The Col Amic valley

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This moderately difficult walk is relatively short. It is suitable for most walkers who, provided they have a minimum level of fitness, should find this route a pleasant half-day walk. Several heritage sites (crosses, a chapel, castle ruins, etc.) can be explored along the way.

Details

n°44182788
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.25 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,499 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,483 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,982 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,542 ft
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Description of the walk

Park at the Zimmermann Cross (472 m, Kaltenbach Club Vosgien Soultz rest area).

(S/E) Follow the road to the right for a few metres, then turn left onto the Red Triangle-marked path and walk over the waterfalls. Keep to the right when you reach the track, then turn left to emerge at the 602m mark onto the road leading to Col Amic.

(1) From this bend, head up to the left along the path marked with a Red Triangle. Ignore a path on the right and take the next path on the right.

(2) Continue straight on at the Fork in the road to reach a second fork at the Kohlschlag farmhouse inn (770 m).

(3) Turn left, then continue straight on to Col Amic (828 m), marked with a Red Triangle, to join theGR®®5Red Rectangle long-distance hiking trail.

(4) Turn left onto the path marked with a Yellow Ring to then reach the road. Follow it to the right onto the path marked with a Red Rectangle. Take the first path on the left to reach the Col du Freundstein (858 m). You can visit the ruins of Freundstein Castle or stop for a bite to eat at the farmhouse inn of the same name (follow the Red Rectangle with a white cross and retrace your steps). Continue to the next pass.

(5) Then head down to the left along the forest track marked with a Green Triangle. Immediately ignore a track on the left and two others on the right. Continue along the track to the next Fork in the road.

(6) Then head up to the left to the Sicurani Chapel (720 m, Club Vosgien Soultz shelter) via a path marked with a Yellow Disc, keeping to the right.

(7) From the chapel, continue along the path, then take a fairly steep path marked with a Yellow Disc on the right. Cross a track and continue past the Baratin shelter. Join a track.

(8) First turn right then left to come out onto a forest track marked with Yellow Discs, Green Triangles and Blue Triangles leading to the Zimmermann Cross (Kaltenbach rest area, Club Vosgien Soultz). Follow this track to the left as far as the cross (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,542 ft - Kaltenbach rest area, Club Vosgien Soultz - La Croix Zimmermann
  2. 1 : mi 0.63 - alt. 1,975 ft - Cote 602 road leading to Col Amic
  3. 2 : mi 1.05 - alt. 2,175 ft - Fork
  4. 3 : mi 1.47 - alt. 2,536 ft - Kohlschag Farm Inn
  5. 4 : mi 1.68 - alt. 2,717 ft - Col Amic
  6. 5 : mi 2.38 - alt. 2,818 ft - Pass at the foot of the - Freundstein
  7. 6 : mi 3.7 - alt. 2,280 ft - Junction
  8. 7 : mi 4.05 - alt. 2,362 ft - Chapelle Sicurani
  9. 8 : mi 4.87 - alt. 1,791 ft - Crossing tracks
  10. S/E : mi 5.25 - alt. 1,542 ft - Kaltenbach rest area, Club Vosgien Soultz - La Croix Zimmermann

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Guebwiller Tourisme
Guebwiller Tourisme

Thank you for your feedback
The team at the Guebwiller Region Tourist Office.

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Nine 68
Nine 68

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

After two weeks of hiking in Scotland, what a joy it was to be back in our own mountains... A good warm-up to start with. After the chapel, the paths require careful attention, with gravel making the ground slippery. We stuck to the yellow circle markings and rejoined the main route before point 8. Good walking boots and hiking poles are essential. For our 76-year-old legs, we’d rate it as rather difficult.

Machine-translated

carolema2
carolema2

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike done yesterday, fog in town, blue sky once up there . The small access road to the Zimmermann Cross car park is closed to vehicles in winter... A bit of a problem; on foot, it adds 2.5 km to get to the car park.
The route is varied and the arrival at Kohlschlag/Col Amic is a real treat for the eyes. After the Sicurani chapel, the yellow disc signage changed direction and pointed towards the Kaltenbach waterfalls. However, we followed the original route; the descent is steep but quite doable.

Machine-translated

User 13751718

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very easy hike, with the option of lunch at two farmhouse inns
Of interest: the castle ruins and La Chapelle. Pleasant on a sunny day.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.