Start at the Étang des Dames in the hamlet of Le Rudlin (part of the commune of Plainfaing).
From the D23, head towards Le Louschbach. The Étang des Dames is immediately along the road. Park nearby.
(S/E) Take the road on the left uphill towards Chalet de Luschpach, following the yellow signposts. After 10 minutes, you will come to a wide bend that crosses a stream at Pont de la Marguerite, where there is a picnic area. At this bend, ignore the forest road to La Louvière, which continues straight ahead.
(1) Leave the road and take the forest path on the left,
just before the Sentier du Ruhlock, which you must not take as it is marked "sentier fermé" (closed path) and is no longer maintained.
(2) After 15 minutes, look for the Ruhlock trail again. Continue slightly to the left (leaving the forest road), following the blue triangle + blue signpost. Cross a path, continue straight ahead uphill and you will come to a paved road. Cross it and take a path on the left.
(3) Cross the bridge over the Ruhlock stream and immediately take the path on the right, marked with a blue triangle.
After a stony section, the trail turns right. Cross a forest path and continue straight ahead on the trail.
You will arrive at the Reichberg forest road.
(4) Turn left for a few dozen metres towards Reichberg - Lac Blanc, following the blue triangle markings, then take the path on the right.
(5) You will come to a wide path, which descends towards the Col de Louschbach. Ignore the descent and take the path on the right uphill. You will arrive at Chaume du Reichsberg.
(6) Turn left towards Lac Blanc - Gazon du Faing, following the blue triangle signs. Cross the Route des Crêtes RD148 at the border between the Haut-Rhin and Vosges departments.
You will arrive at a wooden barrier with a sign indicating the Tanet-Gazon du Faing Nature Reserve.
(7) Turn left and then right to take the panoramic lake trail, marked with a red circle. Continue along this trail on the ledge above Lac Blanc until you reach a table where you can enjoy a final view of the lake.
(8) After the table, retrace your steps to rejoin the trail towards Hautes Chaumes, marked with a red rectangle.
On the stubble, turn left. Further on, ignore a junction between red-white-red rectangular markings and green circle markings, and continue straight ahead towards Le Rudlin. You will arrive at a place called Gazon du Faing.
(9) Continue to the right, following the red rectangle + green circle markings. Take a short detour to enjoy your first view of Lac des Truites. Further on, the Rocher du Taubenklangfelsen offers a bird's eye view of the lake. Continue to the orientation table.
(10) Take the path on the right downhill towards Le Rudlin, marked with a green circle, and continue to the Gazon du Faing farmhouse inn. After the farmhouse inn, take the road to the right for a few dozen metres, then take the path slightly to the left across the meadows, marked with a red signpost.
Walk close to the road, in a damp area with small wooden pontoons. Begin a long descent along winding paths, following the red signposts, until you reach a chalet and a forest path.
(11) Turn right and follow the forest track on the left to join a new path.
(12) Take it on the left and descend, following the yellow signposts. Begin a slight climb to reach the small Rudlin waterfall.
(13) Retrace your steps and continue downhill on the red signposted trail, which leads back to the Étang des Dames and the car park (S/E).