The Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park houses several reception areas to communicate with inhabitants and visitors alike, to raise their awareness, and to be understood by them. These are wonderful dynamic and open starting points to explore the Southern Vosges Mountains. They provide specific documentation and propose assorted temporary exhibitions.

‘Tetras 1139’ at the Schlucht pass

CLOSED

 

Nestled at the heart of the renovated Schlucht Pass site, ‘Tétras 1139’ welcomes visitors in a Vosges Department building. It is managed by the Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park, jointly with the tourist offices of the communities of communes of the Munster Valley, the Hautes-Vosges – Gérardmer, Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, and La Bresse. It is a great starting point to explore the Great Crest of the Vosges and its ‘Vosges’ and ‘Hautes-Rhinoises’ valleys.

The site provides information on the heritage of the Great Crest and its valleys. Please be respectful of nature at all times and preserve the peace and quiet necessary for the fauna to survive, for it is particularly sensitive to disturbance in winter.

A shop located onsite sells ‘Valeurs Parc’ certified products and books on the walks and heritage of the Great Crest and its valleys.

Two complementary interactive maps are accessible from the same touchscreen device to guide you around the Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park and the Vosges Massif. The interactive map dedicated to the Ballons des Vosges Park invites you to discover the landscapes and their natural environments, the sites to see (museums, heritage sites, entertainment spots, parks and gardens, thermal baths, tourist routes, etc.), farm inns, farm shops and, of course, nature activities (walks and hikes, water sports, mountain biking, climbing, etc.). The Vosges Massif map displays 3D itineraries to help you identify the different hiking routes and their levels of difficulty.

A touchscreen tablet displays the Park’s calendar of events.

The ‘Espace de découverte’ (discovery space) located on the first floor immerses visitors in the Hautes-Vosges history, landscapes, and natural heritage.
The programme includes films, testimonies, and objects to inform and raise awareness of environmental issues.

This area is freely accessible.

©Gérardmer Hautes-Vosges

Opening hours for 2023

  • Monday 6 November to Friday 22 December: CLOSED
  • From Saturday 23 December 2023 to Sunday 8 January 2024
    from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and from 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm daily, except on 24, 25, 31 December 2022 and 1 January 2024

tel. 03 89 77 90 30 – 06 64 72 70 24
schlucht@parc-ballons-vosges.fr

Things to do in the area

The Ski Resorts

Schlucht
Close to its visitors, this family-style resort is located between the Vosges and Alsace regions at an altitude of 1,139 m, among the highest spots in the Massif. Enjoy the ‘Schlucht’ ski resort’s two 700-meter-long blue slopes. Novice skiers have their own spot, accessible via a detachable four-seater chairlift and a ski lift.
https://laschlucht.labellemontagne.com/fr/

Trois Fours (Nordic itinerary)
Located on the edge of the Crest Road between the Schlucht Pass and the Hohneck, the Nordic site of ‘Trois Fours’ (1,230 to 1,250 m) is a natural ‘balcony’ a stone’s throw away from the Hohneck that offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Munster valley, the Black Forest, and the Alps. Its gentle, undulating slopes are perfect for families and novice skiers.
https://www.stations-munster.fr/index.php/ski/les-trois-fours

Tanet
The ‘Tanet’ alpine resort peaks from 990 m to 1,280 m on the Alsatian side of the mountain, in an exceptional setting bordered by glacial cirques. The striking, unspoiled Vosges resort offers a wide variety and diversity of slopes.
https://www.letanet.fr

Valtin Nordic Resort / Schlucht Pass
The ‘Valtin’ cross-country ski trail connects the Schlucht to the Lac Blanc slopes over a distance of 15 km through the mountain forest. The trail is maintained on a daily basis.
https://www.nordicfrance.fr/nordicfrance_station/le-valtin-col-de-la-schlucht/

Walks and Hikes

Walking is the most beautiful and gentle way to enjoy the Schlucht Pass nestled in the heart of the Frankenthal-Missheimlé National Nature Reserve and the Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park. It offers 50 km of hiking trails, including two long-distance paths: the GR5 (Great Hike) which runs along the main crest from north to south, and the GR531 leading to the renowned ‘sentier des Roches’ (rocks trail).

Please Note: some of the trails are not accessible in winter. If you find a route too difficult, simply turn around, there are plenty of other nice paths to explore. Make sure to wear good walking shoes and suitable clothing. Beware of storms. Ask for the ‘fiches balades’ (trail information leaflets) at the ‘Tétras 1139’ reception area.

> ‘Sentier des Roches’ (Rocks Trail) (3 options)
Starting point: at the end of the ‘Le Chalet’ brasserie terrace.

  • Schlucht • Krappenfels • Trois Fours: 3 hours / 450 m
  • Schlucht • Frankenthal • Col du Falimont • Trois Fours • Schlucht: 4 hours / 500 m
  • Schlucht • Frankenthal • Schaeferthal • Col du Falimont • Trois Fours • Schlucht: 5 hours / 600 m

Leave early. This trail is for seasoned hikers only. Not accessible from November to May. Slippery rocks and vertiginous passages. No dogs allowed.

 

> From the Schlucht to the Hohneck (3 options)
Starting point: at the foot of the Notre-Dame des Chaumes Chapel

  • Schlucht • Trois Fours • Schlucht (GR5 roundtrip): 1 hour / 100 m
  • Schlucht • Trois Fours • Hohneck (GR5 roundtrip): 2 hours / 150 m
  • Schlucht • Trois Fours • Falimont Pass • Le Collet • La Schlucht: 3 hours / 200 m

Beware: the Crest is open to the winds.

 

> Lookout Points (3 options)
Starting point: Stairs by the road (opposite ‘Tétras 1139’)

  • Schlucht • Spitzenfels lookout point • Schlucht: 1 hour / 150 m
  • Schlucht • Spitzenfels lookout point • Hirschsteine lookout point • Crest (GR5) • Schlucht: 2 hours / 300 m
  • Schlucht • Spitzenfels lookout point • Hirschsteine lookout point • Missheimlé • Schupferen • Crest (GR5) • Schlucht: 4 hours / 400 m

Leave early. This trail is for seasoned hikers only. Not accessible from November to May. Slippery rocks and vertiginous passages. No dogs allowed.

For hiking and leisure activities, as well as to observe the fauna and flora, stay on the paths marked out by the Club Vosgien. Keep dogs on a leash. Mountain biking allowed on paths over 2 metres wide, except on the GR5 hiking trail.


Scenic Walks
Discover the landscapes and heritage of the Great Vosges Crest from the low-walled starting points located at 17 sites
along the Crest Road, complete with:
• Information panels on the heritage of the Great Vosges Crest: history, landscape, nature, architecture, pastoralism, and more.
• Ideas for 30-minute to 2-hour walks starting from the low walls of the crests. These discovery trails can be extended via the many paths that are regularly maintained and marked out by the Club Vosgien. For more experienced hikers, the GR5® – red rectangle – connects all the sites together on foot. There is a trail for walkers of all ages and preferences!
The Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park offers free 2-hour guided walks, starting from the low walls, to hikers of all ages. Suitable shoes and clothing are required.
> More information


A Farm, a Walk
In partnership with the Haut-Rhin farm inns association, The Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park has mapped out a selection of accessible walks to be enjoyed before or after your meal, lasting no more than an hour. These walks highlight the scenic, natural, and cultural features of the area as well as the farmhouse activity.
> See all the walks

 

Sites to Discover

The Rothenbach Nature Centre
Located between the Schlucht Pass and the Markstein on the Rothenbach high stubble, the ‘Centre d’Initiation à la Nature et à l’Environnement’ is dedicated to the discovery of the Hautes-Vosges and the observation of mountain environments.
Check out the full programme of activities on the association’s website: www.cpie-hautes-vosges.com

The Haut Chitelet high-altitude garden
Nestled in the heart of the Vosges Mountains in an outstanding natural environment near the Crest Road, the Haut Chitelet High-Altitude Garden is entirely devoted to mountain flora. Themed rocky grounds shelter plants from the main massifs in France, Europe, North America, and Asia. More than 2,500 species flourish in harsh and mountainous weather conditions.  The Vosges flora is given pride of place: plants from forests and stubble fields, peatland flora, fern, mountain shrubs, medicinal plants, and more. Along the Vologne, which takes its source in the ‘jardin’, thrives a lush flora fond of cool and damp climates. The reception chalet hosts exhibitions on a regular basis. www.jardinbotaniquedenancy.eu

The Linge Battlefield
Accessible in all weathers, this scenic hike first crosses the Linge battlefield, a site known for its geographical features and World War One vestiges. On the heights of Hohrodberg, towards Orbey, a memorial has been erected in remembrance of the harsh battles of 1915, during which 15,000 French hunters perished. The Linge Memorial Museum and its World War One battlefield are open from April to November, from 9 am to 12.30 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm. www.linge1915.com – Also worth seeing: the German Cemetery on the Linge Road.

The Lakes

  • The Lake of Longemer – The listed natural site of Longemer offers fishing and pedal boat activities. Swimming is allowed, but not supervised. Early July, the Lake hosts the XTerra nature triathlon: swimming in the lake, mountain biking, and trail running.
  • The Lake of Gérardmer – At an altitude of 666 metres, this natural lake is the largest in the Vosges. It offers a wide selection of water sports, swimming, and fishing activities, and regularly hosts major canoeing and rowing competitions. You can also walk around it (6 km – 1h30).
  • The Lake of Retournemer – Nestled in a glacial cirque at the foot of the Hohneck, this is the smallest of the three lakes. Walking around it is the only activity allowed.
  • The Green Lake – Located on the Tanet massif at an altitude of 1,053 metres, the Green Lake (‘Lac Vert’) covers 7.2 hectares. It owes its name to the surrounding fir trees that are reflected in it and to a seaweed that blooms from late June to early July.
  • The Lake of Schiessrothried – Located between the Spitzekoepfe and the foot of the Hohneck at an altitude of 930 metres, the Schiessrothried Lake covers an area of 5.6 hectares.

The Valtin
Nestled in the Valtin valley amid the strikingly beautiful Hautes-Vosges forests, rocky escarpments, and trails, the Valtin goes as far as the Hautes Chaumes and notably the Schlucht Pass: culminating at 1,139 m, the highest pass in the Vosges connects the Lorraine and Alsace regions. Two alpine domains and a scenic Nordic domain located on the Crest Road attract many visitors in winter.
Tel. +33 329 609 007 (Town Hall)

More information

Munster Valley Tourist Office
1 rue du couvent
68140 Munster
Tel: +33 389 773 180

vallee-munster.eu

Hautes-Vosges Intercommunal Tourist Office
4 place des Déportés
88400 Gérardmer
Tel: +33 329 272 727 
info@gerardmer.net – www.gerardmer.net

Saint-Dié-des-Vosges Tourist Office
6 Quai du Maréchal Leclerc
88100 Saint-Dié-des-Vosges 
Tel: +33 329 422 222 
www.vosges-portes-alsace.fr

La Bresse Tourist Office
2 A Rue des Proyes
88250 La Bresse
Tel: +33 329 25 4 29
www.labresse.net

 

‘Valeurs Parc’ Mountain Guides

In the Vosges Massif, the ‘Valeurs Parc’ certified Mountain Guides welcome visitors with tailored leisure and discovery activities to offer them a great immersive experience in a natural environment.

> More information