Piton du Falkenstein and Schelmeck from Grendelbruch

A lovely, easy walk with many breathtaking views of the Bruche Valley, the Donon, the Wisches quarry, the Alsace plain and the Château du Guirabden.
This is a simple circuit in terms of length and elevation, with a mix of forest paths and trails through either forest or pastureland.

Details

1448154
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.33 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 232 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 234 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 763 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 540 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park on the left on Route de Schirmeck at the entrance to Grendelbruch coming from Schwarzbach.

(S/E) Take the Route de Schirmeck towards Schwartzbach for a few dozen metres (west), then take the forest path on the left.

(1) At the three-way junction, take the path on the left marked with a blue circle, heading south-west then north-west.

(2) You will arrive at Piton du Falkenstein or Rocher du Falkenstein. Leave the blue circle markings and follow the yellow rectangle markings heading south-east towards Col de Buchberg.

(3) When you reach the Buchberg crossroads, cross the road and head south-west for a few metres, then take the path heading south-west (yellow rectangle).

(4) At the three-way junction, follow the path on the right along the road heading south-west. Follow the yellow rectangular markings.

(5) At the fork, take the red sign on the left. At the next crossroads, turn left in the middle of the pastures and then take the first path on the left heading northeast.

(6) You will arrive at the Schelmeck orientation table. Enjoy the view, then continue along the trail heading northeast.

(7) At the three-way junction, take the path on the left heading north-east and continue until you reach the Buchberg crossroads.

(3) Then take the yellow triangle-marked trail heading northeast towards Grendelbruch via the panoramic trail to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 552 m - Car park on Route de Schirmeck at the entrance to Grendelbruch
  2. 1 : km 0.58 - alt. 567 m - Three-way junction - Blue circle on the left
  3. 2 : km 1.53 - alt. 688 m - Piton du Falkenstein
  4. 3 : km 2.63 - alt. 676 m - Buchberg crossroads - parking du Col du Bruchberg
  5. 4 : km 2.7 - alt. 674 m - Three-way junction - path on the right
  6. 5 : km 3.74 - alt. 721 m - Crossroads - Turn left Red disc
  7. 6 : km 4.52 - alt. 753 m - Schelmeeck orientation table - Schelmeck
  8. 7 : km 5.19 - alt. 695 m - Three-way junction - Take the path on the left
  9. S/E : km 7.33 - alt. 552 m - Car park on Route de Schirmeck at the entrance to Grendelbruch

Notes

There are no shelters or water sources.
The hike is 50% forest and 50% pasture.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 65 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 3118569

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

a very beautiful trail

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User 24583221

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you!

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User 1154714

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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Taratata
Taratata

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

We did this hike in the middle of winter, when the valley was shrouded in fog and the higher ground was bathed in sunshine. A very pleasant, easy walk through varied landscapes: pine and deciduous forests, open meadows... And so, in the sunshine, with beautiful views.
To be corrected in the description: the spelling of Bruchberg.

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paulevy
paulevy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb walk above the clouds. You never tire of it!

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Caroline22
Caroline22

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The walk is accessible to everyone. The start is quite steep but not impossible. The plateau before the descent is nice; we were able to fly a kite and there are benches for picnics. And the view from the PIC is superb. A lovely walk for eight people with our little dog.

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Jean-Paul V
Jean-Paul V

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

At point (4), at the three-way junction, the yellow rectangular path on the right is modified and so you have to climb up and pass the Schelmeck.
Continue on the plateau to the dirt track, turn right at the red disc (5) and go down to the reservoir on the right. Continue straight on to the tarmac road, then right to reach the Col du Bruchberg and take the yellow triangle panoramic path.
When you reach the small tarmac road, turn left to join the D204 and the car park.
GOOD HIKING, because last Sunday the broom trees were covered in gold!

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Nine 68
Nine 68
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A last fine day and a Sunday explains the attendance. It's not difficult, but the last section from the pass is a bit sad.

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Natdu67
Natdu67
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello
We did this tour as a couple
It had snowed during the night so the landscape under the snow was magnificent.
I recommend crampons for the slopes as they are quite slippery.
A picnic table and bench halfway along the trail
This walk can be done with children without any problem

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breton jean-jacques
breton jean-jacques

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful circuit with magnificent viewpoints.
Sections 4 to 5 have been removed and transferred to sections 7 and 6. To keep the loop, walk along the path below the road leading to the car park at Muckenbach, then join the disc and red circle markers.

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Zane
Zane

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pretty and pleasant walk, shorter than indicated in terms of time and km, although we followed the gpx route, but that's OK, we made the most of it!

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pierette67
pierette67

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

nice easy hike with beautiful scenery

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ottrott
ottrott

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice tour I recommend.

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Maëlle67
Maëlle67

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice walk with beautiful views. Part open country, part forest

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Lenz
Lenz

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We met 3 people, including a cyclist, on this parish-specific to Brittany route, which was very pleasant with a long climb to start with, but very doable. We preferred to make a return trip over the stubble fields to enjoy the view and the autumn colours.
2 hours for this tour!

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