Gaschney via the Col de Sattel from Munster

This hike covers both sides of the ridge separating the Stosswhir valley and the Metzeral valley, offering views of the ridges, the Col de la Schlucht and the Trois Fours on the way there, and the Petit Ballon massif and the Schnepfenried on the way back.
Numerous ruins from the First World War dot both sides of this ridge, which was the dividing line between French and German troops. Eight thousand five hundred men died on these slopes.

Details

26969493
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.76 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 578 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 569 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 991 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 420 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the reservoir car park at the end of Rue du Moenschberg. You can also park anywhere along Rue du Moenschberg if the reservoir car park is full (choice of route).

(S/E) Continue straight ahead to the reservoir car park.

(1) Continue along the wide path in front of you, marked with a yellow ring, and keep to the right at the crossroads.

(2) Take the smaller path on your left, marked with a red rectangle crossed out in white, before rejoining a wider forest path.

(3) Continue right on this path, which you will follow for a long time, skirting the northern slope of Moenschberg and then Reichsackerkopf before arriving at Col du Sattel.

(4) Turn right onto the uphill path marked with a red rectangle crossed with white and quickly bear left to pass behind the "Joie de Vivre" centre. Ignore two paths on the right and another on the left to reach a three-way junction shortly afterwards.

(5) Temporarily leave the red rectangle with a white stripe markings and take the smaller path uphill to the left, which will take you past the Wida Nord farm before rejoining the path you left earlier and the markings.

(6) Continue on the left to pass in front of the Germania Cemetery, which dates back to the First World War. Shortly afterwards, the path makes a sharp right turn. Follow it, keep left at the three-way junction that follows and continue to Gaschney.

(7) Cross the car park to reach the D310, which you will follow to the left for a few hundred metres before leaving it on the left for a wide forest path marked with a blue disc, which you will follow to the Col du Sattel, passing above the Altmatt.

(8) At the fork, continue left and follow the blue disc markings to pass in front of the Wida Sud farm.

(9) Go straight ahead, keep to the right at the three-way junction that follows and join the Col du Sattel.

(4) Do not take the same route back, but continue to follow the blue disc markings, taking the path on the right. Following this path will take you to the southern slope of the Reichsackerkof and Moenschberg, which you passed on the north side on the way there. Ignore a path on the right and then another on the left and continue for a good hundred metres.

(10) Don't miss the path (still marked with blue discs) leading off to the right, which will take you down to the path marked with blue discs and blue rings. Follow this pretty forest path, but don't be surprised by the lack of a view, as the name probably dates from before the trees grew back. Return to the reservoir car park.

(1) Take the small path on the left at the car park (Blue Disc and Blue Ring) which will take you through the forest to the bottom of Rue du Moenschberg and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 420 m - Rue du Moenschberg
  2. 1 : km 0.6 - alt. 505 m - Reservoir car park, junction of the circular
  3. 2 : km 1.26 - alt. 543 m - Path on the left
  4. 3 : km 1.78 - alt. 616 m - Junction with forest path, on the right
  5. 4 : km 4.17 - alt. 738 m - Col du Sattel (738m)
  6. 5 : km 5.48 - alt. 833 m - Three-way junction, left
  7. 6 : km 6.66 - alt. 906 m - Markings resume on the left.
  8. 7 : km 8.1 - alt. 987 m - Arrival at Gaschney
  9. 8 : km 9.64 - alt. 920 m - Fork in the road, left
  10. 9 : km 10.9 - alt. 798 m - At the crossroads, go straight ahead.
  11. 10 : km 13.88 - alt. 583 m - Fork in the path towards the panoramic trail
  12. S/E : km 15.76 - alt. 422 m - Rue du Moenschberg

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
ChristopherParlati
ChristopherParlati

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

great circuit, no problems

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Cabru
Cabru

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy hike through the forest on wide paths, suitable for large groups and/or children. The route features remnants from the First World War and a few information panels. However, you need to pay close attention to the route (which can be difficult when chatting with friends!) to avoid missing certain turnings.
The distance and elevation gain are no problem, and at the Gaschney station you can either have a picnic, stop at a farmhouse inn, or have a drink at the little café next to the car park, where you can use the tables, chairs or deckchairs. You'll receive a very warm welcome!

The only problem we encountered was accessing the car park at the start; our satnav took us on a bit of a detour around Munster.

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Nathalie et Francis
Nathalie et Francis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike without any particular difficulty. Done in good weather, you can enjoy the forest passages. Return via the southern slope with beautiful scenery.
Short gourmet break at the gaschney.
Not to be missed.

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crenlarvor
crenlarvor

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route is very pleasant, very green, with magnificent views and historical interest (World War I), allowing us to discover both sides of the mountain. The climb is fairly gentle; you don't really notice the 700-metre elevation gain.
I highly recommend it.

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VINCE 68
VINCE 68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Good reliability for hiking

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cathy86
cathy86

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

A hike to enjoy walking in nature.
I agree with AudScha's review dated 21 May 2023 regarding the lack of interest apart from the historical ruins.

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freddy tech
freddy tech

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello.
Hikes from Chemin du Bretel in Munster to Gaschney via Col de Satel, then on to Honeck the first time, and Gaschney then the Sentier des Roches trail to Col de la Schluchtt the second time.
Very well signposted and marked. Not very busy this year due to the weather (rain) but very busy three years ago in good weather, especially the rock trail, which is a must-do hike.

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AudScha
AudScha

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Hike completed under cloudy skies. The ascent and descent are fairly gentle, so you don't notice the kilometres passing by. The signposts are reliable, and we had no trouble finding our way. However, apart from the ruins from the First World War, we found the landscapes along the way rather uninteresting.

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mlecarpe
mlecarpe

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We went on this hike on a beautiful sunny day and extended it because it was a little too short for our liking: from Lake Schiessrothried, we went to Gaschney and then returned to Lake Schiessrothried via the Schiessroth farmhouse inn, which added 1 hour and 50 minutes to the route. However, we got lost at point 6 and continued along the small road, as the signs are not at all clear! We ended up at the Braunkopf inn, where we found a nice path down to Metzeral.
A lovely walk!

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alsaco2
alsaco2

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike undertaken by Les Branquignols (a renowned epicurean club) on pleasant, well-marked and well-maintained trails with lovely views. There are slight discrepancies between the map and the Vosges club's signage after point 10, but the two versions converge later on, with a lovely bench as a bonus. The colours are magnificent at this time of year!
When leaving by car, don't forget to drive through Munster to Gunsbach and stop at the Maison des Fromages cheese shop.
Thanks to the author.

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