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Coming from Kruth via the RD13b, park in the shade after the leisure park. If necessary, there is a large car park behind the hotel-restaurant (Hof on the IGN map).
(S/E) Head towards the hotel-restaurant and follow the road to the right for 200 m. This road is closed to traffic.
(1) Take the Schlossberg path on the left, which passes behind Parc Arbre Aventure. The path veers slightly to the left to reach the castle entrance tunnel. There are numerous educational signs along the path.
(2) The fairly steep descent begins with a metal staircase and ends at the road below.
Opposite, there is an observatory offering a good view of the dam, but the lake is partially hidden by trees. Return to the road.
(3) Head towards the dam and cross it. The dam is fenced off due to construction work, but pedestrian access is permitted. Turn right after the dam and continue for 150 metres.
(4) Turn left onto Chemin du Bourbach and walk for 100 m.
(5) Take the path on the right marked with a red triangle to the Abri du Tal. This beautiful, well-marked path climbs steadily, crosses a footbridge dedicated to Paul de Neff, former president of the Club Vosgien, and reaches the Abri du Tal. There is a table and benches as well as a wood-burning stove.
(6) Take the path to the right of the shelter and descend to a crossroads.
(7) Take the path on the left marked "Chemin du Hasenloch" and continue to the bridge over the Bockloc. The waterfall is located below and will be visible on the way back.
(8) Continue along the path (blue cross) to the next crossroads. (Note that you can take a path immediately to the right after the bench to shorten the route and reach the waterfall, but the descent is steep.)
(9) At the sign for "Réserve Naturelle Massif du Grand Ventron" (Grand Ventron Nature Reserve), take a path marked with a blue triangle. Cross a very narrow metal footbridge and descend to Wildenstein. Continue to Place de la Mairie.
(10) Head completely to the right, pass to the right behind the cemetery and continue on a path at the foot of a scree slope. First through fields, the path enters the forest again and runs alongside the Thur river to a football pitch. Turn left after the pitch and you will soon reach a small path that branches off to the right.
(11) Follow this path, which passes behind the pumping station, to quickly reach a dyke at the head of the lake.
(A shorter return route is possible by joining the departmental road opposite and taking the cycle path on the right that runs alongside it. This option is less pleasant, simply because of the heavy traffic on the road.)
(12) On the right-hand side, you will see the Bockloch Waterfall, which you can visit up close.
Continue along a well-maintained path along the lake until you reach a fork in the road that you already passed on the way there.
(4) Continue straight ahead and cross the dyke. Turn left and continue along the road beside the lake to reach the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Easy 
Tourist office
Difficult 
