The Riedweiher Pond via Galfingue

The starting point is at the rear of the Galfingue community hall, at 24 Rue du 25 Novembre 1944, where there is a car park.

(S/E) Walk to the main road from the car park and turn right. Walk past the Town Hall and School. At the junction with the D18, cross carefully and continue straight on towards Spechbach-Le-Haut. Immediately afterwards, take Rue Des Prés on the right, at the “Café Aux Deux Clefs”. Ignore Rue De Thann on your right. At a Y-junction by house number 9, turn left. At the next Y-junction, continue diagonally to the right, leaving Rue Des Prés on your left.

(1) When the tarmac gives way to dirt and stony paths, turn left. At the end of this path, at a T-junction, cross the small Muehleweihergraben stream and turn left. Continue to the main road. At the end of the path, leave the entrance to the village of Galfingue on your left and turn right, past a tennis court.

(2) Just past the court and before a bridge, cross carefully and turn left onto a dirt track that continues alongside the stream. When you reach the high-voltage power lines, the track turns sharply left. There is a bench at the corner. Continue to a T-junction. Turn left to face the Grand Ballon d’Alsace.

(3) Just over 100 m further on, turn right onto a path that leads into the forest. Ignore the two paths that turn left (one at the edge of the forest, the other just inside). About 200 m further on, the path curves slightly to the left. Ignore the path that turns right at this point. Then, 100 m further on, turn left onto an unmarked path. At plot number 6, the path splits into two in a Y-shape. Take the left-hand path. The path is narrow and may be obstructed by dead wood.

(4) At the X-junction at plot number 8, continue straight ahead. The path is now wider and climbs. At the top, ignore a path turning right between plots 4 and 5. Head straight down, skirting plot number 7 on the right. At a large crossroads at the top, continue straight ahead, following the Red Triangle and Green Ring markings. At the next junction, continue straight on, skirting the pond on the left and plot number 6 on the right. Pass a sign for SPL Mulhouse. At the end of the pond, ignore the path that continues straight ahead and turn right to continue skirting the pond for about 150 m.

(5) Leave the Red Triangle and Green Ring markings heading towards Morschwiller-Le-Bas on your left and continue straight ahead along the pond. Pass an SPL shelter and 5 km/h speed limit signs. After a ‘No Entry’ road sign, a speed bump and a barrier, leave the pond and continue straight ahead. At the next junction, at plot number 17, turn left. At a crossroads, at plot number 16, ignore the two paths branching off to the left and continue straight ahead. When you reach plot number 15, ignore the first path turning right and, at the T-junction, turn left (the path on the right leads out of the forest).

(6) (See: During the hike or nearby, for points of interest in the surrounding area).
Ignore a path that turns right between plots 14 and 15, as well as another path a few dozen metres further on. At a slight bend to the right, ignore a path that turns left and another to the right with a barrier. Just before the path starts to climb, turn left onto an unmarked path. Stay on the main path for about 400 m.

(7) Turn right and take a path that is wider than the others and marked by small red posts (or topped with red paint) heading west/north-west. After a small hill, you will reach an X-junction; ignore the Red Triangle and Green Ring markings and continue straight ahead, leaving the forest. Cross the Grentzingergraben stream and turn right to walk along the left-hand side of the forest for about 50 m.

(8) Then head up to the left towards the Vosges. Continue along this path, which curves gently to the left, to reach the village of Galfingue. Ignore a path that turns left just at the entrance to the village and walk past the “Ferme de la Chapelle”. Back on the tarmac road, continue straight ahead along Rue Saint-Blaise, ignoring the roads and paths branching off to the right and left. At the end of the street, walk past the Notre-Dame de la Paix Chapel and turn left at the junction with the main road. Use the raised pedestrian crossing to change sides of the road. Just past the community hall, turn right to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

At point (5), by the pond, there is a shelter (belonging to the fishing club) and a bench.

At point (6), the two paths turning to the right are of interest:
- The first is a nature trail where you can discover a variety of trees.
- The second leads to a bunker forming part of the Siegfried Line (the German counterpart to the French Maginot Line during the Second World War). To find it, walk for about 200 m and, just before the path turns left, head slightly into the woods on your left.