Renchtalsteig 3rd stage: Bad Peterstal - Alexanderschanze

The starting point of this demanding day stage is the "Kurhaus Brücke", located about 600 m from Bad Peterstal train station and accessible via the local access path marked by a blue lozenge. From here, you begin your hike, following the Renchtalsteig trail marker, a blue-green lozenge with a red border and the letters "rs", to the "Kurhaus parking lot" and further to the "Sports field ascent". The path now climbs steeply to the sports field and then continues comfortably on a natural trail above the Freiersbachtal to the "Frentzeck". Along this section, you can enjoy beautiful views of the valley before turning into the Holchental and hiking to the "Erlengrund". From there, proceed about 500 m along the valley road to the idyllic "Holchen Waterfall", where the water of the Holchenbach falls about 8 m over two cascades. On the next stretch, you first hike gently uphill past the "Palmspring" to the "Palmspringeck", after which it becomes relatively steep uphill to the "Langenberger Ries". The beautiful view from here is the reward for the strenuous climb. Continuing gently uphill, you walk to the "See-Ebene street" and then to the "See-Ebene", where you meet the "Westweg", a long-distance trail from Pforzheim to Basel (link). After another 400 m, you reach the viewpoint "Seeblick", where you can take a short break at the nearby seating area and enjoy the enchanting view of the Glaswaldsee and, in good weather, as far as the Swabian Alb.
Refreshed, you continue past the "Lettstädter Höhe stone 77", where in earlier times boundary stone No. 77 marked the border between the Diocese of Strasbourg and the territory of the Prince of Fürstenberg. Here, at the second highest point of the hike (966 m above sea level), the Renchtalsteig separates from the Westweg, and you now descend about 200 meters passing the "Lettstädter Höhe" and "Wildwies" towards the "Bärenfelsen". Then you reach the viewpoint "Marienruhe" before descending the grassy path to the Rappenschliff", a gigantic, nearly 100 m steep gully with sandstone rock faces. Then you continue past the "Waterfall" where the water from the Rappenschliff falls down, and then climb up a narrow path to the site "By the Sexau hut", from where you reach the "Sexau hut" by forest road. At the well there, you can refresh yourself during a short break before continuing uphill beside the hut on the forest road to the "Devil’s Pulpit path". Here you turn sharply right and hike to the entrance of the Devil’s Pulpit, ascending steeply on an idyllic path and partly alpine steps to the "Devil’s Pulpit site". Now you comfortably continue left along the timber extraction road and shortly after turn right uphill to the "Schnepfenmoos", where you meet the Westweg again. On natural and easy-to-walk paths, you reach the "Hilda hut" and shortly thereafter the "Graseck", where you turn left and immediately right again to head towards the "Heuplatz". Along this section, below the Bauernkopf, you come to a viewpoint and paraglider launch site offering unforgettable views into the rear Renchtal and far into the Rhine valley. Passing the "Heuplatz", you comfortably and purposefully hike to the "New High Path" site directly on the B28, where you enter the forest and reach the Wolfursprung. The last section of this hike goes left and shortly after you reach the "Alexanderschanze", the destination and highest point (968 m above sea level) of this impressive stage of the Renchtalsteig.