Bike rental in Colmar: 5 gravel routes around Colmar

Are you planning to rent bicycles during your stay in Colmar? Excellent idea! Between rolling vineyards, picturesque villages, and the Vosges mountains, Alsace is a perfect region for cycling, especially for gravel biking. And Colmar is an ideal base for exploring this area. With each pedal stroke, you'll discover a new facet of Alsace. Whether it's a path through the vineyards, a trail in a forest on the plains or in the mountains, a road through a charming, typical village, or climbing one of the Vosges peaks, you'll be captivated by the diversity of the terrain, landscapes, and heritage of Alsace.

Choosing a bike rental in Colmar is a great way to explore Alsace. Whether you're looking for panoramic views, smooth rides, or a sporting challenge, here are five gravel routes around Colmar that invite you to discover Alsace in a different way, at your own pace.

1. The vineyard loop by gravel: Colmar – Eguisheim – Voegtlinshoffen

Here's one of the most iconic gravel routes for a first time on a gravel bike. Starting from Colmar, head west towards the Vosges Mountains to join the Alsace Wine Route (EuroVelo 5, also known as the Vineyard Cycle Route). Welcome to the heart of the Alsatian vineyards! Enjoy the white gravel paths that wind through the vines. There are many of them, allowing you to extend your ride as much as you like. Keep in mind that the Alsatian vineyard is hilly, so you'll encounter some elevation changes.

Head southwest to Eguisheim, one of the most beautiful villages in France and voted France's favorite village since 2013. This magnificent village, nestled among vineyards and crowned by three castles, will enchant you. Take a break from cycling, stroll along the ramparts to explore the village, and enjoy a delicious break in one of the many shops and restaurants. Then, cycle back up towards Husseren-les-Châteaux for a lovely viewpoint, before descending to Vœgtlinshoffen and completing the loop by crossing the Alsace plain to Colmar.

Technical details:

• Distance: approximately 30 km

• Elevation gain: between 200 and 300 m

• Difficulty: intermediate

• Terrain: vineyard tracks, small roads, gravel paths

Not to be missed:

• The medieval heart of Eguisheim

• The viewpoints overlooking the Alsace plain

Where to stop in Eguisheim:

• The Auberge du Rempart or the Château Fleuri for a tarte flambée.

• The Maison Alsacienne de Biscuiterie for a kugelhopf or bredala.

Deux cyclistes dans le vignoble alsacien.

2. Heading towards Bergheim through the vineyards

With your bike rental in Colmar, this gravel route is a true immersion in picture-postcard Alsace. It connects a series of villages, each seemingly competing for charm. You'll pass through Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Hunawihr, Ribeauvillé, and Bergheim. With your rental bike, take the time to visit each village, as they are all worth a detour.

On this cycling route, the terrain is gentle but consistent, making the ride more challenging than it initially appears. Each climb reveals a new vista: a hilltop castle, a village below, or a vast expanse of vineyards. If you're too tired to cycle back to Colmar, you can take the train from Ribeauvillé station.

Technical details:

• Distance: approximately 30 km one way

• Elevation gain: approximately 200 m

• Difficulty: intermediate

• Terrain: vineyard paths, secondary roads

Not to be missed:

• The castles overlooking Kaysersberg and Ribeauvillé

• Hunawihr and its fortified church

Where to take a break:

• Laura et Nicolas pastry shop in Kaysersberg or Gilg pastry shop in Ribeauvillé for a sweet treat;

• Flamme & Co in Kaysersberg for original tarte flambée.

3. Gravel Bike Route Around Colmar: The Niederwald Forest and the Ill Plain

Here, the atmosphere changes completely. Leave the vineyards behind and embrace nature. The paths are wide, smooth, often shaded, and ideal for cyclists of all levels. South of Colmar, the Niederwald Forest is a truly peaceful haven, where the only sounds you hear are tires on gravel and birdsong in the trees. This gravel bike route is perfect if you want to ride on flat terrain or if you're looking for a place to escape the summer heat.

In this peaceful setting, you'll be far from the tourist crowds and will often find yourself alone on the trails. It's a pleasant route that takes you to the Rouffach golf course. For the return journey, you can choose to go back through the forest, along the farm tracks of the Alsace plain (offering superb views of the Vosges Mountains), or via the Wine Route for a bit more elevation gain. The choice is yours.

Technical details:

• Distance: between 30 and 40 km

• Elevation gain: between 100 and 200 m

• Difficulty: easy to intermediate

• Terrain: forest tracks, rolling paths

Not to be missed:

• The beautiful views of the Vosges Mountains

• The shaded forest trails

Where to take a break:

• At Alsace Golf Links, Moulin de Biltzheim in Rouffach

4. The Munster Valley by Gravel Bike

Head towards the Vosges Mountains for a ride in the fresh air. For this gravel route around Colmar, you ride on a beautiful, flat cycle path from Wintzenheim to Metzeral in the Munster Valley. Don't hesitate to stop in Turckheim, a charming little village. You'll ride far from the road, through open landscapes dotted with meadows and traditional farms. This is where they make Munster cheese, a delicious cheese with a unique flavor.

If you leave the greenway, gravel paths climb into the mountains, offering more elevation gain. From Metzeral, you can also continue on to climb a mountain pass in the Vosges. To return your bike rental to Colmar, you can continue cycling along the same route or take the train. This is an accessible and scenic outing for families, ideal for enjoying the mountains from the valley, without excessive difficulty.

Technical details:

• Distance: approximately 40 km (round trip)

• Elevation gain: +250 m

• Difficulty: easy to intermediate

• Terrain: greenway and gravel paths

Not to be missed:

• Turckheim, its narrow streets and its three gates

• The valley landscapes

• The farms where Munster cheese is made

Where to stop for a break:

• The Auberge des 4 Saisons in Munster

• The bakeries in the various villages

5. Mixed vineyards & Vosges itinerary: Gueberschwihr, Pfaffenheim and the Vallée Noble

Vue sur la Vallée Noble, Soultzmatt

For this final gravel route around Colmar, we take you to the heart of the Grand Cru Zinnkoepflé vineyards, overlooking the Soultzmatt Valley. This cycling route passes through Gueberschwihr and Pfaffenheim before reaching the Vallée Noble, in the hills above Westhalten and Soultzmatt.

This gravel route is challenging, it's ideal for expert cyclists or those who love a challenge. The climbs are longer, the paths sometimes more technical, but the effort is well worth it. You'll be treated to beautiful panoramic views of the Vallée Noble, the Alsace plain, and the Vosges Mountains, including the Petit Ballon and Grand Ballon peaks.

Technical details:

• Distance: between 30 and 40 km

• Elevation gain: between 600 and 700 m

• Difficulty: intermediate to challenging

• Terrain: paths through vineyards, forest tracks

Not to be missed:

• The Vallée Noble

• Panoramic views of the vineyards and the Vosges Mountains

Where to take a break:

• The Bi’m Lisala tea room in Pfaffenheim

Bike rental in Colmar: rent a gravel bike with Alsace Gravel Bike

You don't have a bike or you want to try gravel biking? Located a few kilometers from Colmar, Alsace Gravel Bike offers Welt brand gravel bike rentals. High-performance and versatile, these bikes are perfectly suited to all the roads and trails of Alsace. No electric bikes here, only traditional bicycles.

You can rent a bike for a half-day, a full day, or even a weekend, depending on your plans. Bike delivery is free to five designated locations (meeting points) along the Alsace Wine Route: Eguisheim, Hattstatt, Gueberschwihr, Pfaffenheim, and Rouffach (delivery is charged beyond these locations). You can also rent all the accessories you need for your ride: helmet, lock, repair kit, phone mount, etc.

Whether you're just visiting Alsace or a local cyclist without specialized equipment, this is the best option to fully enjoy the routes presented in this article.

Also check out our suggested gravel routes, tested and approved by Jérémie, the founder of Alsace Gravel Bike.

Conclusion

Renting a bike in Colmar is an excellent way to explore the region. And with these five gravel routes through vineyards, forests, and mountains, you have plenty of options for your gravel adventure. Renting your bike with Alsace Gravel Bike guarantees a great experience in Alsace.

⚠️ Note: During peak season, from May to September, remember to book in advance.

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