Hautes-Vosges: The Route des Crêtes, the Hohneck and Lac de Gérardmer
Grand Est, France
Badge Unlock
Route des Crêtes Rider
Complete this challenge to add this badge to your collection.
275
XP
+100 France
= 375 total
2 days
Hautes-Vosges: The Route des Crêtes, the Hohneck and Lac de Gérardmer
275 + 100 XP
The French army cut the Route des Cretes along the Vosges ridge during the First World War to supply and hold the front; it runs more than 80km from the Col du Bonhomme to the Vieil Armand, climbing to 1,343m at the Grand Ballon, and closes in sections for the winter. Drive it to the Hohneck, at 1,363m the highest point of the Vosges department, eat a marcaire's meal at a farm inn, and come down to Gerardmer, whose 116-hectare lake is the largest natural lake in the Vosges massif.
Required Activities
1
of 4
Drive the Route des Cretes from the Col du Bonhomme over the Col de la Schlucht to the Hohneck and the Markstein, on the military road the army cut along the ridge during the First World War to supply and hold the Vosges front
2
of 4
Walk up to the orientation table the Hautes-Vosges section of the French Alpine Club put on the Hohneck in 1889, then take the path on to the Petit Hohneck above the Schiessrothried lake, looking for the chamois brought here in 1957, which now have no predator and are eating into the summit flora
3
of 4
Eat a repas marcaire at a ferme-auberge near the Route des Crêtes, with smoked pork, roïgabrageldi potatoes and the farm's own Munster, booking ahead
4
of 4
Walk the 5.5km path round the Lac de Gérardmer, the largest natural lake in the Vosges
Drive the Route des Cretes from the Col du Bonhomme over the Col de la Schlucht to the Hohneck and the Markstein, on the military road the army cut along the ridge during the First World War to supply and hold the Vosges front
Walk up to the orientation table the Hautes-Vosges section of the French Alpine Club put on the Hohneck in 1889, then take the path on to the Petit Hohneck above the Schiessrothried lake, looking for the chamois brought here in 1957, which now have no predator and are eating into the summit flora
Eat a repas marcaire at a ferme-auberge near the Route des Crêtes, with smoked pork, roïgabrageldi potatoes and the farm's own Munster, booking ahead
Walk the 5.5km path round the Lac de Gérardmer, the largest natural lake in the Vosges
Before you go
The Route des Crêtes is open from about April to November.
In winter the Route des Cretes is closed from the Grand Ballon to the Markstein and from there to the La Bresse-Kastelberg ski slopes; the open season is roughly April to November.
A repas marcaire at a ferme-auberge must be booked, often a day or two ahead, and many inns serve one sitting only.
Vehicle and pedestrian access at the Hohneck summit is regulated to protect the site; the summit spur road is a dead end with limited parking.
Finding nearby campsites...
About Grand Est
Loading region info…
Explore more about Grand Est:
Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
275 XP
France country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
375 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in France.
More challenges nearby
within 100km
The Théâtre du Peuple at Bussang: A Stage That Opens Onto the Forest
France · Grand Est
cultural
easy
1d
21 km away
Ballon d'Alsace: The Tour de France's First Climb, Joan of Arc and the Lac d'Alfeld
France · Grand Est
sports
medium
1d
27 km away
The Alsace Wine Route: Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé
France · Grand Est
food
easy
1d
35 km away
Colmar, Eguisheim and Kaysersberg: The Issenheim Altarpiece and the Wine-Route Villages
France · Grand Est
cultural
easy
2d
37 km away
Haut-Kœnigsbourg: The Kaiser's Castle, the Eagles and the Barbary Macaques
France · Grand Est
cultural
easy
2d
42 km away
Baccarat: The Crystal Museum, a Church of 20,000 Crystals and the Springs of Hercules
France · Grand Est
cultural
easy
1d
43 km away