Walk to the Nideck waterfall and the castle ruins
The Cascade du Nideck is certainly the most famous waterfall in Alsace, and for good reason: at 25 metres, it's the highest waterfall in Alsace! It took me a while to decide to go and see it, as I was a little afraid of the crowds and of being disappointed, but I actually really liked the place. It's a lovely place to go for a nice walk!
My summary
I liked
- Really impressive waterfall
- Castle ruins and panoramic view from the keep
- Numerous hiking options in the area for all tastes
I liked a little less
- Very well known: there can be a lot of people
The Cascade du Nideck, Alsace’s must-see waterfall
The site of the Nideck waterfall isone of the great spots for walks in Alsace on nice days, especially when the sweltering heat of Alsace falls on the plain and it is good to come to seek a little freshness in the mountains!
I went for a walk to the Nideck waterfall on a beautiful autumn day and didn’t suffer from the crowds at all. I did run into a few people, of course, but nothing that bothered me, and I have to say I was really taken with the place! The waterfall is really impressive, and I wasn’t disappointed at all.
The waterfall rises to an altitude of 534 metres and is 25 metres high. The water cascades down from a wall of volcanic rock – it’s truly impressive! It’s also said to be a sight to behold in the dead of winter, when the water transforms into columns of ice.
The legend of the Nideck Giants
Even if you’re not Alsatian, you may have heard of the Nideck, as the legend of the Nideck Giants can be found in one of the Brothers Grimm’s storybooks. It also inspired the German poet Adalbert von Chassimo to write “Das Riesenfraülein” (The Giant’s Daughter). You can read the legend here.
Walk or hike, you choose your walking route!
You can totally adapt the duration of your walk to the Nideck waterfall.
Distance and difficulty of the classic circuit
The classic trail makes a 3.3km loop with 190m of vertical drop, from the Auberge de la Cascade parking lot. It goes up (necessarily!), but it remains short and does not present any particular difficulty. Ideal if you just want to take a stroll, and great for families. To get to the castle ruins, just add 2km . Ideal for children!
Other hiking ideas
If you like hiking, you can easily extend the distance of your walk: nature in Oberhaslach is magnificent and there are many hiking trails. For example, I tried out the 3 waterfalls hike (well, the other two waterfalls look ridiculous next to the Nideck waterfall, but it’s a beautiful hike!), but you can also opt for this other beautiful hike. There are lots of great ideas in the area!
The ruins of the Nideck castles
After the emblematic Nideck waterfall, just continue climbing for about 1km to reach the ruins of the Nideck castles. A little detour that’s well worth it: I really enjoyed being able to admire these ruins at the same time, as they’re quite impressive. The two castles date from the 13th century (Haut-Nideck and Bas-Nideck) and were later abandoned.
I recommend climbing to the top of the dungeon to admire the view of the surrounding area, it’s really beautiful. And with the autumn colors, of course, it was magical!
Access to the Nideck waterfall
Where is the Nideck waterfall located?
The Nideck waterfall is located in Oberhaslach, at the entrance to the Bruche Valley in the Vosges mountains of Alsace. We’re 47km west of Strasbourg.
How to reach the Nideck waterfall?
It’s easy to get to the Nideck waterfall. Just drive through Oberhaslach in the direction of Wangenbourg-Engenthal: after a few kilometers outside the village, you’ve reached the parking lot! Then just walk 1.5km to reach the waterfall.
Parking: where to park for the Nideck waterfall?
The parking lot is located at the restaurant L’Auberge de la Cascade du Nideck.
Other waterfalls in Alsace?
If you like waterfalls but want to go to a lesser known spot, I invite you for example to go and see the Hohwald waterfall or the Soultzbach waterfall.
Practical information
Itinerary
The choice depends on the walk you wish to make. For the small classic circuit of 3km, see this page.
Access
By car
You can park your car at the parking lot located near the Auberge La cascade du Nideck. You have to count:
- 47km from Strasbourg (about 40min)
- 80km from Colmar (about 1h5)
- 120km from Mulhouse (about 1h30)
By public transport
You can calculate your route on Fluo Grand Est.