The Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park was proclaimed in 1975 and comprises 111 municipalities. It is particularly rich in natural, historical and cultural heritage. This can be found in its three subdivided areas: the Forest Massif, the Lorraine Plateau and the Piedmont. The dense forests are interspersed with lakes and sandstone formations. With numerous wild animals such as chamois, deer, roe deer, wild boar and lynx, the fauna of the nature park is also very diverse. There are a large number of castles and castle ruins, often built on sandstone outcrops, such as the famous Fleckenstein Castle from the 12th century. The small villages with their half-timbered buildings and balconies decorated with flowers invite you to stroll and linger. The Northern Vosges Nature Park offers a variety of top-class hiking trails over approx. 2600 km and has been awarded the “World Biosphere Reserve” label by UNESCO. Get in the saddle and see for yourself what makes this region so special. The High Vosges Rides and the Alsace-Vosges Trail take you up high: start near Colmar and explore the famous High Vosges with its plateaus, fantastic views and lakes.

Itinerary

Alsace Vosges Trail (7 days)
Travel to the rhythm of horses - a journey of discovery between Upper Alsace and the Vosges. You will discover mighty forests, beautiful views, barren granite rocks and heather over 5 days. You will ride approx. 135 kilometers and over 5000 meters in altitude. The route is mainly at over 800 m, sometimes you climb up to 1300 m if the weather permits. This ride is intended exclusively for good riders in good physical condition. A coach is used for the luggage. The lodgings are nice riding stations. The ride is full board, but alcoholic drinks are not included in the price (a small cash box is provided for this purpose).

Day 1: The station in Orbey offers wonderful views over the Kaysersberg valley, and our first stop for the next day is almost within sight. Our hostess Christine is well-known for her excellent cuisine. On the first evening, you will get to know your fellow riders and horses - your faithful companions for the following days.
Day 2: Your trail ride starts after breakfast! First you pass two beautiful mountain lakes - Lac Noir and Lac Blanc. After the first mountain pass, Col de Calvaire, a narrow path leads to the next mountain pass, Col du Louschbach with a wonderful panorama. The trail continues along the former German-French border to the Col du Bonhomme mountain pass, where a picnic awaits. After lunch, you ride over the Col des Bagenelles with some nice gallops. Shortly before Aubure, you come across a memorial to the First World War. Once you arrive in Aubure, the horses spend a restful night in the pasture and you enjoy a delicious meal in the riders' parlor. (approx. 32 km, riding time approx. 6 hours, 1180 vertical meters).
Day 3: On the second day, the route leads via the town of St. Marie aux Mines. Silver was mined here many hundreds of years ago and the remains of the mines can still be seen in the forest. The paths offer wonderful views over the surrounding area. You will have a picnic lunch on a hill above St. Marie aux Mines. The route continues along the ridge, through mighty forests. Your accommodation for the night lies at the foot of the Climont mountain. (approx. 25km, riding time approx. 6 hours, 1080 meters altitude).
Day 4: The mountain “Le Climont” is known as a magical mountain. The mighty block of red sandstone sits on granite bedrock and several springs flow from Le Climont. The partly marshy terrain on the slopes of this mountain is also remarkable. Your destination for today could be reached in 2 hours on horseback, but in keeping with the motto “the journey is the reward”, take the time to discover the area. You take your lunch break above the village of Ranrupt. The path that follows invites you to enjoy a wonderful gallop before leading you along narrow paths and wider tracks, across a cow meadow and past a game reserve. The accommodation is a pretty riding station in La Grande Fosse. The horses are stabled in a paddock, you can relax in the jacuzzi (weather permitting) and with a bit of luck the neighbor, an excellent guitarist, will come by. (approx. 24km, riding time approx. 5 hours, 812 vertical meters).
Day 5: After a restful night, you continue riding south. Your route takes you past the Spitzemberg, where you can see the trenches of the First World War. The view from Spitzemberg is beautiful. You take your lunch break next to a splashing stream - here the horses can also pluck some grass during the lunch break and, weather permitting, you can take a short siesta. The paths after the lunch break lead through beautiful forests again, and you soon reach your accommodation in Ban de Laveline. The horses are put in a paddock and if it is warm enough, you can relax in the swimming pool today. (approx. 24km, riding time approx. 5 hours, 650 meters in altitude).
Day 6: On this last day of the ride, you leave the Vosges and return to Alsace. Here you have to cross the mountain ridge with the mountain passes Col du Bonhomme and Col du Calvaire once again. If the weather permits, you can also climb up to the Gazon du Faing after the lunch break. This path at the top of the ridge is at 1,300m and is only recommended in good weather. From the ridge we enjoy wonderful views over the heath - in some places as far as Nancy and down to the Rhine plain. On the way back, the Alps can also be seen on a clear day. We spend the last night back at Christine's station. After breakfast the next day, you say goodbye to the horses and set off for home (approx. 30 km, riding time approx. 6 hours, 1550 m elevation gain).
Day 7: Breakfast and departure.

Castle Ride Northern Vosges (7 days)
The area around Obersteinbach is known for its beautiful rock formations and castle ruins - and of course for its great, sandy forest paths that invite you to enjoy a long gallop.
Day 1: Arrival in Lampertsloch at 6 pm on the first day. Here you will enjoy dinner together.
Day 2: Ride via Lembach to Obersteinbach. The route leads through the forests of the Northern Vosges and picturesque villages, along a stream. Shortly before arriving in Obersteinbach, a magnificent panorama awaits you: the Steinbach valley with rock formations and castle ruins. Once you arrive at the lovingly furnished station, you can relax in the pool, sauna or hot tub while the horses graze in the adjacent pasture.
Day 3-5: On the next three days, you will discover the castle ruins and rock formations in the area. The order is deliberately not specified here. The riders discuss this on the respective days. After all, there is plenty to see - Wasigenstein, Froensbourg, Blumenstein, the Peace Cross, the Gypsy Rocks, Schöneck Castle, the Gabelfels, Petit Arnsbourg, Bayrischer Windstein..... just to name a few!
Day 6: On the last day of riding, you start the return ride to Lampertsloch. This is the longest, but perhaps also the most beautiful day. You ride past the Fleckensteien pond before riding your horses up to Fleckenstein Castle. This magnificent castle ruin towers over green meadows and enchanting mixed forests. After a lunch break at the foot of the castle, you ride through the forest, first to Lembach and then on to Lampertsloch. The sandy paths here also invite you to gallop.
Day 7: Departure after breakfast (riding time on all days approx. 4-5 hours)

High Vosges Rides (5 days)
Day 1: Arrival in the early evening. A dinner together awaits you. Here you have the opportunity to go through the route for the week again and get to know your fellow riders.
Day 2-4: You enjoy three wonderful days in the saddle in the beautiful region of the High Vosges at over 1000m. The region around Orbey is known for its pre-alpine landscape and magnificent forests, views as far as the Alps with small mountain lakes and inviting “Ferme Auberges” (restaurants with food from their own production). With the sure-footed horses you can ride along beautiful forest paths but also up steep climbs to enjoy the most beautiful views in the area. On the terrace of the accommodation you have one of the most beautiful views in the region. Perfect for an evening aperitif or a delicious breakfast. The culinary skills of the host accommodation are renowned throughout the region.
Day 5: Departure after breakfast.

Northern Vosges Long Weekend (4 days):
Three wonderful days in Alsace. A great nature experience for connoisseurs! The exact day tours may vary depending on the season, weather, etc. The order is also not always the same. The base for this ride is in La Petite Fosse. A charming guesthouse with excellent cuisine, pool and sauna. The horses spend the night in a meadow right next to the guesthouse. The forests around the station are littered with legends about trolls who want to release watercourses under the mountains, about fairies and elves who have helped the people in the surrounding villages and left their footprints in the rocks. There are all kinds of places of power, even a small chapel with healing water. You will discover these places over the course of the three days. But the silence of the forest alone is magical.

Vosges riding weekend (3 days)
A riding weekend in Alsace - just right for a short break from everyday life with French enjoyment. Surrounded by the pristine forest, you will ride to various vantage points offering wonderful views of the Vosges, the Black Forest and the Palatinate Forest. Arrival on Friday evening, two day rides on Saturday and Sunday (riding time 4-5 hours). Ideal for a short break in the saddle in beautiful nature.

Accomodation
There are 2 vacation apartments available, each with 3 double and 3 single rooms, which share a bathroom. Unfortunately, rooms with private bathrooms are not available.
On the way, you will spend the night in beautiful riding stables. Here too, the rooms are mostly double and shared rooms with shared bathrooms.

Saddle & Tack: Comfortable trail riding saddles and western tack

Experience: You should be able to ride safely in all 3 gaits, also on a trailride, the pace is rather calm, but there are also some nice trot and canter sections. Maximum rider weight approx. 85 kg.

Horses: Approx. 14 horses, mainly Irish Cob (Tinker) and Irish Draught (strong warmblood). Height approx. 1.40m to 1.68m.