Circular starting from the Étang du Coucou

This hike leads to the Chatte Pendue viewpoint and the summit of Hautes Loges, which offer a breathtaking 360° view of the neighbouring peaks: Donon, Rocher de Mutzig, Massif du Champ du Feu and Col du Hantz.
The only difficulty is the climb to La Chatte Pendue. So start slowly.

Details

24785589
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.89 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 638 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 633 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 932 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 511 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Étang du Coucou car park.

(S/E) With your back to the car park, take the Disque Rouge trail heading south. After a somewhat steep climb, cross a forest road and reach the summit of La Chatte Pendue

(1) Here, take the path marked with multiple signs: Yellow Rectangle - Green Disc - Blue Cross. This is theGR®532. Continue along the path, alternating between descents and climbs, to reach the Monument des Passeurs.

(2) Continue along the Green Disc trail to reach the Y-junction at Haute Loge. Turn left onto the Red Triangle marked trail. You will come out at the Haute Loge hut.

(3) Take the path heading north, which descends slightly, to quickly reach the Ruins of the Old Dairy. Leave the Red Triangle marked path here and turn right onto the Red Cross - Green Disc marked path. Walk along the side of the Hautes Chaumes. Reach the location of Pierre à cupules.

(4) Continue on to reach a multiple crossroads.

(5) Turn right at an angle of almost 90° onto the Blue Ring trail and you will quickly reach the summit of Tête des Blanches Roches. Turn left and, after a short descent, you will arrive at Tête de Bipierre.

(6) Continue downhill to reach the Chapelle de Bipierre, a crossroads of trails.

(7) Take the Triangle Jaune trail opposite. Cross the Route Forestière de Bipierre and then, further on, the Route Forestière du Ruisseau de la Truite. Immediately after, reach the Ruisseau de la Truite bridge.

(8) Cross it via the footbridge, then find the Route Forestière de l'Aiguille and turn left onto it. Stay on the Triangle Jaune trail to reach the Maison Forestière du Coucou.

(9). Turn right onto the road to reach the Étang du Coucou car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 555 m - Étang du Coucou car park - Étang du Coucou
  2. 1 : km 2.18 - alt. 900 m - La Chatte Pendue
  3. 2 : km 3.95 - alt. 865 m - Monument to the Smugglers
  4. 3 : km 5.12 - alt. 929 m - La Haute Loge
  5. 4 : km 7.96 - alt. 889 m - Cup-marked stone
  6. 5 : km 8.86 - alt. 876 m - Multiple crossroads Near the source of the - Rabodeau (rivière)
  7. 6 : km 9.73 - alt. 904 m - Tête de Bipierre
  8. 7 : km 10.26 - alt. 854 m - Chapelle de Bipierre
  9. 8 : km 12.21 - alt. 561 m - Bridge over Ruisseau de la Truite
  10. 9 : km 13.78 - alt. 568 m - Maison Forestière du Coucou
  11. S/E : km 14.89 - alt. 555 m - Étang du Coucou car park - Étang du Coucou

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
mlk67
mlk67

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, magnificent panorama at La Haute Loge.
Well marked, easy to follow and no particular difficulties except for two slightly slippery wooden ladder sections.
The climb up to La Chatte Pendue is long but very pleasant.

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Vinihood
Vinihood

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route taken on 8/9/2025.
The route is very clear overall, except for two sections
where the markings are a little hard to see, which made me retrace my steps uphill. The route is very pleasant and the two main highlights are the hanging cat and the high lodges, which offer a splendid view.

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User 25007990

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

The explanations after the monument to the smugglers were not very clear. I missed a path and there was no way to cross. I had to go back and walk an extra 5 km!

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ouistiti1201
ouistiti1201

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with stunning views from La Chatte Pendue and La Haute Loge.
There were quite a few people at the summit of La Chatte Pendue that day, but we were almost always alone on the trails.
The elevation gain indicated does not quite correspond to what we had at the end of the hike; we had more like 640 metres.

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Vic&Nath
Vic&Nath

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike along a pleasant route.
Small paths through the forest or open countryside.
Beautiful views of the Donon and Alsace.
No difficulties with regard to signposting.

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Pdeiss
Pdeiss

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful diversity of landscapes and points of interest.

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tontonviki
tontonviki

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A relatively difficult route, but all the more beautiful for its wild natural surroundings.
We got a little lost at the top of the high lodges
But overall, a very positive experience

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Philippe Schwab
Philippe Schwab

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Today's hike took us 4 hours and 40 minutes. A wild route with almost exclusively narrow paths: brilliant!

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Petit sac
Petit sac

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike!
The landscapes are varied, passing through beautiful forests and offering breathtaking views of the valley.
There is a bit of an uphill climb at the start when heading towards La Chatte Pendue, but it's well worth the effort.

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mach
mach

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful hike.

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