Wihr au Val – Osenbuhr

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A very beautiful hike, long and challenging due to the elevation gain of over 1,000 m, but very rewarding for the views it offers. Lovely paths and trails through the woods.

Details

n°19639437
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.06 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 8h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,307 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,323 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,940 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 968 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area: Vosges mountains
  • ⚐ City: Wihr-au-Val (68230)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.045998° / E 7.208089°
  • Accessible from the train station Gare de Wihr-au-Val-Soultzbach.
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3718OT, 3718OTR, 3719OT, 3719OTR
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Photos

Enchanting winter scenery around Gueberschwihr!
The enchanting surroundings of Gueberschwihr
From the top of Soultzbach

Description of the walk

Car park at the junction of Rue de Soultbach (D43) and the D417.

(S/E) From the car park, head towards the entrance archway to the path leading to the station platform. Cross the railway line. Follow the road to the left for about a hundred metres, then turn right onto the Blue Disc marked path towards the foot of the hill.

(1) At the edge of the forest, head straight into the woods and turn right onto the Yellow Triangle trail towards Stumpfenkopf.

(2) Follow the Staufenweg on the left until you reach the junction with the Blue Triangle trail.

(3) Turn right towards Soultbach-les-Bains on the Blue Triangle. At the junction of the forest tracks, turn right and continue to a hairpin bend on the Chemin des Chalets.

(4) Keep left onto the Chemin des Chalets after a wide left-hand bend and continue to the next junction.

(5) Turn left onto the Red Cross path and follow the markings to the Châteaux de Haneck and then Schrankenfelds.

(6) Turn right onto the Blue Ring path (and Yellow Rectangle of theGR®532) towards the Col du Wolfsgrube.

(7) At the pass, take thesecond path on the left, towards Osenbuhr, marked with a Red Cross and Blue Ring. Once you reach the road, continue for about a hundred metres then turn right, following the markings. Return to the road and continue to the right.

(8) Look out for the return path on the left and head straight on to the hamlet to enjoy this special spot for its tranquillity, and its inn if needed.

(9) Return to the previous crossroads.

(8) Take the Red Disc trail on the right, heading towards Col de Marbach. You’ll cross a forest track.

(10) Head straight on and you’ll come out onto another track marked with the Blue Ring and Yellow Saltire. Continue to the pass.

(11) This is where you decide to tackle the summit of Stauffen by taking the Yellow Rectangle-marked trail, which winds its way up a series of hairpin bends.

(12) Magnificent views from the summit, but you have to work for them. Descend to the Abri du Stauffen, follow theGR®532for about 250 m.

(13) Leave theGR®, head down to the left on the Yellow Disc trail and reach the edge of the forest.

(14) Turn left, keep left at the bend and continue straight on, returning to the junction that completes the circular route.

(1) Turn right and retrace your steps in the opposite direction to reach the station (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,017 ft - Car park at the D43/D417 junction, near the - Source de la Fecht
  2. 1 : mi 0.45 - alt. 1,030 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 1.53 - alt. 1,768 ft - Stumpfenkopf
  4. 3 : mi 2.22 - alt. 1,476 ft - Turn right
  5. 4 : mi 2.73 - alt. 1,319 ft - Chemin des Chalets
  6. 5 : mi 3.06 - alt. 1,348 ft - Chemin Red Cross on the left
  7. 6 : mi 4.32 - alt. 2,510 ft - Crossroads, on the right
  8. 7 : mi 4.97 - alt. 2,457 ft - Wolfsgrube Pass
  9. 8 : mi 6.21 - alt. 1,837 ft - Junction: A/ straight on - R/ right
  10. 9 : mi 6.34 - alt. 1,788 ft - Osenbuhr
  11. 10 : mi 7.14 - alt. 2,139 ft - Forest track
  12. 11 : mi 8.1 - alt. 2,313 ft - Col de Marbach
  13. 12 : mi 9.09 - alt. 2,848 ft - The Staufen
  14. 13 : mi 9.84 - alt. 2,300 ft - Turn left at the fork, Yellow Disc
  15. 14 : mi 11.85 - alt. 1,007 ft - Edge of the forest, on the left
  16. S/E : mi 13.06 - alt. 1,017 ft - Car park

Notes

You can stop for a bite to eat at the Auberge du Bon Chasseur in Osenbuhr.

(11) Option to descend directly to the Abri du Stauffen (Red Circle).

Follow the Club Vosgien trail markers.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Dd67370
Dd67370

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in fine weather.

Machine-translated

bourdoiseau
bourdoiseau

It’s the narrow path that runs through (it crosses the main track three or four times). There’s a large pile of cut trees and branches at the entrance, and every so often you have to climb over tree trunks or piles of dead branches. Sometimes the foresters have cut the trunks in half but left the severed sections in place, and at other times you have to climb over piles of branches left on the ground for about 10 metres. This is the Yellow Disc trail, and I don’t think it’s easily rideable on a mountain bike.

Machine-translated

virgule
virgule
virgule
virgule
• Edited:

Right, I’d understood that it was on the descent from Stauffen. Is it the path marked with a Yellow Disc, after the mountain hut?

The cyclists who are racing downhill are between the summit of Stauffen and the Marbach Pass. Marked with a yellow rectangle.

Machine-translated

bourdoiseau
bourdoiseau

No, they were actually on a narrow path that was really impassable, even dangerous in places. I didn’t take any photos because my battery was running low, but the path is difficult to access and, over a certain distance, hard to navigate (just past the hut and for about 2 or 3 km).

Machine-translated

virgule
virgule

The descent from Stauffen is made difficult by the foresters, who have ruined the Yellow Circle route

Hello,

knowing this trail, I get the feeling that the fallen trees are there to slow down cyclists who are racing down the hill at full speed, disregarding the most basic safety rules. There is starting to be some friction between hikers, walkers and cyclists in these very busy areas. From one section of the CV to another, the level of tolerance towards cyclists varies.

Machine-translated

bourdoiseau
bourdoiseau

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A great climb, but once at the top, the descent down Stauffen is made difficult by the foresters, who have ruined the Yellow Circle route. There are lots of fallen trees and branches blocking the path. In short, the climb was as enjoyable as the descent was unpleasant.

Machine-translated

virgule
virgule
• Edited:

@Pierre

After the Stauffen shelter, I couldn’t find the path marked with a yellow circle to get back to Wihr au Val, which is signposted as 250m along the GR to the left. I was paying very close attention, though, so there seems to be a problem.

Indeed. You didn’t find the start of the Yellow Disc trail because it doesn’t begin 250m from the refuge, but just beyond it, about ten metres to the left, and it’s clearly marked. If you zoom in on the map, you can see it perfectly.

I was there today, which allowed me to check.

Machine-translated

pierre.rimele
pierre.rimele

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A lovely route, more of a challenge than a leisurely stroll, offering the chance to discover some extraordinary sights, with lovely walks through the forest featuring some fairly steep climbs. The view from the Stauffen is definitely worth the effort of the climb. After the Stauffen shelter, I couldn’t find the yellow-circled path back to Wihr au Val, which was signposted as 250m along the GR to the left; I was paying close attention, but there seems to be a problem.

Machine-translated

denis40
denis40

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

That walk was lovely – thank you for planning the route:

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