The Wegscheid Volcano Forest

Large car park opposite the church on Rue Principale. Parking is prohibited beyond this point.
Bus stop opposite the Auberge du Touriste at the northern end of Rue Principale. Buses from Masevaux (line 652) or from Thann (line 605). In this case, the route starts at point (1).

(S/E) From the car park, cross Rue Principale to the left of the cemetery. A path marked with a Yellow Saltire climbs for a few dozen metres. At the crossroads, turn right and follow this path overlooking the village. Ignore the path coming from the left and you’ll emerge between the walls of a house and the Auberge du Touriste at a three-way junction.

(1) Cross the junction and take Rue du Pâtre to the left of the bus stop. Follow this road, marked with red and white rectangles. It continues as a path that very quickly leads to a wide track suitable for vehicles, on the left bank of the Kerbach. Follow this track uphill until you reach a hairpin bend to the right. At this bend, carry on straight ahead for a few dozen metres, towards Rossberg via Nablaswald, until you reach the access track to the Ruchberg farm.

(2) Leave the red and white markings and keep to the right to climb up the Kerbach valley along the path marked with a Red Triangle. Initially wide, it becomes a footpath after crossing the stream, then joins a forest track. Head 50 metres to the right towards the junction in a wide bend.

(3) Climb the embankment on the left, into the forest where a path marked with a Red Ring leads towards Nablaswald. You are now entering the Volcano Forest Nature Reserve.
On the mountainside, after a series of bends and streams, you’ll reach a crossroads. A few metres to the right, a clearing offers a viewpoint. Return to the crossroads.

(4) Leave the Red Ring path and take the Yellow Disc marked path towards Rossberg via Fuchsfelsen. The path winds its way uphill and passes close to the first rock formation, the Dürenfels (viewpoint a few metres to the right, unsecured).
Continue the ascent. To the right in the distance, you can see the impressive Fuchsfels Rock⁽²⁾ with its viewing platform at the summit. The slope levels out.

(5) Head down to the right to better resume the climb towards the Fuchsfels, which you’ll reach after 300 metres near a memorial stone erected by the Masevaux branch of the Club Vosgien.
Stairs carved into the rock, chains and a wooden footbridge provide safe access to the viewing platform at the summit, from where the view is magnificent.
Follow the Yellow Disc trail again to reach a crossroads.

(6) Turn right towards Sattelboden. You’ll soon reach the Rossberggesick rock with its ‘volcanic organs’⁽³⁾. Then continue south towards the lovely, well-equipped Sattelboden shelter.

(7) From the shelter, retrace your steps and immediately turn right, leaving the Yellow Disc markings for the Yellow Rectangle markings of the GR®532 towards Rossberg. Climb eastwards to a Fork in the road and turn left towards the north. The path widens and leads to the Sattelhütte farm⁽⁴⁾.

(8) rejoin the GR®532 on a steep climb to the junction with the path marked with a Red Rectangle and a White Rectangle, heading towards Rossberg. It emerges from the forest, opens out onto the Rossberg scree slope and then crosses an unmarked ridge path.

(9) Turn left, leaving the summit of the Rossberg behind you. Follow the ridge along a fence heading north. As you climb towards the summit of the Vogelstein, enjoy a panoramic view of both slopes.

(10) You will then begin the descent. The path joins the GR®5, marked with a Red Rectangle, on the right.
Enter the forest and you’ll immediately come to a crossroads. To the left, a few metres away, the highest of the Vogelstein rocks offers an impressive view of the Forest of Volcanoes from its summit (unsecured).

(11) Back at the crossroads, leave the Blue Triangle path heading towards Gsang and continue downhill on the GR®5 towards Belacker. It joins the GR®532 coming from the left. You reach the top of the Belacker scree slope.

(12) If you wish to go to the farm-inn, continue downhill along the GR®5, which then joins the Col du Belacker; otherwise, turn uphill towards the ridge on the left, marked by a long stone wall.
This path passes a memorial stone in honour of Lilly⁽⁵⁾ and reaches the crossroads at the Col du Belacker.

(13) Head down to the left and immediately turn right through a metal gate. Let the^GR®5head north and take a path marked with a Blue Triangle and a Red and White Rectangle towards Rimbach. It soon turns south-east and the descent becomes steeper. You’ll reach a junction with a forest track.

(14) Ignore the forest track marked with a Blue Triangle, which continues towards Stahlberg, and turn right onto the Red and White Rectangle-marked path, which descends steeply westwards. The path crosses a stream, follows it, then, after a footbridge, merges with a forest track. Stay on this track; cross another footbridge and you’ll arrive at a hairpin bend on the tarmac access road to the Ruchberg farm.

(15) Turn left onto it. It will soon take you to the junction of the circular route (2), where you’ll rejoin the path leading back to the village opposite the Auberge du Touriste.

(1) You can reach the car park by following the Rue Principale towards the church (S/E).

(1): Wegscheid = fork in the road. The Wegscheid Volcano Forest is a regional nature reserve covering over 100 hectares. Altitude: between 700 and 1,200 metres.

(2): Fuchsfelsen or Fuchsfels = Fox Rock. Panoramic view from the summit viewpoint.

(3): Volcanic organ pipes are rock formations caused by the contraction of lava as it cools.

(4): The Sattelhutte farm (Photo by Mr Alfred Weber, 1924). This is a former marl quarry built in the early^{18th century}. It is now the headquarters of a forestry company involved in the management of the surrounding forest, which is situated within a Natura 2000 site. It is essential to respect the site.

(5): Lilly Koscher was 15 years old in June 1940 at the start of the war. She lived at the Belacker farm. During an exchange of fire between French and German soldiers, she was killed by a stray bullet. A talented accordionist, she symbolises the injustice and absurdity of war; this memorial stands as a testament to this.

At point (7): Sattelboden shelter.

Between (9) and (10): Mulhouse Ski Club mountain hut.

Between (12) and (13): Belacker Farm Inn.