Bivouac camping draws hikers to the La Bresse area every summer, but no single set of rules covers the whole Ballons des Vosges regional park. The rules change depending on whether you are outside protected areas, inside a national nature reserve, or in a municipality that has issued its own order. Here is what the La Bresse tourist office, the town hall, and the manager of the Ballons Comtois reserve say, along with the sectors worth knowing about before setting off.
Bivouac or camping: what the regulations change
The La Bresse tourist office defines bivouac camping as a light setup, put up at sunset and taken down at sunrise, for a single night at the same spot. Camping, meaning an extended setup or a fixed shelter outside a designated site, remains banned across the municipality, according to the town hall.
Outside protected natural areas, bivouac camping is generally tolerated, provided a few simple rules set out by the tourist office are followed: do not damage the site, do not set up on a mown or grazed meadow, get the owner’s agreement on private land, and do not post the exact location on social media. The town hall also points to the Quietude Attitude programme, backed in particular by the Ballons des Vosges regional park, for locating sensitive areas before choosing a spot.
Areas where bivouac camping is banned
The La Bresse tourist office lists six national nature reserves in the massif where bivouac camping is banned year round: Rochers et Tourbières du Pays de Bitche, the Frankenthal, the Machais peat bog, the Grand Ventron, the Ballons Comtois, and Tanet, Gazon du Faing.
The manager of the Ballons Comtois national nature reserve, created by decree no. 2002-962 of 4 July 2002, is explicit about the internal rules: camping in a tent, a vehicle, or any other shelter is banned there, as is bivouac camping in any form outside the mountain huts. Fire is also banned, except at the spots set up near the forest shelters.
The Tanet sector, reached by visiting the ferme aux rennes du Schantzwasen from La Bresse, borders directly on the Tanet, Gazon du Faing reserve. Bivouac camping is prohibited there, not just discouraged, which is worth knowing before loading up the backpack.
Fire, waste, behaviour: rules that apply everywhere
Even outside the reserves, several rules apply across the whole area, according to the La Bresse tourist office. Ground fires, barbecues, and flame stoves are banned, with a fine of up to 135 euros in case of a check. No waste, including biodegradable waste, should be left behind. Quiet is requested to avoid disturbing wildlife, and the Quietude Attitude programme recommends staying on marked trails in quiet zones, keeping dogs on a leash, and favouring outdoor activities during the day rather than in the evening near these zones.
These rules match those applied elsewhere in the massif: around the Markstein and the Grand Ballon, the Route des Crêtes also crosses sensitive ridge sectors where it is worth checking local rules before settling in for the night.
Where to consider a bivouac spot near La Bresse
No official source publishes a list of approved bivouac spots around La Bresse: the rules work by exclusion, avoiding the reserves listed above and the areas flagged as sensitive on the Quietude Attitude map. Before choosing a spot, it is worth checking that map rather than relying on a GPS point shared online.
Two classic routes lead out of the immediate area around the protected reserves: toward the Grand Ballon and the Route des Crêtes to the north, covered in our guide to Markstein and the Grand Ballon, and toward the Ballon d’Alsace to the south, via Le Thillot. On both routes, the presence of a reserve or a quiet zone should be checked sector by sector, including in peak season when sensitive areas can change.
Around the lakes, starting with those covered in our guide to Gérardmer, setting up a tent on the shore is most often governed by a separate municipal order: calling the relevant town hall remains the only way to know the exact rule on the dates of the stay.
If bivouac camping does not suit: the camping alternative
For a more comfortable stay, or outside the dates when bivouac camping remains an option, the La Bresse town hall points to the Ô des Bluches municipal campsite as an on-site solution. For any question about a specific restriction, the La Bresse town hall can be reached at 03 29 25 40 21 or by email at info@labresse.fr, Monday to Friday from 8am to 12:15pm and 2pm to 5pm, Saturday from 9am to 12pm.
Before setting off, the useful habit stays the same whatever area is planned: check the Quietude Attitude map of sensitive areas, contact the relevant town hall or tourist office in case of doubt, and adjust the choice of bivouac spot rather than forcing a fixed route decided in advance.
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Frequently asked questions
Is bivouac camping allowed in the Ballons des Vosges regional park?
There is no single set of rules covering the whole park. Outside the protected nature reserves, the La Bresse tourist office states that bivouac camping is generally tolerated, for one night maximum at the same spot, set up at sunset and taken down at sunrise.
Where is bivouac camping banned near La Bresse?
Six national nature reserves in the massif ban it year round, including Tanet, Gazon du Faing (a sector close to La Bresse), the Grand Ventron, and the Machais peat bog. The Ballons Comtois reserve also bans it, under decree no. 2002-962 of 4 July 2002.
Can you light a fire while bivouacking around La Bresse?
No. The tourist office states that ground fires, barbecues, and flame stoves are banned, with a fine of up to 135 euros. In the Ballons Comtois reserve, fire is only allowed at the spots set up near the forest shelters.