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Park your car at the Billenbaum crossroads. You can get there either from Saverne via the Haut-Barr climb and then straight on along the forest road, or from Reinhardsmunster, heading towards Obersteigen, via the forest road which, on leaving the village, goes straight on into the first hairpin bend.
For those who are a little less energetic and would like to shorten the walk, you can continue along the road towards Haberacker and park your vehicle there. This will save you 2 x 15 minutes on the total walking time.
(S/E) From the Billebaum crossroads, take the path marked with a red rectangle (GR®53) towards Haberacker. The path follows the Stambach forest road on the left-hand side and rejoins theGR® shortly before a car park.
(1) Cross the Ochsenstein forest road to take the Haberacker road, which veers to the right. After about 250 metres, you will arrive at the forest houses.
(2) There are two forest houses at Haberacker. Pass between them to pick up the Blue Rectangle (GR®531) trail on the other side, which climbs to the right towards Ochsenstein Castle. At thefirst fork, keep right, and shortly after, at thesecond fork, take the left branch. Continue to the esplanade at the foot of the rock.
(3) Ochsenstein Castle occupies two flat sandstone rocks at the top of the mountain. The first is accessed via a stone staircase with a steel handrail. At the beginning of November 2018, everything was still in good condition, with no loose stones or rusty railings to report. From the top of the rock, you have a magnificent view of the Alsace plain on one side and Lorraine on the other.
Looking south, from left to right (east to west), you will see: the Nordheim relay station in the distance, the Geisfels rock with two electricity pylons at its summit, the village of La Hoube in the distance and, in the background, the very distinctive Dabo rock, topped by its chapel.
Descend from the rock and continue on your left, following the Blue Rectangle trail. After a few dozen metres, you will arrive atthe second rock of the castle.
(4) A metal ladder, in good condition (2.11.2018), allows you to reach the top by crossing the rock. The summit access was carved through the rock by medieval builders.
Take the Blue Rectangle marked trail northwards. You will arrive at the top of the Schlossberg (literally "castle mountain") rock. Follow it to its end. Climb down from the rock and you will come to a junction with a trail coming from the right.
(5) Leave this path (the return route) and continue for a few dozen metres to reach the Krappenfeld Pass.
(6) Once you reach the Krappenfels Pass, continue straight ahead, still on theGR®531(Blue Rectangle), towards Krappenfels and the Druids' Stone.
(7) You will arrive at the foot of the Krappenfels rock, a popular climbing site given the fixed installations that have been sealed there. Pass to the left of the rock. The path leads to its summit. Here again, the view is magnificent. Take the time to enjoy it.
Continue north on theGR® to reach the start of the Wuestenberg rock table. The path continues along its summit to the Druids' Stone.See Practical Information
(8). At this point, the trail switches to the right side of the rock to begin the descent, keeping to the right at the crossroads. It winds around once or twice before reaching a wider forest path. Take this path southwards, contrary to the direction you have been following until now. It will take you back to the Krappenfels Pass.
(6) At the pass, take theGR®531path (marked with a blue rectangle) opposite, which you came from, leading to Ochsenstein and Haberacker.
(5) After a few dozen metres, instead of tackling the climb up the rock, stay on the wider forest path that branches off to the left, along the mountainside. It will take you to Haberacker, following the contour lines and with less difficulty. It is not marked, but there is no way to go wrong as there are no intersections.
(2) Once you reach Haberacker, all you have to do is retrace your steps to return to the Billebaum crossroads (S/E).
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