The Sudel from Masevaux

Date of your route : Nov 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

I was expecting to see a view of Sudel, but that's not the case.
Either the trees have grown, or there's been a mistake.
But it was a pleasant walk nonetheless!

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Date of your route : Mar 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk in the forest on a beautiful sunny afternoon in March.
We descended towards Rougemont le Château, below Montori, and returned via a forest path that was less pleasant than the one we took on the way up, but which offered some beautiful views of Alsace.
I can confirm the accuracy of the distance and elevation.

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Hello,

Are you sure you did this hike? The elevation gains are sometimes wrong, the distances almost never, but that's not the case with this hike (starting at about 470m, highest point at 914m, almost no descents or climbs in between, I'll let you do the math).

However, yes, it is a forest trail.

Arnaud

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Date of your route : Aug 29, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing

The description states that the hike is 7.13 km long. However, it is actually exactly 9.10 km long. It also states that there is "just a little elevation gain". In fact, there is 683 m of elevation gain, and that's just in the first 5 km!
All that for no view, as it all takes place in the forest.
Quite disappointing.

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Date of your route : Sep 02, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk, and if I hadn't been caught in the storm and hail, I would probably have found it too short.

Starting from the water tower (max. 3 cars in the car park, so it can quickly become difficult to park if it's busy), although Sudel is signposted on your left, go straight on following the "promenade équestre" sign. The path on the left is where you'll return.

The climb is really good: it's never so hard that you have to stop to recover, just steep enough for a good cardio workout. There are no fallen trees to worry about, and you can often see the valley through gaps in the trees. The forest is beautiful, pure bliss.

There are indeed no views at Sudel. If you're not superstitious*, I suggest you turn around and follow the sign for "Montori" so you don't have to retrace your steps.
This will take you to the ruins of Montori Castle, where you will have a view of the valley below. It only adds about a kilometre to the walk, with the slight downside that the paths down from Montori are a little less charming than those we climbed up.
Note that there is only one sign pointing to Montori, so just keep going straight along this little-used path, which is covered with vegetation in places.

I can provide my GPS track for anyone who wants it.

• There is a legend in Masevaux that says the lords of the castle used to come down from the mountain in a carriage drawn by headless white horses, and woe betide anyone who crossed their path... I didn't see anyone.

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Date of your route : Oct 02, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

A little difficult at first, we turned left onto the path, where a sign indicated "route pédestre" (walking route) marked with a blue circle. This follows the author's route.
The climb is just how I like it, the paths are easy to walk on, but... what a disappointment when we reached the summit! Even following the advice to go a little further along the path, even going as far as the Plainot and Rougemont junction, there was no chance of seeing anything because the view was completely blocked by trees (deciduous trees and fir trees 25 metres high!).
No views during the climb, and nothing at the top either, which is frustrating.
A short stop on the way down to the Grambaeckle refuge or LA, where there is a very nice view.
A little further down, huge fir trees cut across the path, quite difficult to get past.
Return right in front of the car.

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Date of your route : Apr 10, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Hello,
Regarding Monday's run, the climb went well except that the directional signs disappeared at the walking route. For the descent, there was no way to find the markings after the orchard. We followed the path marked by a cross and ended up lower than the starting point. We had to climb back up, crossing a horse park and a marshy area. We were very happy to arrive after a total of four hours.
Have a good evening.

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Date of your route : Mar 15, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

difficult access due to very (too) many conifers lying across the path

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Hello,

as this is one of my hikes, I have added details on how to find the starting point in the 'Practical information' section.

And as Gérard mentioned, there is a tool that can be used to calculate directions to the starting point from anywhere.

Arnaud

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Hello,
To be sure of the starting point, go to "Practical Information" and click on "Click here to find out how to get to the start of the hike". Your itinerary will be set and the starting point will be correct.
The GPS coordinates are now listed on the route information sheet. (Of course, this is for those who have a GPS or a smartphone with this function).

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Date of your route : Apr 23, 2014
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

As is often the case, the starting point is too vague, both in the description and on the map.
The markings are old and unclear.
The entire route is through woodland.
Beautiful views.

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Date of your route : Dec 16, 2013
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk, but it's a shame to come back down the same way. Make the most of being "up high" to take a detour to the old castle of Rougemont: the view of the Swiss Alps is magnificent.

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