Schlumpf trail, Fennematt, Lochberg from Niederbruck

For the start and finish, you can park at the Niederbruck community hall and Saint-Wendelin Chapel. There is also a car park further along, on Rue Joseph Vogt.

(S/E) Take the tarmac road leading up towards the forest, following the Blue Disc markings towards Lachtelweiher / Lochberg. Follow these Blue Disc markings until you reach the lake.

(1) When the tarmac road turns into a dirt track a few metres further on, take the path leading uphill to the right into the forest.

(2) When you reach a forest track, at the fork, take the path leading uphill to the right. Continue until you emerge from the forest.

(3) At the fork, ignore the path on the left (which will be the return route) and arrive at a small clearing with the Villa Puce shelter (Kuhlbrunnenwald) visible on the right. Continue straight ahead along the descending forest track to reach the Lachtelweiher. Join the tarmac road below the lake.

(4) Follow the road round the lake to the right. At the fork, continue along the road ascending to the left.

(5) At the end of this road, continue along the path opposite, climbing into the forest towards Lochberg (marked with a Blue Rectangle), to reach the Lochberg Farm Inn.

(6) At the farmhouse inn, continue along the road branching off to the right towards the Chalet de Kirchberg (marked with a Blue Ring). At the fork, take the path leading uphill to the left. Before reaching the edge of the forest, leave the path via the gate on the left, near two large trees also on the left. Climb up the stony path leading into the pasture. At the end of this path, head towards the summit to join the Schlumpf trail.

(7) At the summit, turn left towards the Graber Breitenstein shelter, following the Blue Rectangle with a white bar. Follow the path running between the cross and below the ski lift cabin to skirt the ridge. At the end of the ridge is a large rock. Descend into the clearing towards the shelter, which can be seen below.

(8) At the shelter, turn back and enter a small pine forest, following the path on the right towards Fennematt (marked with a Blue Rectangle). Follow these markings until you return to Lachtelweiher. When you reach the road, continue straight on uphill towards the Fennematt Farm.

(9) Walk past the farm and continue along the road towards the summit. At the summit, continue down the path to reach the Lochberg Farm Inn once again.

(6) On arrival, take the same path as on the way out but in the opposite direction, descending towards the clearing and then through the forest towards Lachtelweiher. At this point, follow the tarmac road until you reach the house below the lake. Take the path leading uphill to the right towards Niederbruck (Blue Disc signposting).

(3) Shortly after passing the Villa Puce shelter, as you descend into the forest, turn right onto the path towards Niederbruck via the L'Entzenbach Farm Inn, marked with a Red Disc.

(10) Continue down through the forest. When you reach the top of the farm visible below on the right, at the fork in the path, continue along the path opposite to descend to the road.

(1) On the road, head downhill, continuing to follow the Red Disc markings until you reach the entrance to the village and the starting point (S/E).

You can enjoy local dishes at the Ferme-Auberge de la Fennematt.
Worth seeing: the Graber Breitenstein shelter, equipped with indoor and outdoor tables and benches, a barbecue and a wood-burning stove.
Not far from the Schlumpf trail, you will also find the Sommerseite Shelter, which is not on the route.

Names and meanings of the Club Vosgien signposts.

The view from the cross at the top of the Schlumpf trail and the section running along the ridge to reach the Graber Breitenstein shelter.