Country:
District:
Access by car from La Bresse via the D34. At Pont de Bramont, turn right towards the Route des Crêtes.
Do not follow Col de Blamont but take the hairpin bend to the left D34a, which is the Route des Américains.
Park in Machey in the car park opposite the Tourbière du Machais.
(S/E) Walk a short distance along the left side of the road, then take the path uphill, following the red triangle markings.
(1) Enter the Tourbière du Marchais site (barrier). Walk along the bog and head to Col de l'Étang.
(2) Turn left towards the Col de l'Étang shelter. You can make a short return trip to enjoy the view of the bog. Return to the pass and start the winding climb on the left. To do this, take theGR®531marked with a blue rectangle. Cross the Route des Américains and then the D430 road at the Haut-Rhin - Vosges boundary marker. You will then reach a crossroads.
(4) Take the path marked with a red-white-red rectangle on the right. You will soon come to another Y-shaped crossroads.
(5) Turn right for a round trip, leave the red-white-red trail at the next crossroads to climb up opposite and reach the summit of Rothenbachkopf.
(6) Descend to return to the previous crossroads.
(5) Continue straight ahead on the path now marked with a blue cross. At the next crossroads below Rainkopf, you will find theGR®531. Take it to the right and pass through the gate to reach the summit of Rainkopf.
(7) Continue on theGR® marked with a blue rectangle and you will reach a large crossroads with multiple trail markings.
(8) Take theGR®5Variant opposite, marked with red-white-red signs, then pass the Refuge Auberge de Ferschmuss. Continue and you will come to another crossroads below the summit of Kastelberg.
(9) Take the unmarked ridge line opposite to reach the summit of Kastelberg.
(10) Turn around and follow the same route back to the multiple crossroads near the Refuge Auberge de Ferschmuss.
(8) Turn right onto the Blue Triangle marked trail, quickly reach the Chemin du Grand Bougre, and take it to the left. The markings become Yellow Cross. Arrive at the circular loop at the crossroads of the trail leading to Lac de Blanchemer.
(11) Take the Blue Triangle marked trail down to Lac de Blanchemer. When you reach the lake, turn right. At the car park, continue on to the junction of the Blanchemer and Italiens trails.
(12) Turn left onto the latter, marked with a red triangle, and walk down a very slight slope to return to the car park opposite the Tourbière du Marchais (S/E).
Visorando member
Difficult 
Easy 
