Huselberg

Huselberg is a hill in the Vosges mountains, rising just above the village of Husseren-Wesserling in the Haut-Rhin department, at the heart of the Saint-Amarin valley. This isolated, rocky summit has long been a favourite short walk for locals and a lookout point for visitors touring the Alsatian Vosges.

Where is Huselberg and how high is it?

Huselberg is part of the Chauvelin massif and counts among its highest points. The summit reaches roughly 706 metres above sea level, while the orientation table installed near the top sits at about 708 metres — the small difference simply reflects where exactly the marker stands versus the natural high point. Either way, Huselberg is not a giant by Vosges standards: it is a compact summit that can be reached comfortably within an afternoon walk. Its coordinates are approximately 47.885 N, 6.977 E. Most trails begin in Husseren-Wesserling itself, though routes also connect toward the neighbouring village of Storckensohn.

What can you see from the top?

An orientation table stands at the summit, put up by the local Club Vosgien branch of Saint-Amarin, helping visitors identify the surrounding peaks and landmarks. From here the view opens over the entire Saint-Amarin valley, and on a clear day the white radar dome on top of the Grand Ballon — the highest summit of the Southern Vosges — is visible in the distance. That contrast between the close, intimate valley scenery and the distant silhouette of the region's highest peak is the main reason people make the climb.

Traces of the last ice age

The slopes and rock outcrops of Huselberg still show visible traces of the glaciers that retreated from the High Vosges more than 12,000 years ago. Look closely and you can spot Glattstein — rock surfaces smoothed and polished by moving ice — as well as glacial potholes carved out by meltwater. For anyone with an interest in geology, this adds a small but genuinely interesting layer to the walk: the Chauvelin-Huselberg massif is sometimes described as a rocky outcrop that withstood the pressure of the powerful glaciers that once filled the valley.

Which trails lead to Huselberg?

The area around Husseren-Wesserling offers several waymarked routes of varying difficulty. The best known is the Grand Tour du Huselberg, a loop that starts and finishes in Husseren-Wesserling and circles the entire massif. A shorter option is the Petit Circuit du Chauvelin, about 6 kilometres long with 267 metres of elevation gain, typically walked in around 2 hours 10 minutes and rated 3 out of 6 in difficulty. Hikers looking for a longer outing can combine Chauvelin and Huselberg on a route of about 10 kilometres, with 454 metres of elevation gain and a walking time of roughly 3.5 hours, also rated 3 out of 6. All these trails are waymarked by the Club Vosgien and pass through forest sections as well as open slopes with valley views.

Frequently Asked Questions

How high is Huselberg? The summit sits at roughly 706 to 708 metres above sea level, depending on whether you measure at the natural high point or at the orientation table just above it.

Where should you start the hike? Most routes begin in the village of Husseren-Wesserling, from where both short loops and longer trails connecting Huselberg with the neighbouring Chauvelin summit set off.

What can you see from the orientation table? A panorama of the Saint-Amarin valley, and on clear days the white radar dome on the Grand Ballon summit in the distance.

How long does it take to reach the top? Depending on the chosen route, anywhere from about 2 hours (Petit Circuit du Chauvelin) to roughly 3.5 hours for the longer loop combining Chauvelin and Huselberg.