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The D430 connects the Col de la Schlucht (1135m) to the Markstein (1184m). This 22km stretch of road is also known as the Route des Crêtes. It is closed for many months of the year.
Coming from La Schlucht, after passing the junction to climb to Hohneck (1363m), you will find a small car park on the left at the second bend. This is our starting point at 1255m.
(S/E) Take the path that climbs towards the ridge in an east-northeast direction. Go straight ahead at the first crossroads and turn right at the second onto the ridge trail (1287m).
(1) Follow this track, continuing straight ahead at all junctions, until you reach the top of the Kastelberg ski lift (1,344 m).
(2) Turn left and continue down the path until you reach a three-way junction. Keep left and continue downhill until you reach the junction (1267m).
(3) Turn right and continue downhill on the small path until you reach a large track (1228m).
(4) Cross the track, keep left at the fork immediately after and continue downhill until you enter the forest. Descend the winding path through the forest, ignore a path on the left and continue to a fork (962m).
(5) Turn left and descend 150m, continuing straight ahead until you reach a forest road. Turn right onto this road and, after 100m, in the middle of the circular route, take a path on the right to Lake Altenweiher
(6). Cross the dam, turning left, and continue along a path until you reach a fork (987m).
(7) Turn right and begin the ascent of Rainkopf via a series of beautiful hairpin bends, then along the hillside and finally up to the ridge (1187m).
(8) Summit of Rainkopf.
(9) Turn left for 100m, then turn right and cross the Route des Crêtes to reach a small path winding down through the forest until you reach a larger path. Turn left and continue along this path called "Chemin du Grand Bougre" until you reach a fork (1093m).
(10) Turn right onto a path and descend to join the path around Lac de Blanchemer. Take the path on the left and walk around the lake until you reach a forest shelter (995m).
(11) Just after the shelter, turn left. Leave the path around the lake and take a path going up into the forest which joins the access road to Lac de Blanchemer. Turn right and walk along this road until you reach a crossroads (1103m).
(12) Turn left onto the Chemin du Tour d'Artimont. Stay on this path until you pass under a ski lift after making a wide circular loop to the left, then you will reach a large fork in the road.
(13) Turn right, then quickly left, and continue along the path to the Lac de la Lande dam spillway (1051m).
(14) Turn right and walk up along the spillway until you reach the lake on a beautiful path. Continue along this path and soon climb up another path overlooking the lake. Turn right and continue straight ahead until you pass under the Lande ski lift, then join the Lac de Blanchemer road at 1166m.
(15) Turn left and stay on this road until you reach a three-way junction (1201m).
(16) Continue straight ahead on the road until it makes a sharp 180° right turn. In the middle of this turn, leave the road and turn left along a stream (not always flowing) and after 300m you will reach the Route des Crêtes and the starting car park (S/E).
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