Around the Lac des Perches

This walk takes you to the Lac des Perches ; a lake that nestles at the bottom of a very steep-sided cirque. Then the path leads you on to a stubble field where there is a very beautiful view over the valley of the Doller and even of the Alps when the sky is clear.

Technical sheet

n°1955

Creation:
5 Dec 2011

Last update:
23 Sep 2024

Last review:
28 Oct 2024

Activity: Walking
Distance: 9.92 km
Average duration: 4h 30
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 586 m
Vertical drop: - 578 m
Highest point: 1,136 m
Lowest point: 580 m

Country: France
Areas: Vosges mountains, Vallée de la Doller / Masevaux
District: Rimbach-près-Masevaux (68290)
Start/End: N 47.827885° / E 6.951506°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3619OT, 3619OTR, 3620ET
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk bulletins

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Photos

Description of the walk

(S) Park in Rimbach-près-Masevaux, ideally in the centre of the village, there being, in fact no parking at the start of the path.Then follow the blue triangles, as far as the Lac des Perches. At first this is a foresters path, as far as the farmhouse B and B at Riesenwald
(1), then a path until you reach the Lac des Perches.

(2) On arrival at the lake go to the right towards the Col des Perches (3) The path rises quite steeply in hairpin bends. At the col, take the path on the left and follow the red triangles. You will then pass onto scree which overhangs the lake, then rejoin a stubble field. From this field, when the sky is clear one can see the Swiss Alps.

Cross the field (4) then rejoin the GR531 (blue rectangles) which goes back to the lake by another route. From the lake , just before the dam, go to the right and follow the red triangles to continue the descent. The path passes beside the farm of Basse Bers. Continue to descend towards Rimbach by following the pierced yellow circles.

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 581 m - Parking in Rimbach
1 : km 0.41 - alt. 606 m - Carrefour de la boucle
2 : km 1.66 - alt. 746 m - Fork, path opposite - Ferme-Auberge du Risenwald
3 : km 2.17 - alt. 858 m - Crossroads, left
4 : km 3.38 - alt. 984 m - Lac des Perches
5 : km 3.78 - alt. 1,071 m - Col des Perches
6 : km 4.66 - alt. 1,135 m - Chaume
7 : km 4.89 - alt. 1,127 m - Crossroads on the left - Chalet de Haute Bers
8 : km 5.33 - alt. 1,080 m - Junction with the GR, left
9 : km 7.45 - alt. 856 m - Refuge de la Bers (SGDF)
10 : km 8.55 - alt. 706 m - Runway, straight downhill
S/E : km 9.92 - alt. 580 m - Parking in Rimbach

Practical information

As for many walks in the Vosges bring good shoes, water and some food.
At the top of the circuit, in the fields, you can shelter in a small chalet.
Be careful in winter, landslides above the Lac des Perches can be very dangerous in the case of snow or ice. It is better to rope up together.
Possiblity of a drink and something to eat at the farmhouse B and B of the Riesenwald(1)

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5

Based on 44 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5

Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5

Route interest
4.8 / 5

Kriket68

Oct 28, 2024 at 05:33 EDT • Last modified: Oct 28, 2024 at 05:56 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Lovely views and a lovely walk.
Quite a tough climb up to the Col des Perches.
And some technical sections from the point (8)

Automatically translated

AMK57520

Aug 26, 2024 at 13:40 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Great route with some technical sections
I recommend this walk
Ps: small friendly pose with the refuge of the club vosgien with the lake of Neuweiher

Automatically translated

Martine Déodatie

Aug 20, 2024 at 04:31 EDT • Last modified: Aug 20, 2024 at 04:31 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

We set off from Rouge Gazon, towards point 6, as it was more convenient for us, but because of this, we first go downhill, then uphill. And it starts with a scree slope that's a bit unstable, due to 1 screefall, a tricky passage for those who don't have mountain feet. The passage to the Auberge du Gazon Vert is a very pleasant break, with a beautiful view.

Automatically translated

papy70

Aug 05, 2024 at 12:01 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Quite a physical hike, especially between points 8 and 4.

Automatically translated

tchequemat

Jul 08, 2024 at 06:19 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice route, sublime scenery, but there are some very challenging sections.

Automatically translated

denis40

May 13, 2024 at 05:32 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

It was a pleasant walk that I'll be happy to do again...

Automatically translated

Croustibat

Dec 13, 2023 at 17:31 EST

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice snowshoe hike in December

Automatically translated

sandy

Aug 21, 2023 at 03:23 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

This is the second time I've done it, and it's still just as much fun.
Very pleasant in summer because of the coolness of the forest, waterfalls and streams and, as a bonus, the lake ... happiness!!!
3 magnificent viewpoints and the refuge 😍(unfortunately always overcrowded).
To be done in the right direction, the descent is less steep.

Automatically translated

Phi!ippe

Aug 15, 2023 at 06:40 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very pleasant loop walk,
even reduced to a 1-2-3-4-9-10-1 version to take account of our state of fitness.

The only difficulty on this reduced loop is the steepness of the slope between 1 and 4, particularly between 2 and 3.
Fortunately, most of the route is covered by trees.

Between 1 and 2: take care not to miss the start of the path that climbs to the right of the forest track, especially as continuing in the wrong direction to the left soon brings you to a cross, which you can connect with the stele marker. The absence of markings clearly indicates that you have strayed off the path, which is well signposted.

Automatically translated

Céline88

Jan 02, 2023 at 14:39 EST

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk to do whatever the weather.

Automatically translated

odnar6

Jun 20, 2022 at 05:14 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk in the shade, the Lac des Perches is magnificent and the route is very well signposted.

Automatically translated

pascale rm

Dec 28, 2020 at 05:27 EST

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice hike; as already mentioned towards the Haute Bers the figure to follow is a white and blue rectangle. Snow and a lot of wind on the stubble of the Haute Bers, fortunately the chalet sheltered us for lunch. It's a shame we can't make a fire there any more, but it was already very good as it was.

Automatically translated

Gg Of Seychelles

Aug 10, 2020 at 05:22 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very pleasant circuit in the undergrowth. The only downside was that it was too busy at weekends.
Thank you

Automatically translated

manuellang

Mar 16, 2020 at 06:53 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb hike, thank you!

Automatically translated

usafil

Feb 17, 2020 at 03:33 EST

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

In the thatch of the high bers, we didn't see the 'blue rectangles', which are in fact a 'blue-white-blue' rectangle... This led us to make a small diversions, continuing on the GR5 for 300m. In the end, we almost did a 14km hike. It seems that the distance indicated for the hike is at least 2km shorter than the actual distance. When there is snow on the ground, the walk can be difficult in some steep places above Lac des Perches.

Automatically translated