stretch your legs. Ideal in early May when nature is waking up. Passes by an impressive rocky outcrop (beautiful view) and caves. Most of the walk is in the shade and the hike follows a river on the last part of the route. Also pleasant in the height of summer. (updated May 2020)

A pleasant hike of moderate difficulty, culminating in the magnificent Lichtenberg Castle. You will walk mainly on paths and through a deciduous forest, enjoying the early spring sunshine but staying in the shade in summer.

A lovely loop in the Northern Vosges that crosses the old fortifications of the Maginot Line and passes by the ruins of an old chapel.

In the Neuwiller-lès-Saverne - Weiterswiller - La Petite Pierre triangle, discover a Buddhist temple, the Grotte d'Amour (Cave of Love), Hunebourg Castle and the ruins of Herrenstein Castle.

Magnificent hike on the forest paths around Hanau Pond. Visit the ruins of Falkenstein, Rothenburg and Waldeck Castles, passing by the splendid sandstone arch of Erbsenfelsen.

The trail marked with the "Premiumweg" label is a meeting point between Alsace and the Palatinate, between The Northern Vosges and the Wasgau: two of the most beautiful natural sites in Europe thanks to their landscape of endless forests, pink sandstone rocks rising towards the sky and remarkable castle ruins. This 33 km trail was originally divided into two circular loops. Here is the second part, covering 16 km.

Circular hike starting from the Celtic spring with ascent of the Grand Wintersberg, 581 m, the highest point in the Northern Vosges, and return via the Col de la Liese chalet (belonging to the Club Vosgien) and the Heidenkopf shelter.

A short hike that can be enjoyed with the whole family. It will allow you to immerse yourself in the rich history and discover the many beliefs of the Saverne region, from prehistory to the present day. You will enjoy magnificent views of the woods and forests of the Northern Vosges, as well as the Alsace plain and the Kochersberg.

A very beautiful and pleasant walk in warm weather as it is mostly shaded. Discover Ramstein Castle, Baerenthal Pond and the lake where the more motivated can take a dip at the end of the walk!

A lovely little walk in the Northern Vosges forest connecting Zittersheim to Wingen-sur-Moder. I fell in love with the forests of the Northern Vosges.

A family-friendly hike that allows you to discover remarkable ancient sites.

A superb hike through the forest, mainly starting from the Étang de Hanau, passing by the Étang de Lieschbach, Falkenstein Castle, Waldeck Castle and the peat bogs.

A beautiful, undulating circular hike through the woods, winding between old wash houses, steles, ponds and rocks pierced by caves.

The village of Windstein, nestled in a valley in the Northern Vosges, is the ideal starting point for visiting the many ruined castles in the surrounding area. The hike takes in the two castles of Wittschloessel and Wineck. It is possible to add Schoeneck Castle by temporarily deviating from the route.

This very hilly walk will take you from Loosthal to the Imsthal inn for a return trip to Petite-Pierre.

Ascent of the Grand Wintersberg, the highest point in the Northern Vosges, via a steep path. Return via a different, equally narrow path. Take care in wet weather or when the paths are snow-covered.

This is an easy, short walk around La Petite-Pierre with a lovely view of the castle from the Rocher Blanc But be careful, there is a slight incline!

A pleasant hike on the southern flank of the Hochwald, leading from the Lampertsloch Forest House to the Col du Wiep, then to the Soultzerkopf Refuge. Near the refuge, an orientation table allows you to enjoy the landscape towards the plain. This route is ideal for getting back to nature and finding peace and quiet.

Short walk from the Col du Pfaffenschlick via Drachenbronn and the Col de Stiefelsberg.

This circular, which presents no technical difficulties, will take you through pretty spots dotted with beautiful rocks, notably the Grotte d'Amour. Of reasonable length, it is a pleasant walk to be done in half a day.

A short, very natural route to discover a forest in the Northern Vosges. The route passes by the Sept Fontaines farmhouse inn and descends towards Lobsann. The return journey is along a pleasant forest path, offering a special moment in beautiful, peaceful nature. This family route can also be done by mountain bike with a minimum of skill.

A pleasant hike in the Northern Vosges, mainly through deciduous forests, which allows you to discover the Hochwald fortifications and the Ruins of the Hermitage. If you are quiet, you may be lucky enough to spot some deer!

Known as the Vosges Colorado or Alsace Colorado since the French Club Vosgien discovered this remarkable natural area relatively late in the 20th century, it is a magnet for hikers from France on fine days. Apart from the site itself, German forests are usually very quiet in autumn.Do not expect to see even the ruins of an ancient castle... nothing remains, but the real beauty of the site lies in the rocks with their magnificent colours.The French name is probably the result of an excellent marketing strategy, as this site is in no way comparable to the famous Provençal colorados (Rustrel or Roussillon). Apart from a few beautiful colours, it could more easily be compared to Luxembourg's Petite Suisse.However, the site is well worth a visit and even a detour!

This is a large circular hike starting from Jaegerthal, the birthplace of the De Dietrich family, with its castle, park and the remains of the first forge near the car park. It is a long but peaceful hike, with a succession of small "bumps" and dotted with numerous fortified castles and remarkable rocks. The first part follows the "Sentier de la Ligne Maginot" (Maginot Line Trail) with a succession of bunkers in a surprisingly good state of preservation.