The Molkenrain via Rehbrunnel and the Ostein rock

Starting car park at the old Saint-Nicolas mine at the bottom of the Silberthal valley.

(S/E) Take the path that winds upwards (Blue Ring markings) right next to the forest track that runs along the bottom of the Silberthal valley, passing in front of the little Sainte-Thérèse Chapel. At the junction with a forest track that follows, take a sharp left-hand bend, ignore a path branching off to the right, then continue to the junction at the Col de l’Amselkopf.

(1) Follow the path that climbs immediately to the right (marked with a Yellow Cross) and continue to a junction of marked paths.

(2) Take the path on the right, heading away from the spring (marked with a Yellow Cross), to the Pastetenplatz junction near the Rehbrunnel shelter.

(3) Cross the junction at Pastetenplatz and continue to the left. Stay on the Yellow Cross-marked path, which joins the Blue Ring path, and continue straight on towards the Rehbrunnel shelter and the Wotan Oak rock.

(4) From the Rehbrunnel shelter, leave the Yellow Cross markings and follow the Blue Ring markings, which branch off to the right along the forest track and descend towards the Pyramides Camp.

(5) At Camp des Pyramides, follow the Red Rectangle markings (^GR® 5) to the Becherkopf shelter.

(6) In front of the Becherkopf shelter, change sides of the valley and follow the path to the right of the shelter (Red Rectangle and White Rectangle markings, a variant of^{the GR®5}), which appears to be a more pleasant route to Camp Turenne than the^GR®5.

(7) At Camp Turenne (junction of marked trails), turn left for a round trip towards the Rocher d’Ostein. Descend to the rock and its remarkable viewpoint.

(8) Then head back up to the previous junction.

(9) Follow the Red Rectangle markings of^{the GR®5}towards the Molkenrain Refuge.

(9) After crossing the fence, leave the^GR®5and turn immediately left to climb to the summit, following the fence.

(10) Follow the ridge line northwards until you reach a junction. Ignore the path marked with red and white rectangles and head back down towards the east, continuing to follow the ridge along the edge of the forest. About 200 m further on, turn right. Descend gently across the stubble, heading south. Follow the path towards the Ferme Auberge du Molkenrain along the top, then cross the access road.

(11) From the road, take the path on the left passing behind the building which descends (marked with red-white-red Red Rectangles) towards the Col d'Herrenfluh. Go round Hirtzenwasen to the north and then to the east. Then descend in switchbacks to the Col d'Herrenfluh.

(12) At the pass, take the path on the right as you descend, following the same markings, to the forest track which joins the D431 on the left. Continue straight on for about ten metres. Leave the forest track and take the path on the left which descends towards Steinbach (marked with red-white-red Red Rectangles). It soon reaches a forest track.

(13) Take this to the right, following the Blue Cross markings towards Steinbach. Ignore the numerous paths to the right and left and arrive in the Scheltzenburg area at the junction of several forest tracks.

(14) Let the path marked with a Blue Cross branch off to the left and go straight on to follow the Red Disc markings towards Steinbach.

(15) About 250 m further on, in a bend to the left of the marked path that goes round Scheltzenburg, take an unmarked path to the right (to the right of a leaning dead tree at the edge of the path) and head downhill to reach the car park of the old mine.

(16) Walk up the car park to the right until you reach the footbridge over the Erzenbach, then walk up the access road for 200 m to the right to the starting car park (S/E).

There are several shelters (Rehbrunnel, Becherkopf), the Amis de la Nature (AN) refuge at Molkenrain (Uffoltz section) and the Molkenrain farmhouse inn along the route;

Please note that this hike, completed in its entirety on Sunday 28 February 2021, passes through certain forest sections (mainly in the lower part at the start and on the return to the cars) where many trees have been uprooted and are obstructing the path, particularly due to the damage caused at the end of this winter. Nevertheless, the route is still passable, although it may be difficult in places.

Signs from the Club Vosgien.

Passing through historic sites (Camp des Pyramides and Camp Turenne), camps used during the First World War; they were situated near the HWK (Harmannswillerkopf) combat zones, sheltered in mid-mountain forests so as not to be visible to the enemy, and intended for supplying the front lines and the withdrawal of French soldiers.

There is a museum recounting the history of the former Saint Nicolas silver mine in the car park at the start;