Discover the Hochwald fortifications from the Col du Pfaffenschlick

A pleasant walk in the Northern Vosges, mainly through deciduous woodland, offering the chance to explore the Hochwald fortifications and the Ruins of the Hermitage. If you keep quiet, you might be lucky enough to spot some roe deer!

08/07/2026: Starting point changed.

Details

n°54681790

Creation:
17 Jun 2024

Last update:
08 Jul 2026

Last review:
09 Feb 2026

Activity: Walking
Distance: 9.24 mi
Average duration: 5h 45
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 1,677 ft
Descent: - 1,663 ft
Highest point: 1,654 ft
Lowest point: 823 ft

Country: France
Area: Vosges du Nord
City: Drachenbronn-Birlenbach (67160)
Start/End: N 48.985581° / E 7.855903°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3814ET
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Description of the walk

Park inthe Chemin des Cimes car park.

(S/E) Leave the car park and head left, then immediately left again towards Rue du Moulin des 7 Fontaines. Pass a road on your left marked with a Yellow Circle and you’ll reach another junction with the D51.

(1) Take the G531 opposite, following a path marked with a Red Circle. Cross the D51 twice in quick succession, following the Blue Rectangle markings, and continue until you rejoin this road a little further on.

(2) Turn left and follow it to the Col du Pfaffenschlick.

(3) Carry on to the right, passingthe Auberge du Pfaffenschlick, following the D65 for a few metres, then take the Route des Cimes which branches off to the left. At the next left-hand bend, follow the path which branches off straight ahead, veering slightly to the right, and which joins another path further on, marked with a Yellow Disc and a Yellow Diamond.

(4) Follow it straight on until the next junction.

(5) Continue along the path on the right-hand side (marked with a Yellow Disc) and, shortly afterwards, you’ll reach the Carrefour du Stieffelsberg.

(6) Turn left, then at the next junction, carry on straight ahead (marked with a Red Disc) until you reach the junction with a wider forest track.

(7) Cross it and follow the path that climbs gently opposite (marked with a Red Disc). After several bends, rejoin the path marked with a Yellow Disc.

(8) Follow this path to the right until you reach the next junction with a wider path.

(9) Ignore the two paths on your right and head left. The path takes a sharp bend to the right and continues to climb gently (marked with a Yellow Ring). Follow it until the next junction with a path.

(10) Turn sharply left onto the Yellow Ring-marked path, which climbs gently in hairpin bends to reach the Col du Luchsenkopf.

(11) Follow the path on the right-hand side to the next junction.

(12) Continue along the path on your left (marked with a Yellow Rectangle) until you reach a car park at the edge of the forest.

(13) Pass the pumping station on your left and head back into the forest. The path continues just after this on the right-hand side (marked with a Yellow Rectangle for the GR®532) and, a little further on, leads to the Ruins of the Hermitage.

(14) Then continue straight on until the next bend.

(15) Turn left (still following the Yellow Rectangle signposting). The path climbs through the forest for a few dozen metres to the next junction.

(16) Turn right and head for the Stiefelsberg junction (marked with a Yellow Rectangle).

(17) Continue straight on and, after passing the bunkers, reach the car park at the Col du Pfaffenschlick (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 869 ft - Chemin des Cimes car park
1 : mi 0.37 - alt. 830 ft - D51
2 : mi 0.86 - alt. 1,194 ft - D51
3 : mi 1.13 - alt. 1,220 ft - Col du Pfaffenschlick
4 : mi 1.9 - alt. 1,171 ft - Crossroads
5 : mi 2.09 - alt. 1,106 ft - Crossroads – Yellow Disc
6 : mi 2.3 - alt. 984 ft - Stieffelsberg crossroads
7 : mi 3.02 - alt. 971 ft - Forest track junction – Red Disc
8 : mi 3.58 - alt. 1,437 ft - Junction – Turn right – Yellow Disc
9 : mi 3.8 - alt. 1,398 ft - Junction – turn left
10 : mi 4.39 - alt. 1,503 ft - Junction with a path on the left
11 : mi 4.78 - alt. 1,647 ft - Col du Luchsenkopf (500 m)
12 : mi 5.1 - alt. 1,506 ft - Junction – turn left
13 : mi 5.98 - alt. 1,296 ft - Car park – Forest exit. Towards the - Fontaine de Climbronn
14 : mi 6.12 - alt. 1,289 ft - Ruines de l'Ermitage (Climbach)
15 : mi 6.32 - alt. 1,322 ft - Turn – left
16 : mi 6.46 - alt. 1,434 ft - Junction – turn right
17 : mi 7.11 - alt. 1,404 ft - Stiefelsberg crossroads
S/E : mi 9.24 - alt. 869 ft - Chemin des Cimes car park

Notes

Several benches along the route + tables and benches at the Ruins of the Hermitage.

Club Vosgien trail markers

Worth a visit

See the ruins of the Hermitage and the blockhouses (be careful on the steps going up and down).

Reviews and comments

4 / 5

Based on 2 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5

Ease of following the route
4 / 5

Route interest
4 / 5

User 10473811

09 Feb 2026 at 10:51 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It would be better if the app only gave the walking time.
as the duration of the walk itself varies greatly.

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RandoAnne

09 Nov 2025 at 11:20 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The car park at the Pfaffenschlick Pass is private and reserved for guests of the inn.
An interesting route through the forest (currently muddy). We had a ray of sunshine at the Luchsenkopf pass. There is a pretty fountain near Cleebourg (drinking water).
However, the end of the route will need to be changed. The Treetop Walk has created a new walking route, and the GR (yellow rectangle) will be modified. We had to follow the Treetop Walk route back to the car.

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