Wotan Oak from the old Steinbach quarry

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Accessible walk with two magnificent viewpoints from the Rehbrunnel rock (Wotan Oak shelter) and the Hirlenstein rock.

Details

n°1505934
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.66 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 385 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 391 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 779 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 387 m
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Photos

wotan Oak
The Rehbrunnel shelter has been refurbished
Old shelter. Advantageously replaced by a beautiful new structure.
Waldkapelle

Description of the walk

Park in the Saint-Nicolas mine car park (former quarry) at the exit of the village of Steinbach.

(S/E) The hike starts on the tarmac road back towards the village of Steinbach.

(1) Before entering the village, turn right onto the wide path that leads to Ifiss, bypassing the Hirnlestein viewpoint. Continue along the path called Laubthalweg.

(2) At the crossroads, turn left towards the Ifiss oratory. From the oratory, turn right onto the path marked with a blue ring, pass a square called Supaplatzala and continue to a large crossroads.

(3) Go straight up towards the Waldkapelle (follow the red triangle) until you reach the junction with the path from Steinbach.

(4) At the crossroads, turn left towards the Waldkapelle, this time marked with a yellow triangle.

(5) From Waldkapelle, follow the path marked with a red-white-red rectangle to the right towards Pastetenplatz.

(6) After about 800 m, don't miss the small path that climbs to the right towards Pastetenplatz, still marked with the same red-white-red rectangle. Climb this path until you reach the path that climbs from Amselkopf, marked with a yellow cross.

(7) Stay on the small blue circular path until you reach Pastetenplatz.

(8) At Pastetenplatz, cross the crossroads and descend to the left towards the forest shelter and the Wotan Oak viewpoint, still following the yellow cross. After 300 metres, you will reach the shelter.

(9) Enjoy the magnificent viewpoint from the Wotan Oak rock. To return, walk 300 metres back up to the Pastetenplatz crossroads, then to the crossroads you took on the way there.

Cross the crossroads again, staying on the path marked by a yellow cross. Stay on this path until you reach Amselkopf.

(10) Be careful not to miss the fork to the left that indicates the direction of Cernay and Hirlenstein. When you reach a wide path, leave the Anneau Bleu trail on your left and continue to Amselkopf, then at the crossroads, continue straight ahead, following the yellow cross markings towards Hirlenstein and Steinbach.

(11) 50 metres before the descent to the left towards Steinbach, turn right for a round trip to the Hirnlestein rock and enjoy the view from the viewpoint on the site. The descent to Steinbach is via a small steep path to the tarmac road.

(1) Take this road to the left to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 396 m - Mine car park (former quarry). Cross the - Erzenbach (cours d'eau) - Affluent de la Thur
  2. 1 : km 0.32 - alt. 387 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 1.44 - alt. 429 m - Start of the trail
  4. 3 : km 2.04 - alt. 447 m - Crossroads - Supaplatzala
  5. 4 : km 3.35 - alt. 541 m - Intersection
  6. 5 : km 4 - alt. 576 m - Waldkapelle
  7. 6 : km 4.76 - alt. 637 m - Fork towards Pastetenplatz
  8. 7 : km 5.53 - alt. 726 m - Stay on the small Blue loop trail.
  9. 8 : km 5.97 - alt. 768 m - Pastetenplatz
  10. 9 : km 6.27 - alt. 758 m - Wotan Oak - Abri de Rehbrunnel
  11. 10 : km 8.17 - alt. 626 m - Fork
  12. 11 : km 9.87 - alt. 486 m - Steinbach access junction. Return trip to - Hirnlestein
  13. S/E : km 10.66 - alt. 396 m - Arrival at the car park.

Notes

At the Wotan Oak and (9) there is a shelter where you can stop for a snack.

Worth a visit

In good weather, climb up to the Hirlenstein Rock to enjoy the view (access is easy thanks to a staircase and safety barrier).

Please note that the viewpoint on the rock at (8) (on the rock next to the forest shelter at Chêne Wotan) is not equipped with a barrier.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Nine 68
Nine 68

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful, easy route with plenty of opportunities for picnics. Very well signposted.

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janb
janb

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very good route given the current heat. Beautiful view at the top and excellent place for a picnic.

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Gégé d'alsace
Gégé d'alsace

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike and superb oak shelter, possibility of making a fire with very good ventilation
Recommended for a pleasant stopover.

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Damien76
Damien76

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful walk, we were treated to snow and sunshine, and some stunning scenery.
Very pleasant route.

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jackybois
jackybois

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A route with no particular difficulties. Could be enhanced with a visit to the silver mines. From point 11, you can take a small path on the left that leads down to the site. See the educational panels that recount the mining era.
This is a bonus that I particularly appreciated.
Enjoy your hike!

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Baridon
Baridon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy, enjoyable hike, mostly on roads suitable for vehicles, with beautiful photo opportunities.

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Chris90
Chris90

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike through the woods, but still bright. It took us 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete the circular.

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abator
abator

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

tar(star)star(star)star:tar:

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Joel PtitMollet Bndr.
Joel PtitMollet Bndr.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful short hike, with plenty of shade along almost the entire route. Very pleasant in this hot weather.
Superb view from the Wotan Oak.
A refreshing spring 100 metres from the oak tree.

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abator
abator

Hello, it's easy for hikers but difficult for walkers because sometimes you can't see the signs for detours or changes in direction. Thank you for your advice to download the GPS app, but not everyone has one.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to give your opinion.

There is a lack of information for families and walkers, which is a shame.

You rated:

Reliability of the description: Average

Did you have any problems with the description? If so, how can we improve it? Can you make any suggestions?

AND

Reliability of the route on the map: Average

For your information, "map route" refers to assessing the accuracy of the route as it appears on the map in relation to the actual terrain.

Did the route cause any problems?
Did you follow the route with a GPS or a GPS application?
Did you deviate from the route of the hike?

If you had difficulty finding your way using the description and the IGN map (with Club Vosgien markings) at 1:25,000, I recommend downloading the Visorando GPS app.

This tool, offered free of charge by Visorando, allows you to validate waypoints and thus clear up any doubts you may have about your orientation.

See you soon!

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abator
abator

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

There is a lack of information for families and walkers, which is a shame.

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Anne-julie E.
Anne-julie E.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely sunny hike, with an impeccable description. No particular difficulties. We extended the route by doing the circular via the pyramid camp to add a little elevation and 1.5 km.

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