From Guewenheim to Hundsruck via Rammersmatt and then the heights of Bourbach

Park in the car parks around the village church and then head towards Thann.
The hike can also start from the small car park outside the village, on the Col de Roderen road towards Thann.

(S/E) Take the road towards Thann until you reach the village exit. To do this, when you reach the main street, turn left and take the^second street on the right.

(1) Turn right towards Camping de la Doller to reach the bridge over the Doller. Follow the signs for Roderen (red triangle). After the bridge, at the end of the bend after the Christian cross, ignore the path on the right (with a barrier) and look for a path on the left of the road that leads into the forest.

(2) Take this path, marked with a red triangle. When you reach the road again, head towards the monument. Take the path downhill on the left towards Roderen. When you reach the road again, follow it for 150 metres and take the small path on the right of the barriers in the bend. When you reach the road again, cross the road bridge and take the path to the left towards Rammersmatt, still marked with a red triangle.

(3) Take the path on the left towards Rammersmatt, marked with a red cross. At the end of the climb, you will see the whole of the Cernay plain.

(4) Leave the red cross markings. Continue towards Rammersmatt, following the yellow disc markings to the Rammersmatt farm. Continue towards the village and join the main road near a crucifix.

(5) Cross and follow the signs for Col du Hundsruck via Hochburg, marked with a red rectangle with a white cross. After about 150 m, there are two options:
- go around the Hohwetschkopf to the east on the marked path;
- go around it to the west on the path on the left (option chosen on the map).
The two paths meet at the forest road junction at Spannplatz.

(6) Leave the path marked with a red and white rectangle completely to your left and follow the direction of Col du Hundsruck marked with a yellow triangle. Continue along the Oberer Kolhuttenweg rural path until you reach the Hochburg chalet.

(7) Take the path on the right towards Col du Hundsruck marked with a yellow triangle and climb up to the crossroads near the Hochburg shelter.

(8) Continue left (marked with a yellow triangle) until you reach the summit and see the flagpole with the Monument des Troupes de Choc flag, which is worth seeing on your way back, a few dozen metres to the left of the path.

(9) Descend the path to reach the Col du Hundsruck car park on the left.

(10) At the car park, take the path downhill to the left along the D14B4, towards Kohlberg, marked with a red rectangle crossed out in white. Continue until you reach the road. Cross (with caution) and continue downhill for about 500 m to rejoin the road.

(11) Cross again at a hairpin bend in the road, taking extra care. Continue along the path marked with a red and white rectangle. As you approach Bourbach, at the crossroads, keep to the right and join a street at a car park.

(12) Take the street on the left towards Kohlberg, still marked with a red rectangle crossed with white. Continue to the crossroads in the forest.

(13) Take the small path on the left towards Col du Hundsruck - Rammer(smatt), marked with a red rectangle crossed with white, and continue along a wide forest path. This path splits several times; always take the left fork, following the red and white markings, until you reach a cleared area on high ground where the Chalet du Hochburg is visible on the hill opposite.

(14) Take the forest track to the left of the tomb of the unknown soldier heading north. After a few dozen metres, you will see a forest track below. Continue to the right to join it. Then take the hairpin bend to the left downhill. After about 100 metres, at the intersection, take Chemin Kohlerberg-Haut marked with a red rectangle crossed with white. Continue along the path, which heads north again, until you reach a bend passing over the Kaltenbach stream.

(15) Go to the right, the path runs alongside the stream and then leaves the red and white rectangle markings. Continue to follow the stream to reach the D36 road at a bend.

(16) Turn right, follow the road downhill for about 200 metres, then take the path up to the left. After passing the Friends of the Forest chalet, you will reach the top of the path. At the intersection, take the path to the right, south, until you reach a crossroads on the heights of Bourbach-le-Bas.

(17) Head towards Guewenheim, marked with a red rectangle crossed out in white. After the cemetery, follow the markings to the left. When you reach the D35, turn right until you come to a large right-hand bend.

(18) Take the tarmac road on the left at the end of the bend near the forest. Look for a sign indicating the direction of Guewenheim. Follow the markings until you reach the junction of the circular route on the D34 and the path you took on the way there.

(2) Turn right into the forest and retrace your steps to return to the village and its church (S/E).

You can enjoy the Chalet du Hochburg above Rammersmatt.

The forest paths between Bourbach le Haut and Bourbach le Bas can be confusing, so download the map and instructions to make sure you're on the right track. Take a phone with enough battery power in case you need to use GPS. Otherwise, the rest of the route is always very well signposted and marked.