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Car park near the hamlet of Dauvillers, close to the junction of the D430 with the access road to Lac du Ballon and the Ferme du Gustiberg.
(S/E) From the entrance to the access road to Lac du Ballon, cross the small bridge and turn right onto the path that climbs along the right bank of the Lauch (Blue Triangle markings). You are now in the Guebwiller State Nature Reserve.
(1) Cross the track to rejoin the Blue Triangle path, which winds its way up towards the large waterfall. See Practical Information.
(2) Enjoy the view of the waterfall from the small bridge, then take the stone steps, still following the Blue Triangle markings. The slope becomes steeper but then levels off as you approach the Lac de la Lauch dam. Head towards the disused buildings of the Auberge du Lac. Go round them on the left, then use the tarmac access ramp to reach a small car park by the D430.
(3) Cross the D430 to find the Yellow Rectangle-marked path (GR®®532). After 800m of a fairly steep climb through the forest, you’ll emerge onto the Oberlauchen plateau. Continue straight up the hill until you reach the Red Triangle-marked track.
(4) Leave the Yellow Rectangle trail by turning right until you reach a three-way junction 300m further on, then take the "Welschweg", which climbs gently to the left.
(5) After 700m, turn sharply left and head straight up the “Chemin du Grand Tetras” for 700m, ignoring any other paths to the right or left.
(6) At the crossroads, three paths are available: the one directly in front of you is a dead end; take the path climbing to its right. This will quickly lead you to the "Chemin des Américains" (a variant ofthe GR®®532Yellow Rectangle) and then leftwards to the Col d'Oberlauchen.
(7) After a panoramic stop (to the south, the Oberlauchen ridge, the Grand Ballon..., to the north, the Sondernach valley), leave theGR®®532to climb gently towards "Eibelwasen" along the path, running alongside the precipice, marked with a Red Disc.
(8) At the crossroads, leave the Red Disc path; keep the Blue Cross path, which descends towards Sondernach, on your right. 50 metres further on, turn right towards the Platzerwasen Pass via Lauchenkopf on the Blue Disc path. Climb the hill at the edge of the forest to the summit (alt. 1,314 m: beautiful 360° view).
Descend northwards through a beautiful beech forest. Continue to the summit scree of the Nonselkopf (beautiful view of the Hohneck peaks and their neighbours).
(9) Take a path on the left to descend due west towards the D27. Before reaching the road, turn left towards the south to follow a path running parallel to the road for 300m. After passing a few clumps of trees, you’ll come to a fence at the edge of the forest. Go through the fence and, 10m further on, head down to the right towards the road.
Cross the D27 and, 50m further on, join the track leading to the Salzbach farm. Follow it for 600m, then, before a sharp right-hand bend, take the path on your left leading into the forest.
(10) At the crossroads, 100 metres before the forest (and 50 metres before the source of the Fecht), take the unmarked path that climbs to the left towards the D27. Cross the road at the sign for “Carrefour du Lauchenkopf” and head towardsthe GR®532via the Blue Saltire. Pass a small car park on your right and you will reach an ONF sign marking the entrance to the Guebwiller State Forest.
(11) Behind and to the right of this sign, an unmarked path leads downwards. On the descent, you will find the source of the Lauch on your left, pass a beautiful peat bog, then come to another stream coming from the right. Leave the path on your left and continue for 300m to the next junction.
(12) On the left, on a steep descent, take the forest track leading to the Red Triangle marked path, then turn left.
(4) Turn right and follow the path you took on the way out.
(3) Cross the D430. Head towards the information boards at the far end of the car park on the left. For a gentle return, take the wide “Fernand Hanssen path” marked with a Blue Cross. This is the old Markstein road.
(13) In the wide hairpin bend to the right, ignore the small path marked with a Blue Cross (longer route) ahead of you and continue downhill towards the waterfalls and the Blue Triangle to reach the large waterfall.
(2) Turn left and head back along the path you took on the way out.
(1) Turn left onto the bridge and the track for a quick return along the left bank of the Lauch towards the car park (S/E).
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Tourist office
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