Le Petit Hohneck via the Stolz-Ablass Waterfalls

From the big bend on Route de la Schlucht near the cemetery in Stosswihr, take Rue d'Ampfersbach then Chemin de Saegmatt, at the bottom of the Petite Fecht valley, to the Saegmatt car park.

Please note: dogs are not allowed on part of the route (see Practical Information).

Yellow disc markings

(S/E) At the end of the car park, take the wide path that leads west towards the Stolz-Ablass waterfalls. Leave the path that climbs to the right. At the bend, just before a stone bridge, continue straight ahead on the forest path. 200 metres further on, pass in front of the Abri des Cascades.

(1) Leave the wide forest path and take the trail that leads into the forest a few metres from the shelter. It winds its way up alongside the waterfalls.
At the junction with a forest track, cross the bridges on the left and then continue climbing on the right. Cross a footbridge (table and benches below) to reach a trail junction a few dozen metres further on.

(2) Leave the "Sentier des Mulets" marked with a blue sign (our route on the way back) and continue on the left towards the Sentier des Roches. A short climb leads to a bend in a wide carriage road. After 200 metres, this leads to the Stolz Ablass car park. From there, continue straight on for another 200 metres.

(3) Leave the forest road and take the path on the right towards Trois Fours, marked with a blue triangle. It quickly meets a wider path, which you should take on the left until the first hairpin bend (see variant 1).

Blue Triangle markings

(4) Leave the yellow disc markings and turn right, where the climb is steeper. At the next hairpin bend, leave Frankenthal on your left and continue for 250 metres on the path opposite, towards Trois Fours Crêtes. Keep an eye out for the blue triangle markings on the trees.

(5) A path (don't miss it) climbs to the left. A steep, winding ascent to the ridge begins. A few minutes later, you will cross the famous "Sentier des Roches" (^GR®531marked with a blue rectangle). Continue the climb towards Trois Fours and^GR®5. As you approach the fences of the Trois Fours pastures, the slope levels out, the trail heads west, passes some remnants of the Great War and, via a short aerial passage, reaches the Trois Fours hilltop.

Not marked

(6) Enjoy the remarkable view of the Frankenthal cirque and glacial valley dominated by the Martinswand rocks.
Leave the Blue Triangle trail by climbing northwards up the heath. Join the path to the left at the edge of a beautiful beech forest. On the right in the distance, you will see the Trois Fours inn and refuge. Continue straight ahead until you reach the access road to the refuge.

Red Rectangle markings (^GR®5and its variant)

(7) Turn left onto the^GR®5towards Hohneck. This area is usually very busy. After a short stretch through the forest, the ridge trail passes above the Martinswand rocks and reaches the Col de Falimont. Beautiful view of the Vosges and Alsace slopes.

(8) Turn east onto the variant, marked with red-white-red rectangles, towards the Col de Schaefferthal on the edge of the cliff. Please note that this section is closed in winter conditions. (see variant 2).

Not marked

(9) At the pass, a crossroads of trails with remarkable views, leave the^GR®5, which branches off to the right, and head towards the foot of Petit Hohneck and the start of an unmarked path. It is marked with regularly spaced stakes towards the summit, where the arrival point of the chairlifts is clearly visible.
The climb is fairly steep but short, and is rewarded at the summit with an exceptional 360° view on a clear day.

(10) At the summit, there are two options:
- descend on the eastern slope towards Gaschney (see variant 3), but the slope along the chairlift is very steep,
- retrace your steps (marked on the map).

Red Triangle markings

(9) Turn right onto the Red Triangle trail towards Schallern. When you see the "Le Schallern" inn, descend to the left towards Rothried and Bloysfels. A short descent to the farm leads to the Blue Triangle trail (see variant 3).

Blue Triangle Markings

(11) A few steps from the farm, head in the opposite direction, towards the north. Further on, the path turns south, crosses the^GR®531(Blue Rectangle) and leads to the beautiful Gaschneyried bog. (Tables and benches 50 metres away).

Stolz Ablass Path

(12) At the crossroads, turn left towards Silberwald via Chemin du Stolz Ablass. It is marked with a red cross for 1.5 km.

(13) Leave the Red Cross markings, which turn right towards Grossmatt. Continue straight ahead. Enter the Frankentahl-Missheimle nature reserve and further on, you will find the Yellow Disc markings and the wide carriageway that leads to the Stolz Ablass car park.
Shortly after a stone bridge, in the left-hand bend, you will find the path that descends to the waterfalls.

Mule Trail

(2) Leave the yellow disc trail and the waterfalls on your right and take this picturesque trail, about 1 km long, to reach a clearing at the crossroads with a wide path marked with a yellow cross.

Yellow Cross markings

(14) Take the right turn onto the path that leads gently downhill to the Saegmatt car park (S/E).

From 1 November to 30 April, the section between (8) and (9), which stretches from Col de Falimont to Col de Schaeferthal, is closed in accordance with a prefectural decree dated 18 May 2022.

Alternatives:

Alternative 1: (4) Continue on the yellow-marked trail towards the beautiful Frankenthal valley (very busy) to reach (8) via the Falimont corridor (yellow disc) or (9) via Schaeferthal (red triangle).

Variant 2: (8) Continue along the red rectangle trail to reach (9) via the summit of Hohneck and its orientation table.

Variant 3: (10) From the summit, continue down the steep descent towards Gaschney, or (11) from the "Le Schallern" inn, continue along the Red Triangle towards Gaschney and its farmhouse inn. From there, take the Red Cross marked trail west of the car park to the peat bog at point (12).

Please note: in the Frankenthal-Missheimle reserve, dogs are allowed on the^GR®5, provided they are kept on a leash. On all other routes, dogs are not allowed in order to ensure the tranquillity of the wildlife. See the 1995 decree.

Shelters, refuges and hostels:

Auberge des Trois Fours.
Refuge des Trois Fours of the Alpine Club.
Auberge du Schallern.
Gaschney Farm Inn.
Gaschney Refuge of the Hohneck Ski Club.
Stolz AblassWaterfall Shelter.
Frankenthal Farm Inn.

Club Vosgien trail markers: CV signs.

Climbing the Martinswand rocks.
Introduction to rock climbing on the Petit Hohneck rocks.
What's the weather like at the top of Hohneck?

The Gaschney station is no longer profitable and was closed in 2018. It will probably not reopen.