Best time to go to the Vosges Mountains for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 16/04/2024When is the best time to go to the Vosges Mountains?
Unless you are going for winter sports, the best time to visit the Hautes-Vosges extends from May to September, when temperatures are pleasant enough to explore and discover the region's splendors.
When to visit the Hautes-Vosges based on your interests?
- For hiking on one of the many possible routes, the ideal time is in August or September. During these two months, temperatures are warm, but not too hot, and the risk of bad weather is the lowest of the year. It is then entirely possible to plan a multi-day trek, stopping to sleep in a refuge.
- For snow activities, go in winter! The Hautes-Vosges massif has the largest ski area in northeastern France with two main resorts: La Bresse and Gérardmer. Even though the altitude is not as high as the Alps, snow is abundant throughout the season, allowing for various sports such as skiing, cross-country skiing, sledding, snowboarding, snowshoeing, or even dog sledding! Another advantage of the region: prices remain very reasonable, especially for families.
- For swimming in one of the many lakes in the Hautes-Vosges, summer is the best time to go. For example, Lake Gérardmer offers a dream setting for enjoying water activities: paddle boarding, pedal boating, swimming, sailing, rowing, cruising... If you prefer a natural spot, away from tourists, head to Lake Longemer.
- For thermal baths, for example in Plombières-les-Bains, all seasons are suitable. Located in a green setting, this spa town is particularly beautiful in autumn, when the trees take on unreal colors.
- For paragliding, the winds are particularly favorable in spring. The downside is that it is a rather rainy season, so it is necessary to plan several possible time slots to ensure you can fly.
Annual weather in the Vosges Mountains
For information about the climate and the weather city by city in the Vosges Mountains for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:
| Month | Our opinion | View Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40°F | very bad weather | |||
| February | 43°F | very bad weather | |||
| March | 36°F to 54°F | very bad weather | |||
| April | 45°F to 63°F | tolerable weather | |||
| May | 52°F to 67°F | good weather | |||
| June | 59°F to 76°F | good weather | |||
| July | 61°F to 77°F | good weather | |||
| August | 61°F to 79°F | good weather | |||
| September | 52°F to 72°F | good weather | |||
| October | 45°F to 63°F | tolerable weather | |||
| November | 49°F | very bad weather | |||
| December | 34°F to 45°F | very bad weather |
Best time to travel to Vosges Mountains by cities
Climate and Weather in the Vosges Mountains
Contrasting with the surrounding plains, the climate in the High Vosges is oceanic with a strong mountain influence, similar to that found in the highlands of Scotland. More temperate than in the nearby Jura massif, it has the following overall characteristics:
- Winters can be harsh and snowfall is surprisingly significant considering the low altitude of the massif (the highest peak rises to 1424 meters at the Grand Ballon).
- Summers are mild, with temperatures lower than in the Alps.
- Precipitation is significant and frequent throughout the year, with a large difference between the western Vosges which are very humid, and the east, much drier.
Summer in the High Vosges
The summer season offers beautiful sunny days, especially in August and September. Temperatures are mild, with averages ranging from 20 to 24°C (76°F) in Gérardmer or La Bresse. However, at night, the thermometer does not rise above 16°C (61°F) , even at the height of the season.
Precipitation remains relatively high at the end of June and beginning of July, but from late August, showers become less frequent. Throughout the season, it is common for a storm to break out, especially in the late afternoon.
Autumn in the High Vosges
The weather in the High Vosges in autumn is characterized by a rapid drop in temperatures. In October, days can still be pleasant, with averages around 15°C (59°F) during the day. However, from November onwards, it is rare for the thermometer to rise above 10°C (50°F) and often hovers around 0°C (32°F) as winter approaches.
In exchange for the cool atmosphere, episodes of rain and snow are infrequent in October and November. But from December onwards, the weather is clearly wintry with snowfall on the peaks of the Vosges Mountains.
Winter in the High Vosges
The region experiences cold winters with temperatures often below zero and hovering around 5°C (41°F) during the day until early March. The higher the altitude, the colder it gets, reaching minimum temperatures close to -20°C above 1000 m.
Snow is present throughout the season, with heavy snowfall from late December to late February. In March, days are sunnier, but the snow cover remains significant throughout the Vosges Mountains.
Spring in the High Vosges
During spring, the climate in the High Vosges remains wintry quite late and snow can persist until late April around Gérardmer. This is followed by the rainiest period of the year in May and June.
Between showers, it is still possible to enjoy beautiful sunny days, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 22°C (72°F) : ideal for nature walks and the first picnics around a lake or in the heart of a forest!
Temperatures and rainfall in the Vosges Mountains
On these 2 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Vosges Mountains and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Gérardmer, Bussang, Cornimont, La Bresse and Le Valtin.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in the Vosges Mountains
Find out when Vosges Mountains has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in the Vosges Mountains
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, March, April, October and November. The number of visitors to Vosges Mountains is high in: February, May, June, July, August, September and December.
- Very low season in the Vosges Mountains: November.
- Low season in the Vosges Mountains: January, March, April and October.
- High season in the Vosges Mountains: May, June, September and December.
- Peak season in the Vosges Mountains: February, July and August.
Figure: Visitor index for Vosges Mountains month by month
Where to go in the Vosges Mountains?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Gérardmer | 40°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 63°F | 72°F | 74°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 49°F | 43°F |
| Bussang | 40°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 63°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 50°F | 43°F |
| Cornimont | 40°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 63°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 50°F | 43°F |
| La Bresse | 40°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 63°F | 72°F | 74°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 49°F | 43°F |
| Le Valtin | 40°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 63°F | 72°F | 74°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 49°F | 43°F |
| Parc naturel Ballons des Vosges | 40°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 63°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 50°F | 43°F |
| Saint-Maurice-sur-Moselle | 40°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 63°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 50°F | 43°F |
| Ventron | 40°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 63°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 50°F | 43°F |
| Xonrupt-Longemer | 40°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 63°F | 72°F | 74°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 49°F | 43°F |
| Munster | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Saint-Die-des-Vosges | 40°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 63°F | 72°F | 74°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 49°F | 43°F |
| Ban de Sapt | 40°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 63°F | 72°F | 74°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 49°F | 43°F |
| Le Thillot | 40°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 63°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 50°F | 43°F |
Legend:
good weather
tolerable weather
very bad weather
About Vosges Mountains
What can I do in the Vosges Mountains?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Gastronomy
Is this weather information for Vosges Mountains reliable?
Climate data for Vosges Mountains has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Vosges Mountains allows us to determine the average for each month in Gérardmer, Bussang, Cornimont, La Bresse, Le Valtin, Parc naturel Ballons des Vosges, Saint-Maurice-sur-Moselle, Ventron, and 5 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.