Elsassblick circular route via the Narion, the Noll and the Grossmann mountain pass

Access via Windsbourg to the “Elsassblick” car park: take the forest track, which is accessible by car but closed in winter and at night between 7 pm and 7 am; the route is not cleared of snow.

Red-white-red Red Rectangle markings.

(S/E) Take the path leading down into the woods. After the long descent, you’ll reach a junction.

(1) Turn right onto the path that crosses the Bois d’Oberhaslach, initially uphill, then on level ground. When the slope begins again, join a forest track.

(2) Take a sharp right-hand bend and follow the forest road uphill to the crossroads in the hamlet of Altmatt.

(3) Ignore the return path ahead and turn left onto the forest road. At the end, keep to the right to reach the Col du Narion, before the bend in the road and the Baraque aux Juifs.

Unmarked

(4) Just after the sign for the forest road, cut right across the forest, heading west towards the summit. Please note: there is a path, but it is very difficult to follow.

(5) At the summit, follow the cleared track straight on towards the Noll; blue arrows and paint marks provide a rough guide along the route. Keep heading in the same direction for about 300 m to reach the point with an altitude of 976 on the IGN map.

(6) You can cut straight across, without following the track, to continue along the cleared strip; otherwise, take the small descent to the left and, about 100 m further on, head up to the right towards the Noll.

(7) At the summit, follow the path to the right, heading north-east, to reach the Altmatt Refuge. Continue to the right to return to the junction you passed on the way there.

Blue Cross markings

(3) Ignore the paths on the right; turn left, following the Blue Cross markings, downhill to the forest track, then turn right towards the Grossman Refuge.

(8) Continue along the forest road for about a hundred metres.

Blue Saltire Markings

(9) Turn right onto the path towards Elsassblick. The path climbs in a wide right-hand bend, then heads north-east, downhill, to join a wider forest road.

(10) Turn right to return to the Elsassblick car park (S/E).

Caution: steep descent after point (1); the path is virtually non-existent between points (4) and (5); try to follow the GPS track or the route on the map as best you can.

Club Vosgien signposting markers

Source of the Zorn, Mutzig Rock, source of the Hasel.