The heights of Blotzheim via the snail hills

Parking on Rue des Acacias (next to the Institut Médico Éducatif) in Bartenheim.
Please note that the hills are a maze of paths with virtually no signposting. If you do not have the app (or a GPS) to follow the route, pay close attention to the description and the map.

(S/E) Walk down Rue des Acacias towards the crossroads, turn right onto the pavement alongside the IME, go around the roundabout, stay on the right-hand pavement until you leave Bartenheim, continue for about 30 metres between the field and the ditch that runs alongside the road, until you reach the start of a path.
Note the Notre-Dame des Champs Chapel on the other side of the road. See practical information.

(1) Turn right towards the forest and follow the wooded Wurmbach valley. After several hundred metres, the path opens onto a clearing and a field. Leave the wide path and turn left to cross the valley at the edge, then climb back up into the forest to meet the Grand Schneckenberg ridge path.

(2) Take it to the right, ignoring the multiple logging paths on the left and right. The forest is divided into plots numbered in red on the trees. After about 300m, at plots 7 on the left and 14 on the right, you will come to a crossroads.

(3) There are two options:
1) Option chosen on the map: between plots 7 and 8 (opposite plot 14), turn left downhill towards a crossroads with a wide path; this is the option chosen on the map.
2) If you miss the crossroads: continue straight ahead to point (13) and descend to the left, see practical information.

(4) Cross the path and the Lutterbach stream. After the stream, leave the Petit Schneckenberg path (the return path) on your right. Continue straight ahead, exit the forest between a field and a row of trees, then turn left at the first path. It climbs to the top of the Buckenrain hill.

(5) Enjoy the view of the Black Forest. At the crossroads, near two fruit trees, head south. The view is unobstructed. Pass between a large cherry tree and a vineyard, then descend into a sunken path. A path climbs the embankment on the left for a round trip that offers a view of the airport and also a rudimentary shelter in case of rain.
Return to the sunken path. It reaches a tarmac crossroads; continue straight ahead to join a cross path.

(6) Head right towards the west, ignore a path on the left, then, at the next bend, turn left and immediately right. The ball visible on the left contains an air traffic radar, and further on is the city of Basel. At the next crossroads, go down to the left and reach a wide path near the Thurbach stream.

(7) There are two options:
1) Short version: turn right, heading north-west along the path marked with a red disc. It joins the long route after crossing the Lutterbach stream and reaches the point (11). This version is 10.2 km long with a 153 m elevation gain.
2) Long version shown on the map: turn left, heading south-east. Follow this path, marked with a red disc, which descends between two tree-covered embankments. At the edge of the forest, it arrives near the^first houses of Blotzheim and reaches a crossroads with a Club Vosgien sign.

(8) Keep to the far right on the red disc path towards Michelbach/Bas. Ignore the path on the left (calvary route) and continue westwards across fields dotted with copses, enjoying beautiful views of the Jura mountains. On the outskirts of Michelbach-le-Bas, you will come to a tarmac crossroads.

(9) Leave the red disc markings, turn right, pass a row of containers and then a crucifix, and head north. The path passes a^first valley and then the Thurbach valley. At the entrance to the forest, go straight up and reach a crossroads after a crucifix, the highest point of the Roggenberg. Continue straight ahead and exit the forest onto a remarkable landscaped area.
Enjoy this spot with its ponds, pontoon, benches and picnic table.

(10) Resume the path by turning right at the edge of the forest. Turn left along the field and stay at the edge. At the northern end of the field, turn right to find a wider path that joins the Red Disc marked path (and the short version). Follow it to the left, then continue along the edge, turn right and continue to the start of a path just after a left-hand bend.

(11) Leave the marked trail for this beautiful path that leads into the forest. This is the Petit Schneckenberg ridge trail. Continue straight ahead, ignoring the paths branching off to the right and left. Just after a path branching off to the left, descend slightly to the right and arrive at the fork with another path ascending from the right.

(12) Turn left. The path descends towards the Lutterbach stream, joins a path coming from the left and eventually rejoins the path taken on the way out. Turn left at the next crossroads.

(4) Turn left, leaving the path you took on the way up. After about 200 metres, climb up a wide bend to the right. Ignore a path branching off to the right towards a hunting shelter and arrive at the end of the Grand Schneckenberg ridge path coming from the right.

(13) Continue to the left as you approach a clearing. Continue straight ahead, then follow the edge of a field on your left until you reach a crossroads marked by a sign (Eiffelewag), just before the end of the field.

(14) Take the path on the right that leads into the forest. After a left-hand bend and crossing a stream, leave the path on the right and start the fairly steep climb up the Brestenberg. As you leave the forest, on the ridge, there is a beautiful view of the Vosges peaks dominated by the Grand Ballon.

(15) Turn right and note the summit of the Blauen in the Black Forest in the distance. After a short stretch through the forest, begin the descent towards a crossroads, cross it and continue slightly downhill to the right until you reach the end of Rue des Acacias (S/E).

(3) If you miss the path down from the ridge of the Grand Schneckenberg (between plots 7 and 8), continue straight on to the point (13) and then turn left. You will then come to the crossroads (4) and turn right. The route will be extended by 500 m, with no change in elevation.

(1) If you want to see the Notre-Dame des Champs chapel near point (1), cross the road with caution as traffic is heavy during rush hour.

During the wet season, the paths are often muddy or even rutted due to agricultural and forestry activity.

To avoid having to turn back, check the hunting dates.

The numerous streams, ditches and wet meadows provide an ideal habitat for many amphibians, while the Schneckenberg forest, with its abundance of stumps and dead wood, is home to six species of woodpecker. You are sure to hear them drumming on the tree trunks (especially in late winter and spring). The open landscape is also a popular stopover for migratory birds, and it is not uncommon to encounter deer or wild boar here.

The few vineyards you will see are the remains of wine-growing activity dating back to Roman times.