Walscheid – Hohwalsch – Rocher du Calice – Rocher du Diable circular loop

Park in the car park by the Walscheid lake.

(S/E) Walk along the lake on the right, then turn right to pass in front of the Verte Vallée residence. Keep to the right at the junction and walk on for about fifty metres.

(1) A small path appears on the left. Take it, crossing the makeshift bridge. This path is marked by a sign with two deer antlers – no. 6. Stay on this path, which crosses several forest tracks but always continues more or less straight ahead. Walk for about 4 km until you reach the Petit Hohwalsch forest track.

(2) Turn left, then keep right at the next junction. Continue straight ahead on the forest track.

(3) Look out for the path on the right which you will take on the return journey and continue straight on for about 200 m. Then take a path on the right which will lead you to the Beimbach shelter, an ideal spot to take a break and look out over the valley. Continue for a few dozen metres further to discover the Gallo-Roman cemetery.

(4) Retrace your steps to the junction you spotted earlier, marked by a pointed post painted yellow.

(3) Head down the path on your left to reach the Eckfelsen viewpoint.

(5) Turn back a few metres and rejoin the route to the left to reach the summit of the Hohwalsch Rock.

(6) Descend to the Hohwalschplatz car park via the winding path. Cross the square and head towards the forest track known as the Route du Lossert. Before setting off on this track, you will find a well-marked path signposted with a Red Ring and a Yellow Ring leading to the Heidenschlossberg.

(7) Walk past the Heidenschlossberg and then descend to the forest track.

(8) Turn right, then keep right immediately to follow the track known as the Bloecherplatz. Continue to the Col du Bloecherplatz.

(9) Take the path leading straight ahead down towards the Rocher de la Salière: marked with a Yellow Ring. Continue along this path until you reach the hamlet of Grand Soldat: you will find a fountain (normally drinkable) on your right in the centre.

(10) At this point, there are two options:

• to the right to go directly to the Rocher du Diable path.
• to the left along the Ruisseau du Grand Soldat to head back up towards the forest railway station (route of your choice).

(11) At the station, turn left onto the path which splits into two a few metres further on. Then continue to the right, following the stream.

(12) Cross the stream and then the road, and take the forest track opposite: marked Red Ring – Green Ring. Signs indicate that this is private woodland, but the markings seem to suggest that access is permitted for walkers. Keep going straight on until you reach a steep climb where you will come across another barrier. Go past it and join the Route Forestière Calice.

(13) Turn right to follow this track: Blue Ring – Yellow Saltire markings. You can also turn right to climb up to the Grand Rommelstein viewpoint and rejoin this route further on. Please note that this path is closed for part of the winter and spring due to the nesting of protected species. After about 1 km, leave the track and take a path on the right leading to the Rocher du Calice.

(14) Then head down towards Abreschwiller via the Yellow Saltire – Blue Ring trail, which is very smooth and pleasant.

(15) At the three-way junction, keep left to join the D44. Follow the road by turning right and cross the bridge.

(16) Turn right and continue along the small road.

(17) Leave the road and take a path on the left where a few steps help you climb the first few metres. Join a track and follow it to the left.

(18) Turn right, following the Red Cross markings, and reach the foot of the Rocher du Diable.

(19) Don’t miss the small path on your right that climbs up to the rock.

(20) Then follow the Red Ring trail to reach the hamlet of Nonnenberg. Keep left at the three-way junction and continue for about fifty metres.

(21) Take the path that goes round the houses on the right to reach Saint-Léon.

(22) Cross the hamlet to reach the Saint-Léon Chapel and carry straight on.

(23) Walk past the Saint-Léon Grotto and follow the Red Diamond trail to reach the village of Walscheid and return to your starting point at the lake (S/E).