Hiking in the Vosges

The Vosges spread over 5,874 km² of mid-mountain landscape with iconic features: rounded "ballons", grassy ridge tops (chaumes), glacial lakes, deep fir forests. The Hohneck (1,363 m), the Tête des Faux and the Grand Ballon (1,424 m, shared with Haut-Rhin) are the emblematic summits. The Route des Crêtes runs along the watershed. The département is criss-crossed by the GR 5, the GR 53 and the Sentier des Crêtes — all waymarked by the Club Vosgien since 1872.

Épinal, the main city, is served by TER from Nancy. The massifs are reached by car via Gérardmer, La Bresse or Le Tholy.

Best season: April to November. The Vosges, lower than the Alps, open early to hiking. Spring and autumn are magnificent (colourful forests). Winter: cross-country skiing and snowshoeing from 800-1,000 m. Weather is more changeable than in the southern Alps — Atlantic fronts move in quickly.

The 16 routes we offer for this département will grow over time. Feel free to contribute your own tracks.