Willer-sur-Thur walks

Enjoy a beautiful unobstructed view of the Thann valley from the Blaufels shelter. The route is shaded as it is mainly in the forest, ideal for hot summer days.

The Grand Ballon is the highest peak in the Vosges. Most people reach the Grand Ballon by road. This peak is also accessible on foot from Florival or from Markstein. This route involves ascending from the Étang de la Griedelmatt. It is a route best suited to fit and active walkers, as it involves climbing over 1,000 metres in elevation. The ascent takes place through woodland for 85% of the route. Only the final few kilometres are exposed. From its height of 1,424 metres, the Grand Ballon offers a splendid view that stretches as far as the Alps on a clear day. The descent takes place in two stages: the first part alternates between woodland and meadows down to the pretty village of Goldbach. The rest of the route, and the end of the hike, is entirely through the forest.

Starting from Bitschwiller-lès-Thann, climb to Camp Turenne via the Wickenbaechle path, the Ostein Farm Inn, the Triade shelter and Rocher d’Ostein, then climb to Molkenrain via the Friends of Nature refuge. Return via Camp Turenne, Baerenthal, Camp des Pyramides, Place des Canaris and Roche Albert. This loop walk passes numerous vantage points overlooking the Thur Valley and the surrounding peaks, such as Thanner Hubel and the Grand Ballon, as well as iconic historical sites on theFirst World War front.

This is a relatively accessible hike, taking you from viewpoint to viewpoint to Engelbourg and the Œil de la Sorcière from Bitschwiller, then gently back up along the river on the cycle path.

Starting from the Mine d'Argent campsite in Moosch, a beautiful circular route through the beautiful forests of the Vosges. At the Col de Rimbach, there is a beautiful view of the Masevaux valley and the Ballon d'Alsace mountain range. At Belacker, there is a beautiful panorama of the Grand Ballon massif and a beautiful view of the Alsace plain.

An easy hike that can be enjoyed in all seasons, with a little extra charm in winter.

The Wotan Oak stands on a rocky outcrop; five main branches emerge from the trunk at a height of 2.50m. It was given its name after 1873, drawing a parallel with the horse of the god Wotan, named Sleipnir, which had eight legs, just like this oak with its exposed roots.

Start from Thann Kattenbach, climb to Camp Turenne via the Croix du Rangen overlooking the grand cru of the same name. Pass by the Waldkapelle and the Rehbrunnel shelters, near the Wotan Oak and Becherkopf, to the Camp Turenne monument, then a round trip to Rocher Ostein, offering magnificent views over the Thur valley and the neighbouring Vosges peaks. Descent via Camp des Pyramides, Place des Canaris and the Roche Albert viewpoint, followed by the Greenway along the Thur and a climb to Engelbourg (Œil de la Sorcière) to enjoy the view over Thann.

Discover the Rangen vineyard and Thann’s medieval past.

A short hike to discover the Rangen vineyard and religious buildings.

Starting from Thann, a pleasant climb through the forest towards the Wotan Oak viewpoint (Rehbrunnel shelter) via the greenway, passing at the foot of the Drachenfells then through Heida Platzala and the Waldkapelle. Return via the Col de Grumbach, the ruins of Engelbourg Castle (Witch’s Eye), and a climb to the Croix du Rangen and its viewpoint before a pleasant descent winding through the vineyards, whilst enjoying the magnificent panoramic view over Thann and the Thur Valley.

Hike offering beautiful views.

A beautiful, shaded hike in a stunning forest that will take you to the heights of Thann.From there, an impressive panorama stretches towards the Alsace plain and the Swiss Jura.

Starting from the Route des Crêtes, near the Freundstein farmhouse inn, a magnificent, fairly easy and varied route with numerous viewpoints.

The ‘Father’s Day Trail’ is little known but nonetheless boasts incredible wild beauty. Starting from the heights of Geihouse, it leads to the Bessay stubble fields, where a stone bench awaits you with a superb view of the village, and continues to the Kestrel Shelter where you will discover one of the region’s most beautiful viewpoints.

A short walk starting from the Geishouse hikers’ car park.Ideal for a picnic with a magnificent view of the village, the neighbouring peaks and the Alps when the sky is clear.

A pleasant walk nestled in a small, fairly wild valley below the Vosges ridges. Soak up the natural surroundings with numerous small springs and waterfalls along the way. The forest reveals its secrets, so keep your eyes peeled and you may spot some of its inhabitants.

A beautiful hike starting from Saint-Amarin, which will take you to Hochstein, then to Mehrbächel, and back via the Vue des Alpes in Geishouse.

Thann is the starting point of the Wine Route. It is therefore a very large wine-growing region. Its history is closely linked to this industry. Situated at the entrance to the Thur Valley, this route allows you to visit the town, which is well worth a stop. Among the monuments you’ll encounter are the Saint-Thiébaut Collegiate Church and the Witches’ Tower. There are several squares and parks, such as Parc Albert1er and Place de Lattre de Tassigny... There is every reason, therefore, to stop off in this town before heading for Lorraine or Alsace.

Le Molkenrain from Thann, via Camp de Turenne and the pyramids, with a superb view from the summit.

Hike offering magnificent views, particularly at sunset behind the Ballons and with the magical lights of the Alsace plain. Plan to leave 2½ hours before the official sunset time. Please note that the return journey will be at night, so headlamps are required.

The protected Rossberg massif boasts some of the most beautiful pastoral pastures in the Vosges mountains. They were once home to numerous marcairies(1), of which several farmhouse inns(2) remain today. With their magnificent views of the neighbouring valleys, the southern Alsace plain, the Jura, the Black Forest and the Alps, they are sure to delight hikers.

An easy hike that can be done with children.

Climb the Grand Ballon via the Saint-Amarin valley. An exceptional hike through unspoilt nature with a thousand visual wonders.

This walk takes you through deciduous forests and a rocky landscape, which is unusual in the Vosges mountains, where one is more accustomed to fir and spruce trees. The variety of landscapes is another highlight: forest, meadows, orchards and vineyards.

During this hike, we will follow in the footsteps of the poilus who fought at Hartmannswillerkopf during the First World War, and we will cross the Route des Crêtes several times.

At the very end of the Altvogelbach valley, a network of paths and trails takes you from the Auberge du Mehrbächel to explore the mid-altitude forest as far as the picturesque Saint-Nicolas Chapel, tucked away in the woods.

Vieux-Thann is best known for its industrial heritage. However, there are green spaces that allow you to escape this atmosphere entirely. This route takes you to discover them all. The walk passes by Saint-Dominique Church and Place Bernard Thierry-Mieg, as well as the Espace Rammersweier. Other points of interest along the route include the town hall and Place Scherrer.

This 90-minute circular route takes you to places of remembrance from the First World War near Hartmannswillerkopf. Starting with the Sicurani Chapel, built in honour of a Corsican officer killed on the Vosges front. Pascal Sicurani, captain of the68th Alpine Chasseurs Battalion, died a few days before Christmas, on 22 December 1915. His remains were transferred to his native village in 1923. The circular route then passes by the Abri Baratin.

This hike connects Gustiberg, Lac du Ballon, Col du Haag and Grand Ballon, starting from Firstacker and alternating between typical mountain landscapes: forests, stubble fields, pastures, scree, etc.

A beautiful hike, wild in all seasons, through stubble fields and beautiful forests, passing the summit of the Grand Ballon (360° view) from the Firstacker car park, via the stubble fields of Gerstacker, the Haag Pass, around the Storkenkopf in the forest, then up to the summit of the Grand Ballon (Diables Bleus monument and radar dome) before descending via the modified GR®5 route between the Col du Grand Ballon (La Vue des Alpes restaurant) and the Ferme-auberge du Grand Ballon.

Passion Vosges magazine 2026, dedicated to gourmet hikes, offers a superb circular route around the highest peak in the Vosges. This route passes by the Ferme-auberge du Grand-Ballon and offers magnificent panoramic views.

This circular mountain route starting from the Col du Firstacker links three farm-inns (the Kohlschlag, the Freundstein and the Molkenrain) whilst offering you the chance to discover the Hartmannswillerkopf Memorial, the famous and deadly Franco-German mountain battlefield of the First World War. Alternating between forests, pastures and ruins, the route subtly blends heritage with farm life and the atmosphere of the forest, all enhanced by magnificent views.

Tour of the Grand Ballon with forest sections ideal in summer, and stunning views of the Thann valley at the start and the Guebwiller valley, the Alsace plain and the Black Forest towards the end. Food available at the Haag farmhouse inn (booking recommended).

Starting from the centre of Bourbach-le-Haut, this is a lovely mountain walk accessible to most people, allowing you to explore – after passing through pleasant forests on both the ascent and descent – the Thannerhubel and Rossberg ridges and to enjoy magnificent 360° views of the Bernese Alps (Eiger, Munsch, Jungfrau...) and even the Mont Blanc massif, the Black Forest and the Vosges mountains (Grand Ballon, Markstein, etc.)

Starting from the small village of Ranspach, discover this lovely route nestled in a mountain hollow, which follows the Dengelberg botanical trail and passes by the Malakoff rock and the Dengelberg plateau, offering magnificent panoramic views.