plan d'eau de Michelbach is a protected natural area in the Alsace region, centered around an artificial lake created between 1979 and 1982. Designated a regional nature reserve, the area features a diverse landscape of forests, meadows, and orchards, offering views of the Vosges mountains. It serves as a significant bird sanctuary, hosting over 180 species, and provides a tranquil setting for several outdoor activities like hiking, jogging, touring cycling, road cycling, and more.
145
Routes
4.4
(419)
Average rating
3303
People visited

4.4
(25)
104
hikers
8.15km
02:09
80m
70m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(89)
581
hikers
5.39km
01:24
30m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.9
(14)
85
hikers
7.97km
02:27
280m
280m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(8)
62
hikers
14.9km
05:05
780m
780m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(4)
75
runners
8.22km
00:56
80m
70m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

23
runners
9.78km
01:01
50m
50m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(3)
214
runners
13.1km
01:24
90m
90m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

13
runners
12.8km
01:24
80m
80m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.1
(9)
60
riders
25.4km
01:28
110m
120m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.7
(6)
30
riders
30.1km
01:53
290m
290m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(4)
31
riders
29.9km
01:49
200m
200m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

31
riders
38.6km
03:33
900m
900m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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5.0
(1)
48
riders
47.3km
02:06
370m
370m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

28
riders
63.1km
02:43
520m
520m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

15
riders
59.4km
02:26
340m
340m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

14
riders
Moderate road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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4.8
(14)
12
riders
28.4km
02:04
150m
150m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.6
(5)
23
riders
32.2km
02:44
590m
590m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

3.0
(1)
13
riders
32.7km
03:11
740m
740m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.7
(3)
7
riders
17.4km
01:12
100m
100m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.5
(4)
26
riders
52.7km
03:56
1,260m
1,260m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
15
riders
25.6km
01:56
660m
660m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
14
riders
93.3km
06:44
2,190m
2,190m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
6
riders
26.6km
01:52
320m
320m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Plan d'eau de Michelbach offers various outdoor activities including hiking, jogging, touring cycling, and road cycling. The region features 8 routes, with more than 103,000 visitors having contributed to an average rating of 4.51 out of 5 stars. These activities allow exploration of the lake's surroundings and the broader Alsatian foothills.
Yes, the area provides easily accessible and family-friendly walking and jogging circuits. A popular route is a 2.5-mile (4 km) loop around the lake, which is relatively flat. For more options, consult the Easy hikes around Plan d'eau de Michelbach guide.
Plan d'eau de Michelbach is suitable for families, offering gentle paths and educational panels along the trails. The 2.5-mile (4 km) lake loop is a popular choice for all ages. Additional family-oriented routes can be found in the Family-friendly hikes around Plan d'eau de Michelbach guide.
The region around Plan d'eau de Michelbach offers opportunities for both touring and road cycling, extending beyond the immediate lake perimeter. Cyclists can explore the varied landscapes of the Alsatian foothills. Guides like Cycling around Plan d'eau de Michelbach and Road Cycling Routes around Plan d'eau de Michelbach provide detailed options.
Plan d'eau de Michelbach is a regional nature reserve featuring a diverse ecosystem of forests, meadows, and orchards. It is a significant bird sanctuary, hosting over 180 species of aquatic birds. An ornithological observatory allows visitors to view species like mallards, coots, and grey herons.
Yes, the area provides dedicated paths for jogging and running. The 2.5-mile (4 km) loop around the lake is a popular option for runners. More detailed routes and information are available in the Running Trails around Plan d'eau de Michelbach guide.
Routes at Plan d'eau de Michelbach have an average rating of 4.51 out of 5 stars on komoot. This rating is based on feedback from more than 12,000 users. Over 103,000 visitors have explored the region's 8 available routes.
While the immediate lakeside path is primarily for pedestrians, the broader region around Plan d'eau de Michelbach does offer mountain biking opportunities. Specific trails and routes can be found in the MTB Trails around Plan d'eau de Michelbach guide.
The trails around the lake offer picturesque views of the water itself. In the distance, visitors can also enjoy panoramic views of the majestic Vosges mountains. The diverse landscape of forests and meadows adds to the scenic beauty.
For information regarding the dam's management, the Syndicat Mixte du Barrage de Michelbach (SMBM) can be contacted via their official website at www.smbm.fr or by phone at +33 (0)3 89 32 58 58. For general tourist information, the Office de Tourisme de Thann-Cernay is available.
Yes, komoot offers a guide specifically for hikes accessible via public transport. The Hikes from bus stations around Plan d'eau de Michelbach guide provides routes starting from bus stops, making the area accessible without a car.

