From Kruth to Schafert

A beautiful hike in the rear valley of the Thur, near Lake Kruth-Wildenstein, which will take you to the heights of Kruth, with beautiful views of the upper valley and the Rossberg-Thannerhubel massif.

Details

903374
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.94 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,742 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,719 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,271 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,637 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking at the Kruth church car park.

(S/E) From the church car park, head north on Grand Rue (D13b) for about 400 m, following the blue disc or red and white rectangle signs. Ignore the adjacent streets until you reach the crossroads opposite a calvary.

(1) Turn right onto Rue de la Croix (same signs) and follow it to the junction with a dead-end street, Rue du Chêne.

(2) Leave Rue de la Croix (return route) on your right and follow the blue cross signs on Rue du Chêne on your left. At the end of the street, continue on a path that quickly leads to a road (Rue de la Croix). Cross it to find the blue cross-marked path a little higher up opposite.

(3) Climb up this path. After a few hairpin bends, it joins the Refuge Saint-Benoît, which offers a beautiful view of the valley.

(4) Go around the chalet on the left, go back up the path for 30 m, then take the path marked with a blue cross on the left, which goes through the forest and joins the Markstein road (D27). Follow it for about 100 m to reach a crossroads.
(5) Cross the D27 with caution, turn right towards the picnic tables, then follow the Wingwald path marked with a blue cross. It turns left.

(6) At the end of the bend, leave the path and climb up to the right along the path marked with a yellow disc. After a few hairpin bends and a steep climb, the path comes out onto the Schafert road.

(7) Cross the road and continue along the Disque Jaune trail, joining the Disque Bleu trail at the forest road.

(8) Cross the forest road and follow the Blue Disc trail, climbing up to the Schafert farmhouse inn.

(9) Enjoy the farm and the view. Descend via the track and return to the previous crossroads.

(8) Keep left and follow the blue disc markings south. On the descent, the trail passes close to the Grieb refuge (trail on the right).


(10) Continue straight ahead and join the Route du Markstein (D27).

(11) Cross it carefully and follow the blue disc trail opposite, still heading south, then take a wide right turn to come out at a bend in Rue du Sauwas.

(12) Go down Rue du Sauwas on the left for about 60 metres, then turn left onto the blue disc marked trail, cross the meadow, then the track, go through the chicane and down the second meadow. You will reach Rue du Sauwas again.

(13) Turn left and follow Rue du Sauwas for about 50 metres. After No. 4, you will reach the start of a path between two houses.

(14) Go down the steps, following the blue disc markings to reach Rue de la Croix. Turn left and continue for 30 m.

(15) Follow Rue de la Croix on the right until you reach the crossroads and Grand Rue, which you passed on the way there.

(2) At the Calvary, turn left and follow the same route you took on the way there to return to the car park at Kruth Church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,637 ft - Car park at Kruth church
  2. 1 : mi 0.18 - alt. 1,663 ft - Calvary
  3. 2 : mi 0.41 - alt. 1,696 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  4. 3 : mi 0.53 - alt. 1,755 ft - Blue Cross trail
  5. 4 : mi 0.88 - alt. 2,113 ft - Chalet Saint-Benoît
  6. 5 : mi 1.44 - alt. 2,149 ft - D27 - Wingwald Path
  7. 6 : mi 1.74 - alt. 2,267 ft - Turn - Yellow Disc Trail
  8. 7 : mi 2.5 - alt. 2,972 ft - Schafert Route
  9. 8 : mi 2.98 - alt. 3,136 ft - Forest road – Blue Disc Trail
  10. 9 : mi 3.13 - alt. 3,245 ft - Blue Disc Trail - Ferme-auberge Schaefert
  11. 10 : mi 4.03 - alt. 2,822 ft - Refuge du Grieb
  12. 11 : mi 4.48 - alt. 2,503 ft - D27 - Blue Disc Trail
  13. 12 : mi 5.02 - alt. 2,123 ft - Turn onto Rue du Sauwas
  14. 13 : mi 5.25 - alt. 1,903 ft - Rue du Sauwas
  15. 14 : mi 5.33 - alt. 1,831 ft - Staircase - Blue Disc Trail
  16. 15 : mi 5.45 - alt. 1,690 ft - Rue de la Croix
  17. S/E : mi 5.94 - alt. 1,637 ft - Church car park

Notes

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 1 review

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Rando-Vosges
Rando-Vosges

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
We enjoyed the hike, especially the climb. We will do it again and thank you.

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