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Departure from Col de la Liese (Club Vosgien chalet). The pass is accessible via a narrow forest road that can be taken from the D1062, either near the Celtic mineral water factory in Niederbronn or at the Riesthal forest house, after Philippsbourg when coming from Bitche.
Blue Ring trail markers
(S/E) Head west and take a flat path between two small tarmac roads, the one that climbs directly to the summit (on the left) and the one that descends towards Riesthal and Bitche (on the right). Stay on this good path, which follows the contour line, through beech and fir forests, ignoring a few side paths. At a fork (plot no. 59), take the path on the left.
Red Cross markings
On the first part of the following section, the purple route on the 1:25,000 map is inaccurate. The route follows my GPS track and is consistent with the OSM base map.
(1) At the crossroads that appears shortly afterwards (bench), take the path on the left that leads to the Grand Wintersberge viewpoint. Climb up a few switchbacks in the fir forest. Continue on a less steep or completely flat path along the wooded ridge. Further on, the path gives way to a wider track that leads to the summit with its prominent tower.
Red rectangle markings
(2) With your back to the tower entrance, go straight ahead (i.e. to the right of the path you came up) and leave the antennas on your left. Descend the numerous switchbacks (handrails, wooden steps) to reach a wide perpendicular path.
(3) Cross the path and continue straight ahead towards the Celtic camp. Descend the steep slope.
Red-white-red rectangle markings
(4) At a crossroads at the bottom of the descent, go straight ahead towards the Celtic camp. Cross a beautiful beech forest dotted with small rocks and descend slightly. At a fork not shown on the IGN map, continue straight ahead and climb a hillock on which you can see the remains of a low wall. Cross this wall and cross a small chaotic area of small rocks and felled trees that have not yet been cleared (situation in February 2021). You will reach a sign indicating the Celtic Camp and a viewpoint.
(5) Retrace your steps and descend the hill. Continue north towards Wintersberg and climb gently through the beech forest.
Red rectangle markings
(4) At the crossroads, go straight ahead. After a few dozen metres, at a fork, take the right-hand path and climb a short steep hill.
Blue ring markings
(3) At the crossroads you took on the way up, follow the horizontal path to the right towards Col de la Liese. Stay on this wide path, ignoring a few steep tracks on the left and several paths on the right. This will take you to Col de la Liese (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Difficult 
Very difficult 
