Start from the Col du Wettstein car park (free parking).
(S/E) Leave the Col du Wettstein car park, cross the road (very busy) and follow the wide path on the right (Yellow Rectangle) up to the first junction.
(1) Turn right and take the Yellow Rectangle path marked with a white cross (it is also possible to continue straight on, following the Yellow Rectangle, but this avoids the very pretty hamlet of Les Hautes-Huttes).
(2) You’ll come to a small road; follow it to the right until you reach the hamlet of Les Hautes-Huttes.
(3) As you walk down into the hamlet, you’ll notice a rather unusual chapel-school.The chapel, where masses are still held, was flanked by a building that housed the school (now the reception room of the Club Vosgien) and, above it, the former teacher’s accommodation, which is still inhabited. Walk past the impressive Hautes-Huttes farm. You can stock up on cheese there... Continue to a crossroads.
(4) Take the small road on the left; the climb is steep!
(5) Continuing along this road, you’ll rejoin the Yellow Rectangle marked route. Head straight on and pass the Maison Oberlin.
(6) Once you reach Lac Noir, take the path that climbs to the left towards the ridges (Blue Disc) and starts next to the information panel and the open-air chapel, dedicated to the victims of the accident in January 1934 on the construction site of the penstock between Lac Blanc and Lac Noir. The climb is steep. Continue straight on at every junction until you reach the ridge.
(7) When you reach the junction on the ridges, take the path opposite (Red Triangle). After crossing a scree slope, this path descends steeply towards Lac du Forlet (stunning view). Follow it down the slope opposite.
(8) When you reach the lake, walk past the Ferme-auberge du Forlet and continue along the lake. Go round the lake and do not take the Red Triangle path which climbs to the right. Continue along the lake to the dam.
(9) Cross the dam. At the end of the dam, take the path on the right, then immediately the path on the right (Red Triangle) towards Kaltenborn. Be careful not to head back up towards the dam ; continue along the path that descends!
(10) You’ll come out onto a path; take this and continue downhill. Be careful on this part of the walk; make sure you follow the Red Triangle. Walk alongside the Soultzeren Stream for a while, crossing it occasionally. Cut across the bend in the forest road
(11) Take the path leading down on the other side of the road.
(12) Turn left onto the modified route and continue straight ahead on the ascending track.
(13) At the bend in the road, take the path on the right, continuing to follow the Red Triangle. Go round the beautiful Ebene clearing (with a lovely new farmhouse in the middle). You’ll come out onto a wide track, which climbs straight ahead (Yellow Saltire) and leave the Red Triangle. Continue along the track, take a hairpin bend to the left then keep to the right until you reach Musmiss.
(14) The Musmiss farmhouse inn is the gourmet stop. On leaving, take the small road that descends towards the Col du Wettstein, a few minutes’ walk away (S/E).