In La Petite Pierre for a stroll along the Loosthal nature trail

From the D178, take the Route d’Imsthal and park near the car park reserved for guests of the Auberge d’Imsthal, situated opposite.

(S/E) Set off towards Loosthal, keeping the pond on your left, along the Imsthal forest track; after the bend on a slight incline, you’ll reach a hairpin bend.

Signpost: Red Rectangle with a white cross

(1) Leave the forest track straight ahead and the one on your right, and take the narrow forest path between them. This narrow path leads to the Loosthal car park.

Signpost: Red Cross

(2) Take the nature trail right-handmost. Pass the first flight of steps on the left, walk past the rocky outcrop to reach a viewpoint overlooking the old village and the Château de la Petite Pierre.

(3) Continue along the Loosthal nature trail and then, as it continues, follow the Heidekoepfel trail towards the Imsthal inn. Ignore the path on the right at the start of the Heidekoepfel bend and the one on the right as you come out of the bend.
Carry on straight ahead for about 50 metres until you reach a Fork in the road.

(4) Take the forest path on the right. Walk towards the Muehlkopf (the rock offers a beautiful view of the Kohlthal ponds but is no longer accessible (bird of prey protection)).

(5) Continue along the circular route to reach the tarmac forest road to Breitschloss.

(6) Take this road on the right, heading due south, for about 400 m to reach the Breitschloss Hut (shelter and picnic area).

Marked with Yellow Discs

(7) Continue along the Nonnenkopf forest track to the left for about a hundred metres, then turn left onto the path leading to the junction for the Rocher du Saut du Chien.

(8) Turn right onto the path towards the Rocher du Saut du Chien (beautiful viewpoint and bench).
Retrace your steps. Continue to the right along the forest track until you are about fifty metres before the tarmac forest road you encountered earlier.

(9) Turn right onto the forest path signposted “Parking du Loosthal”. Head down the narrow, winding forest path to the right. Continue to the junction at the hamlet of Lach (the waterhole).

Yellow Ring signposting

(10) Continue along the Loosthal nature trail on the right. Carry on until you reach the multi-way junction, then continue for about ten metres to the right.

(11) Take the next path on the left, following the ‘Hirschfels’ signposting. After about a hundred metres, you’ll reach the Hirschfels rock and gazebo (shelter and picnic area) on the right.

(12) Continue along the forest path, passing the Finkenstein rock on your right at the first bend, before reaching the Loosthal rock and its beautiful viewpoint further on.

(13) Continue along the forest path as it curves sharply to the left to reach the Breitschloss forest road after descending Staircase 2.

(14) Take the forest road to the right for about a hundred metres, then go down Staircase 1 on the left to reach the Loosthal car park on the right.

No signposting

(2) Head left, in the opposite direction to the outward journey, towards Imsthal along the forest track. After about 250 m, at the Fork in the road, take the wider track on the right, which is lower down than the one taken on the outward journey, to reach the stony Imsthal forest track opposite.

(1) Follow the forest track downhill in the opposite direction to your outward journey to reach the Imsthal inn and the car park (S/E).

Club Vosgien signposts

The Breitschloss Hut and the Hirschfels gazebo provide shelter and picnic facilities.

You can enjoy a meal and a pleasant time at the Imsthal hotel and restaurant, relaxing on the large terrace… a real treat after a good day’s walk!

Nearby is the picturesque village of La Petite Pierre, with its ramparts and castle.