From La Wasenbourg to the Grand Wintersberg

The starting point is accessible via the D1062 and is located at the Source du Lichteneck. Parking available here.

(S/E) Cross the D1062 and join the path that branches off to the right and leads a short distance further on to the other side of the old railway line, at the corner of a street. Follow it straight ahead for about fifty metres.

(1) At the junction of Rue de la Chapelle and Chemin du Martinet, turn left towards the south onto Chemin du Martinet for about 150 m.

(2) Turn right onto the path marked with a red-white-red Red Rectangle, which turns right towards the north-north-east, then branches off, after about 150 m, towards the south. Follow it to where it joins the^GR®53, marked with a red Rectangle. Follow the GR®53 to Château de la Wasenboug.

(3) Go round the castle via its north façade and continue on the^GR®53to the Kreuztannen crossroads. This section follows the nature trail, dotted with information boards on the local flora and fauna, and offers the chance to see the cup-marked stones.

(4) At Kreuztannen, leave the^GR®53and turn right, heading east, onto the path marked with red-white-red Red Rectangles, following a forest track to the Col de l’Ungerthal.

(5) Take the road to the right; after about 100 m, before the road bends left, turn right onto the Blue Cross-marked trail, heading north. The path is fairly wide, straight and gently sloping for about 500 m, reaching a junction (shortly after elevation 419 on the IGN map).

(6) The Blue Cross-marked path, which is narrower and sometimes steep, begins with a winding descent and leads to the bottom of the hill, where it joins other marked paths. During the descent, you’ll need to pay attention as the junctions between the wide forest tracks and the narrow paths are quite inconspicuous, and it’s easy to end up on a parallel path. The descent follows a series of hairpin bends, without straying too far from the main route at the top of the ridge.

(7) At the bottom, turn right towards the east, still following the Blue Cross markings, along a flat section that runs alongside the D1062 and the Falkensteinbach stream to the hamlet of Breitenwasen. At this point, the path turns into a road.

(8) At Breitenwasen, leave the Blue Cross markings, take the road to the left, marked with a Red Cross, cross a footbridge and then, taking care, cross the D1062 slightly to the right to rejoin the Red Cross path. It heads off to the right and, after about 200 m and a hairpin bend to the right, turns due west, running alongside the road until it emerges from the communal forest at the junction with a small road.

(9) Take the road to the right, pass the^first junction and, a few dozen metres further on, at the^second junction, follow the path marked with a Red Cross to the right. After a winding climb, the slope levels out; the path crosses several tracks and trails and reaches the large panoramic tower at Grand Wintersberg.

(10) From the Grand Wintersberg, descend northwards along the Red Rectangle-marked trail (^GR®53). Caution! The descent is technical with numerous obstacles on the ground (roots, stones). After a series of hairpin bends, you’ll reach the large junction at the Col de la Liese.

(11) At the Col de la Liese junction (Club Vosgien chalet), take the Red Triangle-marked trail eastwards for a few dozen metres, then quickly continue north-eastwards downhill on the Blue Cross-marked trail. The trail generally follows the valley floor before joining the forest road that climbs up to the Grand Wintersberg.

(12) At this point, continue straight on, passing a little further on the Vosges sandstone pumping station on the left, until you reach the junction of Rue des Acacias, which descends to the right (sign for the school complex and gymnasium), and Route de la Lisière, which climbs to the left (sign for the swimming pool and campsite).

(13) At the signposts and the Stop sign, on the right-hand side of the road, take the path marked with a Red Rectangle (sign on the tree on the right) which descends north-westwards to the Source du Lichteneck car park (S/E).

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Names and meanings of Club Vosgien trail markers.