Emperor's Steps – Ascent to the Petit Donon loop from Grandfontaine

Hiking trails & Routes

Emperor's Steps – Ascent to the Petit Donon loop from Grandfontaine

Moderate

4.7

(87)

406

hikers

Emperor's Steps – Ascent to the Petit Donon loop from Grandfontaine

04:23

14.6km

430m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: September 25, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1.53 km

Rock with Basins and Grooves

Highlight • Natural Monument

The rock is located directly on the ascent from the Col du Donon to the Donon.

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2.07 km

Emperor's Steps

Highlight • Other

Staircase built by German soldiers for Kaiser Wilhelm II in World War I.

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2.26 km

Reproductions of eight votive steles

Highlight • Historical Site

Copies of 8 votive steles, mainly depicting gods. (Mercury, Vosegus, Hercules, Jupiter)
The originals can be found in the Musée d'Epinal.

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2.36 km

Rainwater cistern

Highlight • Other

Cistern for collecting rainwater.

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2.70 km

Ascent to the Donon (North)

Highlight (Segment) • Other

I like climbing the Donon from the north side much better than the main path from the south side. Firstly, it is (naturally) much shady here and therefore much more …

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7.91 km

View of Le Donon from Petit Donon

Highlight • Viewpoint

8.07 km

Ascent to the Petit Donon

Highlight • Climb

From the path you also have a view of the Donon summit.

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9.88 km

Schubert Stone and Shelter at Col Entre les Deux Donons

Highlight • Mountain Hut

A trail between Donon and Let Petit Donon and the valleys. A great hut (shaded) and barbecue facilities, e.g., for a camper van.

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14.3 km

Col du Donon

Mountain Pass

14.6 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

9.36 km

3.55 km

940 m

508 m

251 m

Surfaces

6.95 km

3.34 km

2.73 km

770 m

508 m

320 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (980 m)

Lowest point (720 m)

Weather

Sunday 11 October

16°C

6°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 5.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

June 28, 2024,Temple du Donon und Bunker aus dem 1. Weltkrieg

First day of our short vacation in Alsace. Parked at the col du donon and then set off for the petit donon. Unfortunately the weather was a bit cloudy so we went back down and to the temple du donon on the mountain right next to it at just over 1,000 m above sea level. I've never seen anything like …

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