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Car park on the D430 leading to Markstein from Guebwiller, 350m on the right after the Dauvillers forest house.
(S/E) Near the "Forêt du Florival" information board, climb up the "Chemin de l'Enfer" towards Lac de la Lauch and the "Sentier Fernand Hanssen". After 300m, you will pass above the Klinzrunz, which runs down the slope from the Klintzkopf.
(1) After the stream, climb up to the left along the marked Croix Bleue trail. The climb is steep. Leave the trails to Linthal on your right and continue until you reach the D430 on your left.
(2) Cross the road and head left towards a large rock and a bridge. The Blue Cross trail resumes to the left of the bridge. Wide for the first 300 metres, it then narrows. You will pass several scree slopes and the sound of a waterfall will grow louder. After a tricky passage over a stream, secured by a cable, you will come to a wide path in a bend. This is the old Markstein road.
(3) Turn left downhill towards the waterfalls. In a few minutes, you will reach the highest waterfall at a bridge.
Climb the secure stairs to the right after the bridge, where you can take your time admiring the waterfalls. The fairly steep path is marked with blue triangles. The slope levels out and you will see the Lac de la Lauch dam. Head right towards the disused buildings of the Auberge du Lac. Go around them on the left and climb the ramp towards the road and the dam.
(4) To go around the lake, cross the dam and turn right onto the Blue Triangle marked trail towards Markstein. Ignore the trails that climb to the left and stay as close to the lake as possible.
The trail is no longer marked. You are approaching the marshy area to the west of the lake with its characteristic peat bog flora. The trail climbs back up to the road and then runs alongside it on the right for 200 metres. In the bend, you will come across several streams, including the Lauch, which flows down the slopes of the Lauchenkopf.
(5) After the bridge, in the bend, a small gravel path descends steeply towards the lake. Follow this beautiful path through the wet forest to reach the shore, a fishing spot, then climb back up to the end of the dam and the road.
(4) Follow the road to the small car park at the Auberge du Lac. Head to the back of the car park, near the information boards.
(6) Here you will find the start of the old Markstein road and the Blue Cross markings for a gentle descent. Find the point (3) and turn right to enjoy the large waterfall once again.
(7) Turn left after the bridge. The return journey is via the Blue Triangle trail, which descends the right bank of the Lauch, a beautiful trail among mossy rocks through the forest of the Guebwiller state-owned biological domain. Cross a forest path, then 700 metres further on, a footbridge and finally, to the right of a bridge, you will come to the tarmac road to Lac du Ballon.
(8) Cross and follow the road for 80 metres to rejoin the Triangle Bleu trail on the left and the right bank of the Lauch.
(9) As you leave the forest, near the old First World War military cemetery, you will approach the Maison Forestière. Head left towards the bridge. You will find the D430 and the car park on your left (S/E).
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