Around Lake Kruth via the Bockloch waterfalls

A beautiful and enjoyable family walk around and above Lake Kruth, which can be combined with the discovery trail to the ruins of Schlossberg Castle.

Details

41840622
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.47 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 633 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 627 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,372 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,785 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

From Kruth, access via the D13b. Several car parks available, as the road leading to the one near the dam is closed (June 2024). Preferably choose the third car park from the D13b, by the lake near the leisure area.

(S/E) From the car park, go down the path between the road and the lake, turn left, pass the snack bar and the Accrobranche park ticket office. Continue right on the small tarmac road bordering the lake.

(1) Here, you can combine the walk with the "Schlossberg discovery trail" by turning left (allow an extra hour and 122 m of elevation gain - see Visorando walk no. 2982754 "In the footsteps of Wildenstein Castle" proposed by the Saint-Amarin Tourist Office).
Continue straight ahead on the small, shaded road to the end of the lake. Cross the dam on the right. At the end, follow the small road to the right for a good hundred metres.

(2) Take the Chemin Forestier du Bourbach on the left and quickly leave it for the Sentier Robert, which branches off to the right, following the red triangle markings towards Col du Bockloch. This path is very pleasant and climbs gently. Cross several wooden or iron footbridges and a few rocky passages, always following the same markings.

(3) Arrive at the Tal shelter, a crossroads at the edge of the Massif du Grand Ventron Nature Reserve.
Leave the red triangle trail, which climbs to the left towards Col du Bockloch, and take the wide forest path that descends to the right of the shelter, almost opposite where you arrived. Cross a stone bridge over the Vorder Bockloch stream.

(4) Leave this path, which continues downhill to the right, and take the Chemin du Hasenloch on the left. There is a slight climb and another stone bridge over the Hinter Bockloch with a first waterfall on the stream.

(5) Just after the bridge, leave the path and turn right onto the trail that descends towards the lake (signposted towards the dam on the sign) and towards the village of Wildenstein (marked with a blue cross). Immediately, in a rocky passage, be careful not to continue by mistake across the scree: the trail turns sharply to the right. Follow the hairpin bends without cutting them. You can hear the roar of the Bochlock waterfalls. You will come out onto a stony path, which you will only follow for a short while as your trail continues on the right, still marked with blue crosses. At the bottom, after a small wooden footbridge, you will reach the pretty waterfall site. Then follow a few hairpin bends to descend.

(6) Cross the small road, which is now closed to traffic. Below the "Welcome" sign, look for a wooden footbridge that crosses the Thur.

(7) There are two options at this point: if the footbridge over the Thur is not closed due to high water levels at certain times of the year, cross it and continue along this small stone dyke to find the path on the other side, between the road and the lake, which will take you back to the car park on the right. However, if the footbridge is closed, continue along the small path running alongside the Thur or along the small tarmac road above: choose your route. Join the small road, turn right and then immediately right again to rejoin the path around the lake, which you follow to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,808 ft - Third car park near the leisure area.
  2. 1 : mi 0.28 - alt. 1,811 ft - Start of the Schlossberg discovery trail
  3. 2 : mi 1.09 - alt. 1,814 ft - Bourbach forest path
  4. 3 : mi 2.19 - alt. 2,365 ft - Abri du Tal
  5. 4 : mi 2.53 - alt. 2,208 ft - Chemin du Hasenloch
  6. 5 : mi 2.69 - alt. 2,316 ft - Path on the right - Cascade du Bockloch
  7. 6 : mi 3.39 - alt. 1,811 ft - Cascade du Bockloch
  8. 7 : mi 3.42 - alt. 1,791 ft - Footbridge over the Thur
  9. S/E : mi 4.47 - alt. 1,808 ft - Third car park near the leisure area.

Notes

Based on a suggestion by RANDO LTD 68 (Pierre Brunner).
No water source along the route.
Outdoor bench and indoor table sheltered by the Tal at point (3).

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
CaptainRichi
CaptainRichi
• Edited:

An easy route; the waterfalls have plenty of water. We extended the route at the start, passing by the ruins of Schlossberg Castle. The climb is steep, with a 130-metre elevation gain, and begins through a treetop adventure course. The descent joins the planned route and is easier.

Machine-translated

CaptainRichi
CaptainRichi
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy route. We extended the walk by passing through the ruins of Schlossberg Castle. Stunning views over the Thur Valley. The climb is steep, with a 130-metre ascent, and starts through a treetop adventure course. The descent joins the main route and is easier.

Machine-translated

User 28783571

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

A lovely walk with the children
This tour of Lake Kruth is part of the Grand Est region’s IRON LAKE CHALLENGE
Best regards

Machine-translated

User 9218053

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant route. The descent down the rocks after the waterfall requires good footwear and vigilance to stay on the path. But the rest of the route is straightforward.

Machine-translated

User 22317490

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike with a view of the lake. Very pleasant forest trail that is easy to walk along.
The waterfall had little water due to the lack of rain, but it was still great!!!

Machine-translated

bernard951
bernard951

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A good location for photos. The castle ruins are interesting. Busy but not too busy for the time of year.

Machine-translated

jeansimon
jeansimon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, moderate difficulty

Machine-translated

danlutterrando
danlutterrando

Great hike despite a little rain; it's the perfect time to see the waterfalls in full flow.

Machine-translated

nperret
nperret

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did this route in reverse! It may be easier to go up the path through the woods, over the roots, and come back down on a white path.
There were quite a few people near the waterfall, which was handy for taking photos!

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.