i 🥾 Hiking, nature & summits
Summits and viewpoints in the Vosges and the Grand Est
In the Grand Est, the great panoramic views are mostly found in the High Vosges. Their rounded summits, the ballons, peak at the Grand Ballon (1,424 m), where the view stretches over the Alsace plain, the Black Forest and, on very clear days, as far as the Alps. The Hohneck (1,363 m), the highest point in Lorraine, overlooks the Vallée des Lacs. The Route des Crêtes, built during the First World War, links these viewpoints. Lower down, Mont Sainte-Odile and the Hartmannswillerkopf look out over the plain, while in the Ardennes the Roche aux Sept Villages opens onto the meanders of the Meuse.
To choose, start with how you are getting around and the season. Most of these summits are free and close to a road: the top of the Grand Ballon is around a twenty-minute walk from the car park, and the Roche aux Sept Villages viewpoint just a few minutes. Walkers will find everything on the ridges from half-day loops to multi-day treks. The high-altitude roads, however, close in winter: from around mid-November to April, the ridges can only be reached on foot, on skis or on snowshoes, with suitable equipment.
How to choose?
If you want the widest view
These two High Vosges summits offer a full 360° panorama, from the Vosges lakes to the Alsace plain and, on clear days, the Alps.
If you would rather stay in the car and take in several viewpoints
The Route des Crêtes strings together viewpoints from April to November and passes the Hartmannswillerkopf, a First World War summit memorial.
If you are travelling without a car
A ridge shuttle serves the Col de la Schlucht in summer, and the Roche aux Sept Villages can be reached on foot via the GR 12C from Monthermé TER station.
If you are coming as a family out of season
Both sites, open all year round, offer a panoramic view without a long walk; take care on the paths in rain or frost.
ComparisonData taken from each listing, checked against official sources
| Place or activity | When | Time needed | Who it suits | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Ballon📍 Haut-Rhin (68) | Summer and autumn for walking; Route des Crêtes closed to traffic in winter (dates vary) | 20 min walk from the Chalet Hôtel car park; allow 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes on site | Families and walkers; last stretch on a mountain path | Car: Route des Crêtes (D431) from Uffholtz near Cernay, or from Guebwiller via the Florival valley and Markstein |
| Le Hohneck📍 Vosges (88) | Road access from about April to mid-November; on foot, skis or snowshoes in winter | 30 min at the summit; half a day to a full day hiking | Hikers and families in summer; experienced mountaineers in winter | Route des Crêtes then a dead-end road with restricted traffic; closed in winter |
| Route des Crêtes📍 Haut-Rhin (68) / Vosges (88) | High sections open from April to mid/late November; closed in winter (snow) | A day for the full route with stops; half a day for one section | Drivers, motorcyclists, fit cyclists, walkers | Car recommended; access via Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines (north), Munster/the Schlucht or Uffholtz–Cernay (south) |
| Mont Sainte-Odile📍 Bas-Rhin (67) | All year (pilgrimage site open at all times) | Half a day for the sanctuary and a short walk; a full day with the Mur Païen loop | All ages; forest paths for walkers | By car via Obernai or Ottrott, car park at the summit; nearest SNCF station: Obernai |
| Hartmannswillerkopf – Vieil Armand📍 Wattwiller · Haut-Rhin (68) | Historial open daily until 13 November 2026; road closed from mid-November to April | Half a day for the Historial and the battlefield | All ages; hilly paths, sturdy footwear needed | By car: D431 (Route des Crêtes) via Uffholtz, or D13 via the Col Amic; Navette des Crêtes shuttle bus in summer; free car park |
| Roche aux Sept Villages📍 Ardennes (08) | All year; paths tricky in rain or frost | A few minutes from the road; a full day for the 14.7 km ridge loop | All ages for the viewpoint; ridge loop for experienced walkers only | Car: D989 along the heights between Monthermé and Bogny-sur-Meuse; on foot via the GR 12C; Monthermé TER station |
| Hiking the Route des Crêtes📍 Col de la Schlucht · Vosges (88) | June to October for hiking; snowshoeing in winter when the road is closed | Varies: from a short loop from a pass to a multi-day trek | Regular walkers; families on the shorter sections | Col de la Schlucht via the D417 from Munster or Gérardmer; ridge shuttle in summer |
Map: Summits and viewpoints in the Vosges and the Grand Est
When to go?
- JanPossible
- FebPossible
- MarPossible
- AprPossible
- MayPeak season
- JunPeak season
- JulPeak season
- AugPeak season
- SeptPeak season
- OctPeak season
- NovPossible
- DecPossible
Peak season Possible Off season
📅 Go up between April and mid-November to make the most of the high roads, and between June and October for walking; to glimpse Mont Blanc from the Grand Ballon, your best chances are between October and May, in dry and very clear weather.
Tips & insider advice
- A warm layer in your bag
On the ridges, the wind and chill can catch you out even in summer; on the Hohneck, gusts fairly regularly exceed 150 km/h.
- Aim for dry days
Long-distance views need dry air; in winter, under high pressure, visibility is often excellent above the fog of the plain.
- Check the roads are open
The high sections of the Route des Crêtes and the Hohneck road close in winter, on dates that vary with snowfall.
- Consider the ridge shuttle
In summer, a shuttle serves the ridges and the Hartmannswillerkopf: handy for a one-way walk without returning to the car.
- Stay on waymarked trails
The summit pastures (chaumes) are home to protected plants; the final stretch to the Grand Ballon is still a mountain path.
- Book at a ferme-auberge
The ridge-top ferme-auberges (farm inns) are a classic walking stop; in season, it is best to book your meal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in the Vosges mountains?
The Grand Ballon, in the Haut-Rhin, which rises to 1,424 m. Its summit is open to all, around a twenty-minute walk from the car park at the pass, beside the Route des Crêtes. The Hohneck (1,363 m), which dominates the ridge line between Alsace and Lorraine, is the highest point in the Vosges department and in Lorraine.
When is the Route des Crêtes open?
Its high sections are open from around April to mid- or late November, then closed in winter because of snow, on variable dates. While closed, the ridges remain accessible on foot, on skis or on snowshoes for well-equipped walkers.
Can you see the Alps from the Vosges?
Yes, in very clear weather. From the Grand Ballon, the view can take in a large part of the Alpine chain, as far as the Mont Blanc massif 229 km away. The best chances come between October and May, in dry weather.
What is the best viewpoint in the Ardennes?
The Roche aux Sept Villages, a listed viewpoint between Monthermé and Bogny-sur-Meuse, lets you glimpse seven former villages nestled in the meanders of the Meuse. It can be reached by car via the D989 or on foot via the GR 12C; the paths are tricky in rain or frost.
Information checked in October 2026. Opening hours, prices and conditions may change: check the official website before you travel.