What to do in Alsace: Route des Crêtes Vosges with route map

For all those who are wondering what to do in Alsace, why not my tourist circuit on the Route des Crêtes des Vosges by following my itinerary and its interactive map?

What to do in Alsace?

Visiting Alsace is not just visit Strasbourg or Colmar or limit yourself to the famous Alsace wine route. No, in Alsace there are also the Vosges mountains, magnificent forests, sumptuous lakes ... In short, a wild nature with sublime panoramas punctuated by charming little villages that you can discover with a tourist circuit on Route des Crêtes des Vosges.

Route des Crêtes Vosges - Travel distance?

The route of the Route des Crêtes de Vosges connects Cernay à Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. It represents approximately 90 kilometers which run along the border between Alsace and Lorraine.

Route des Crêtes Vosges - Travel time?

Less frequented than the Alsace wine route but more winding, the route des Crêtes des Vosges can be done in 2 or 3 days according to your rhythm of visit.

Personally, I did it in 1 weekend, perfect in terms of timing to enjoy the panoramas. But if you want to hike and enjoy every step well, I recommend doing this 3 days tour.

Route des Crêtes Vosges by car - Which route?

The route des Crêtes des Vosges allows you to discover by car magnificent landscapes of the Hautes Vosges, the Piedmont, the mountains of the Black Forest and the Jura. It goes through the Col du Bonhomme, the Col de la Schlucht, the Massif du Hohneck, the Markstein, the Grand Ballon and the Vieil Armand.

This scenic route is traditionally done from North to south (itinerary and map below). However, you can also do this tour in reverse.

And if you have time, the ideal will be to couple this route with the wine route to return to the starting point by making a loop circuit.

Route des Crêtes Vosges by car - Itinerary

The ridge route is officially 88 km long, but my circuit which runs along this route includes a few tourist visits which lengthen the route a little. My tourist circuit is in fact 119 kilometers.

Here are the main stages of my tourist circuit which runs along the Route des Crêtes in the Vosges mountains:

  • Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines
  • Bagenelles Pass
  • Bonhomme Pass
  • Calvary Pass
  • Lac blanc station
  • Black lake
  • Green lake
  • Schlucht Pass
  • Tanet Gazon Nature Reserve
  • Haut Chitelet mountain garden
  • Mount Hohneck
  • The Markstein
  • The Big Balloon
  • Cernay

Route des Crêtes Vosges Map

To switch to GPS mode, click on "More options" inside the map.


Route des Crêtes Vosges - Stages DAY 1

If you want to follow my own tour in 2 days, I advise you to get up early to be able to make as many visits as possible.

Sainte Marie aux Mines in Alsace - Departure

It is from this charming Alsatian village that the Route des Crêtes begins. For those interested in the history and the Alsatian culture, the tourist office of Sainte Marie aux Mines offers a historical circuit to be done on foot.

It starts from Place Prensureux and takes around 1h30. See the itinerary on Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines historical circuit.

Col des Bagenelles in Alsace

12 km from Sainte Marie aux Mines, this is the first pass you will cross. At an altitude of 903 meters, you can already enjoy pretty views of the Lièpvrette and Béhine valleys. 

Now direction the village of Bonhomme to enjoy beautiful hikes or discover magnificent mountain lakes!

The Bonhomme in Alsace

By continuing my route, you will arrive at Bonhomme Pass. 949 meters high, it is one of the highest peaks in the Vosges. Then you will continue with the Calvary Pass to get to the Lac Blanc station.

Lac Blanc in Alsace

At the heart of Kaysersberg valley is the Lac Blanc resort frequented in winter for skiing. But in summer, you can stop off on the Route des Crêtes to enjoy the many lakes around the town of Orbey.

Hiking around Lac Blanc

If you have time, I recommend you to take a tour of the white lake. It is necessary to leave the parking lot of the lake and will make a splendid hike which passes in particular by the rock of Hans and its statute of the Virgin.

What to do in Alsace: Lac blanc in the Vosges

But you can also take a hike that allows you to see 3 superb lakes: The white lake, le black lake and Forlet lake. See details on the site: Alsace-Vosges hikes

Forlet lake on the Vosges crest route in Alsace

Hotel Route des crêtes des Vosges

It is near the Lac Blanc resort and around Orbey that we find the most hotel or Airbnb offer to spend the night and not to stray too far from the circuit.

The address I recommend to you is the Domaine de Basil hotel. 10 km from the Lac Blanc resort, it is a former sheep barn renovated into a hotel in the heart of nature.

Its main assets: A good restaurant where you can taste local and quality products and excellent value for money!

See this hotel on the ridge route


Route des Crêtes Vosges - Stages DAY 2

This morning, we take the direction of Green lake who is also called Soultzeren lake after 15 km of road.

Green lake in Alsace

At 1053 meters above sea level, this pretty lake is located on the Tanet massif in the heart of the Munster valley. In this setting where nature reigns supreme, you can walk around the lake to fully enjoy the nice landscapes and beautiful photos:

What to do in Alsace: The green lake in the Vosges mountains

Col de la Schlucht between Alsace and Lorraine

After a 20-minute drive, you will reach the Schlucht pass which is located at 1 meters above sea level. This pass is on the border between Alsace and Lorraine.

Haut Chitelet mountain garden

3 kilometers from the Col de la Schlucht is a botanical garden perched between 1 and 210 meters: The altitude garden of Haut Chitelet. If you visit it, you will discover more than 1 species from cold or mountainous regions around the world.

Mount Hohneck

My route crosses the Hohneck massif at a little less than 1400 meters above sea level. I recommend that you take a hike to enjoy the view of the valley of the lakes and superb panoramas of the Vosges and Alsatian valleys. See hiking routes at Mount Honheck on Visorando.

Hohneck massif

The Markstein

The Route des Crêtes continues for 40 kilometers to reach the Markstein station. It is a ski resort but also offers many activities in summer (hiking, paragliding, mountain biking, sledding on rails, free flight, etc.).

What to see in Alsace: the peaks of the Vosges

The Big Balloon

At more than 1424 meters, the Grand Ballon is the highest point of the Vosges mountains.

tourist circuit in the Vosges - Grand ballon

I recommend a short walk to its summit for its panoramic view of the Alsace plain, the Jura and the Alps. The round trip is very easy on foot in 45 minutes. Park in the Chalet Hôtel du Grand Ballon car park and follow the indications.

And if you are in better shape, go and discover the vestiges of the 1st war on the site of Hartmannswillerkopf known under the name of Viel Armand. Here is a hike that combines history and landscapes: Hike along the trenches.

Cernay

It is here that the route des Crêtes des Vosges ends and where you can continue with the wine route to make a circular tourist circuit.


Route des Crêtes Vosges - Rental

If you are looking for rental accommodation to make this tourist circuit or to spend a holiday in Alsace, you will have to choose between Cernay ou Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. This will make it easier to start the route regardless of its direction.

Here is nice, inexpensive and well placed accommodation in Wattwiller, 5 km from Cernay with a view of the mountains.

Le Domaine du Hirtz offers studios or apartments with Wi-Fi access and private parking on site. Their little extras: A very good restaurant and outdoor facilities perfect for a relaxing holiday (sauna and balneotherapy).

See these apartments on the Route des Crêtes

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