Saint-Maurice-Sur-Moselle offers marked hiking trails, historic chapels and routes for hikers and mountain bikers. The Ballon d’Alsace adds nature and cultural experiences. The station at the Ballon d’Alsace is accessible via the village of Saint-Maurice-Sur-Moselle, between Le Thillot and Bussang on the RN66.
Comparing hiking trails and routes
The marked hiking trail network covers 100 km, the approved mountain bike network 103 km and the signposted snowshoe routes 9.3 km. Published network distances may be updated. For a specific mountain bike ride, there is the marked FFC loop trail No. 13, “La Grande Goutte”: it is 20 km long, has 430 metres of elevation gain and is rated red for difficulty. Trail conditions and seasonal restrictions may vary; check conditions before setting out.
The “Les 2 chapelles” hike begins at a car park below the Chapelle des Charbonniers and follows a forest track to the Chapelle Botiotte. The 12 km route, with 510 metres of elevation gain, is listed as taking about four hours on foot. Trail conditions and access to the car park may vary seasonally. A shorter option is the family hike “Balade famille au Ballon d’Alsace,” described as easy: it covers 6 km and 140 metres of elevation gain and takes about two hours. Compared directly, that is roughly half the walking time and less climbing. The family hike passes through the Réserve Naturelle des Ballons Comtois nature reserve. Dogs are prohibited there, even on a leash; check the rule again before your visit.
Ballon d’Alsace: nature and culture
At 1,247 m, the Ballon d’Alsace is the highest point in the southern Vosges and lies within the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park. The Sentier découverte du Ballon d’Alsace takes about an hour and has ten information panels and an orientation table. Cultural sites at the Ballon include Notre-Dame du Ballon, built in 1862, and the Monument des Démineurs, inaugurated on 7 July 1952.
The Ballon d’Alsace also has launch sites for paragliders and hang gliders. Check local conditions and rules before flying. This means there are different ways to experience the landscape, whether on foot, by mountain bike or in flight; each route and activity has its own conditions.
Chapels and forest trails
The Chapelle des Charbonniers was built as a wooden chapel on the TĂŞtote in 1860. It was intended to provide a place of prayer for the hamlet, which was far from the church in Saint-Maurice. The Chapelle Botiotte was built in 1857 and enlarged to its present size in 1873. It can be visited individually free of charge year-round via marked trails; check access information before your outing. The chapel is also a destination for walks in the forest, near the remains of historic mines.
Le pont Montbel is also in the forest, a structure at an altitude of 903 m. It is accessible only on foot via several loop trails; conditions on these may vary.
Rouge Gazon and horse-riding excursions
In summer, a few cattle still graze on the grasslands at Rouge Gazon. The Chaume des Neufs Bois at Rouge Gazon is a pasture created by humans and formerly used by the Marcaires as summer pasture. Snowshoe loops are offered at Rouge Gazon in winter; whether they are possible depends on snow conditions.
La Jumenterie is an equestrian centre on the Vosges side of the Ballon d’Alsace. It offers riding lessons, riding courses and horse-riding excursions. The excursions may include stops at Ferme-Auberges, where specialities from Saint-Maurice-Sur-Moselle are served. Such a stop is a possible addition, but is not guaranteed on every excursion.
Discover more destinations: Rouvres-En-Xaintois, Baudricourt, Darney, Granges-Sur-Vologne, Cornimont, Domrémy-la-Pucelle, Gérardmer, Epinal.
For the regional travel overview: Vosges.
