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Departure from the car park at the Col du Hundsruck, accessible via the Route Joffre (D14-bIV) from Masevaux (all year round) and from Bischwiller-les-Thann outside the winter season.
Not signposted
(S/E) From the pass, at the side of the road, to the left of an information sign, a path climbs north-west towards the Ferme du Buissonnet. The slope is steep for about 250 metres. After this sudden warm-up, the path levels out, runs along the edge of the forest to the Martisplatz crossroads, and offers a clear view of the Doller valley and southern Alsace.
Red Triangle markings
(1) Turn right onto the Red Triangle marked trail towards Thanner-Hübel. Enjoy the beautiful climb with views of the Thann valley and the Grand Ballon on your right. The trail comes to a hairpin bend on the left.
(2) After this hairpin bend and another to the right, the trail leads to the Thanner-Hübel hilltop. Head towards the farmhouse inn of the same name. There is a beautiful view of the main ridge of the Vosges from the terrace.
(3) Walk north along the farm buildings, then enter the forest and go around the summit of Thanner-Hübel to the east and north. As you leave the forest, a huge grassy area spreads out over the north-eastern slopes of Vogelstein and Rossberg, with the abandoned Rossberg farm in the foreground and the Gsang farmhouse inn beyond.
(4) Walk past the buildings of the Gsang farm to find the Red Triangle trail climbing northwards. After a wide bend to the left before the forest, you will come to a crossroads where the Blue Triangle trail branches off to the left and climbs up to Vogelstein (see short alternative in Practical Information).
(5) Continue right towards the forest, in the direction of Belacker. This forest path on the northern slope of Vogelstein, bucolic in summer, is cold, damp and difficult to walk on when there is heavy snow. Stay almost level (around 1000m) until you meet the Red Cross marked trail coming from the right.
(7) The trail climbs slightly, leaving the forest and entering the light of the vast Belacker stubble field. Head towards the Ferme-Auberge and enjoy the beautiful panorama from its terrace.
Red rectangle markings
(8) Head south-east up the heath to find the Red Rectangle marked trail, theGR®®5merging with theGR®®532(Yellow Rectangle). Continue uphill towards the Vogelstein rocks and the forest.
(9) Leave theGR®®532trail on your right and enter the forest. You will come to a crossroads in front of a large beech tree with signposts.
Immediately to the right, you can climb one of the Vogelstein rocks. Its summit overlooks the Wegscheid Volcano Forest(3) and offers an exceptional panorama. Be careful, the view over the Masevaux valley is dizzying.
Go back down to the crossroads, leave the Blue Triangle trail on your left and continue for a few dozen metres on theGR®®5towards Thanner-Hübel.
Not marked
(10) When you leave the forest, leave theGR®®5and head right towards the ridge, along a fence. Enjoy the panoramic view along the trail to the summit of Rossberg(4), the highest point of the route.
(11) Descend to the left towards the Mulhouse Ski Club chalet and a crossroads with numerous paths.
Red rectangle markings
(12) Head south-east on theGR®®5towards Thann and the Col de Hundsrück. The path enters the forest, begins a gentle descent and comes to the small Place du Nussbaum, with its fountain and picnic table. Further on, it leads to Martisplatz.
(1) Cross the crossroads to descend into the forest, following the red rectangle markings ofthe GR®®5and ignoring the crossroads until you reach the Col de Hundsrück (S/E).
Visorando member
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