From Salm to the Tête du Coquin

To get to the start, from the roundabout near the church in Rothau, turn left opposite the school onto Rue des Quelles. Leave the village, go up the valley, continue on the Route Forestière des Quelle and arrive at a multiple crossroads. Turn right onto the Route Forestière de Slam, pass the Maison Forestière de Slam and reach the small car park on the right, a few metres further on, indicated by the start of the Sentier de découverte (information sign).

(S) Join the road towards Château de Slam and follow it to the left until you reach the forest house. Turn right, then immediately left to follow it. Begin a fairly steep climb to reach the ruins of Château de Salm, which is a good warm-up.

(1) Continue to the Route Forestière des Seigneurs, cross it and take the path opposite. Go around Tête Pelée to the east and then continue straight ahead to reach the magnificent viewpoint of La Chatte Pendue.

(2) Begin a gentle descent that leads to a forest road, cross it and take the path opposite, which eventually rejoins it at a three-way junction.

(3) Take the right-hand fork. Further on, leave the forest road and follow a path on the left that leads to a crossroads. Turn left again and follow the path. You will arrive at the Monument des Passeurs (there are a few benches here where you can stop for lunch).

(4) Once you have passed the monument, take a path on the left, following the blue triangle and yellow rectangle markings, pass quickly through a thatched landscape and arrive at a crossroads.

(5) Leave the marked forest tracks and take a path that descends to the right, following a stream, to begin the descent to Moussey along a magnificent path alongside a stream, dotted with artistic installations (take advantage of the stream to refill your water bottles). You will reach a fork in the tracks.

(6) After this refreshing descent, climb back up the Route Forestière de la Côte des Chênes, a fairly long and monotonous climb, until you reach a three-way junction.

(7) Leave the forest track and turn left onto the path marked Croix Rouge - Chevalet Bleu - Losange Bleu.

(8) At the Sonia waterfall (where you can refill your water bottles), continue on the same trail until you reach a rest area and car park.

(9) Continue on the Losange Bleu trail, which descends to the left.The trails from the car park are more like roads made by forestry vehicles in April 2024: GPS may be necessary as the markings have disappeared. Follow the ridge and arrive at the crossroads at the bottom of Chemin André Cart.

(10) Turn right, cross the bridge over the Rabodeau, then turn left onto Rue René Laederich. Pass three fountains (marked as unanalysed water). You can refill your water bottles here, but don't carry too much as the climb up to Calvaire du Coquin is coming up. Continue to No. 59.

(11) Just before, turn right onto the path marked Triangle Bleu - Losange Bleu, indicated by a sign. At the three-way junction, turn right and, via a very steep and fairly long climb (a big effort at the end of the day), reach a forest road.

(12) Cross it and continue to follow the path that climbs opposite and joins another forest road.

(13) Follow this road to the left for about 100 metres until you rejoin the Blue Triangle - Blue Diamond - Red Disc trail, and follow it uphill to the right. At the track, continue for a few metres to the right and rejoin the trail on the left a few metres further on.

(14) Continue on the path opposite and you will soon reach the last forest road marked Red Disc - Yellow Ring, after passing the Calvaire du Coquin. Turn left to reach the car park.

(15) At the Tête du Coquin car park, you can leave your bags to refill your water bottles at one of the three fountains, but do they flow all year round?
Follow the path marked with a green rectangle crossed out in white and climb the last few hundred metres to reach the bivouac destination (E).

Water sources are indicated in the description. As the hike was done in May, there is no guarantee that they will all be running throughout the summer. You will need a water filter.

Between (5) and (6) in the stream.
At (8) at the Sonia waterfall.
Between (10) and (11), in one of the three fountains in the village.
(15) The Fontaine aux Bœufs is located a little further down the path. It is next to a small stone table on the right-hand side of the path. If it is no longer running, the Coquin and Riangoutte fountains are not far away.

There is space for a maximum of 4/5 tents at the top of the Tête du Coquin. If there is no more space at the top, it is always possible to camp at the pass near the car park (15).