Around the Lac des Perches

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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.

Details

n°1955
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.92 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 586 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 578 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,136 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 580 m
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Photos

Haute Bers refuge
Reward
Gateway
Above Lac des Perches

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

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 581 m - Parking in Rimbach
  2. 1 : km 0.41 - alt. 606 m - Carrefour de la boucle
  3. 2 : km 1.66 - alt. 746 m - Fork, path opposite - Ferme-Auberge du Risenwald
  4. 3 : km 2.17 - alt. 858 m - Crossroads, left
  5. 4 : km 3.38 - alt. 984 m - Lac des Perches
  6. 5 : km 3.78 - alt. 1,071 m - Col des Perches
  7. 6 : km 4.66 - alt. 1,135 m - Chaume
  8. 7 : km 4.89 - alt. 1,127 m - Crossroads on the left - Chalet de Haute Bers
  9. 8 : km 5.33 - alt. 1,080 m - Junction with the GR, left
  10. 9 : km 7.45 - alt. 856 m - Refuge de la Bers (SGDF)
  11. 10 : km 8.55 - alt. 706 m - Runway, straight downhill
  12. S/E : km 9.92 - alt. 580 m - Parking in Rimbach

Notes

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)

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

4.7 / 5
Based on 45 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
FLEURY
FLEURY

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
The route is well marked. Be sure to take the path on the left before the Auberge du Riesenwald farm. The route is very varied with a beautiful climb above Lake Perches to reach the pass.
There are several magnificent viewpoints, and the path to the chalet is very pleasant, as is the return to Lac des Perches.
I highly recommend this hike.

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Kriket68
Kriket68
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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)

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AMK57520
AMK57520

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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

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Martine Déodatie
Martine Déodatie
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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.

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papy70
papy70

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

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

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tchequemat
tchequemat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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

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denis40
denis40

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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

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Croustibat
Croustibat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice snowshoe hike in December

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sandy
sandy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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.

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Phi!ippe
Phi!ippe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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.

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Céline88
Céline88

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk to do whatever the weather.

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odnar6
odnar6

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

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

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pascale rm
pascale rm

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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.

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Gg Of Seychelles
Gg Of Seychelles

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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

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manuellang
manuellang

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb hike, thank you!

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