Autumn Forest Hikes: 5 Trails in France, Belgium and Switzerland

Why autumn is the best season for forest hikes

Fallen leaves muffle your footsteps, the air smells of wet earth, and the light hits the ridge sideways instead of falling straight down like in summer. The same trails that are packed in August empty out: you can walk for hours without meeting anyone. The shift lasts barely two to three weeks, between mid-October and early November: falling light and temperature stop chlorophyll production and reveal the yellow and red pigments already present in the leaf.

Here are 5 trails to make the most of it, from a guided weekend to a self-guided half-day walk, across the Vosges, the Jura, the Belgian Hautes-Fagnes and Swiss Ticino.

When to go and what to wear

Peak colour usually falls between 15 and 31 October at mid-altitude (600 to 1300 m), one to two weeks earlier at lower elevation. Once the first night frosts hit, leaves drop fast, so don't wait too long.

A proper 3-layer system is essential: once the sun drops behind a ridge, the cold sets in within minutes. Pack waterproof boots too, since forest trails stay wet far longer than in summer, and a charged headlamp even for a day trip: by late October it's dark before 6pm.

Our recommended trails

Vosges: the great ridge, on a guided two-day immersion

The Wildhartt crossing of the great Vosges ridge runs until November. Over 35 km in two days, it links six iconic summits (Rainkopf, Rothenbachkopf, Breitfirst) through a genuine high-altitude no man's land of beech and fir forest, before a night at an isolated inn only reachable on foot. Elevation gain stays moderate (300 to 600 m a day): no roaming experience needed, just the ability to walk 15 km a day with a pack.

Participant Cédric sums up what guide Bruno brings to this time of year: "A hiking trip through the Vosges, more than magnificent. An exceptional guide who knows his region like the back of his hand. What's sold to us in the roadbook is exactly what we did."

Jura: Haut-Jura ridges and cani-hiking, over three days

Another guided option still running through October: the Haut-Jura crossing, 6 hours of walking and 400 to 700 m of elevation gain a day, with views over Lake Geneva and the Alps on a clear day. The route alternates panoramic ridges, dense beech forest and the Hautes-Combes plateau, with two nights in a comfortable mountain lodge. Day three opens with a morning of cani-hiking alongside Jérémy, a professional musher, before the climb to Crêt de Chalam.

Hautes-Fagnes (Belgium): Xhoffraix Valleys and Ridges, self-guided

Photo: Stephanie Gibeault, Unsplash

No guided Wildhartt expedition in the Hautes-Fagnes, but a genuinely good self-guided option: the Xhoffraix Valleys and Ridges loop (14.8 km, about 4h30, moderate), following the Warche and Bayehon rivers before climbing to Reinhardstein Castle and the plateau ridges. Dogs welcome on leash, trail is popular but rarely crowded outside weekends. Note: a footbridge on the GR56 near the castle is currently damaged, with an official detour in place.

Reinhardstein Castle via the Cheneux Path (Belgium): the short, family version

Same starting point as the trail above, but shorter (3.7 km, about 1h, easy, stroller-friendly): ideal with kids, or just for a one-hour outing between showers. The view of the castle from the trail is the highlight, with russet foliage as a backdrop.

Ticino (Switzerland): the Alpe Cardada loop, views over Lake Maggiore

Photo: Florian van Duyn, Unsplash

Ticino, the Italian-speaking side of the Swiss Alps, is also Switzerland's historic chestnut country (introduced in Roman times and nicknamed "the bread tree"). From the Cardada-Cimetta cable car above Locarno, the Alpe Cardada loop (7.6 km round trip, about 2h30, moderate, kid-friendly) leads to the Cardada suspended viewpoint and on to the Stallone summit, with Lake Maggiore below and the Ticino Alps behind. Check the cable car schedule before heading out.

Guided or self-guided? What actually changes

Add up lodging, food and fuel for a self-guided trip over 2 or 3 days, and the price closes in fast on a guided stay like the Vosges (€295 all-inclusive) or the Jura (€495). What Bruno or Damien mainly bring is knowing where to reroute if a trail is closed, and what time to cross a given ridge for the light instead of a headwind. That's not something you can improvise from a map on a Friday night.

The Belgian and Swiss walks above, by contrast, are deliberately built for self-guided use: shorter, reachable by public transport or car for a day trip, no group logistics to manage.

What to pack for an autumn hike

• Waterproof jacket with hood (Gore-Tex type) — October showers are more frequent and colder than in summer.
• Fleece or light down jacket, to add as soon as the sun drops behind a ridge.
• Closed, waterproof, breathable hiking boots — forest trails stay damp for days after rain.
• Beanie and light gloves, even for a day trip at low altitude.
• Charged headlamp — it gets dark before 6pm across temperate Europe by late October.
• Trekking poles, useful on fallen leaves hiding roots and slippery stones.

Want to experience autumn as a group with no logistics to manage? Discover all our guided hiking trips, or read what else there is to do in the Vosges and why the train stays the best way to reach most of these destinations without a car.