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Start from the car park at the Lac Noir dam.
(S/E) Take the tarmac path on the right, facing the lake, and walk past the Auberge du Lac Noir; very soon, 70 m from the start, you’ll reach a barrier.
(1) Head up the path on the right and follow the Blue Disc markings (for about 2 km) until you reach the path that climbs diagonally to the right, marked with a Yellow Cross.
(2) Follow this Yellow Cross-marked path to the Belmont Observatory viewpoint. Take care, especially with children, as this is a rocky scree slope which can be dangerous.
You’ll be treated to a panoramic view of impressive rocky peaks with the lake below (in short, a real postcard view).
(3) Walk back a few metres and continue along the Yellow Cross-marked trail to the junction with the ‘Tour du Lac Blanc’ trail, marked with a Red Ring.
Alternative route: by turning right for a round trip, you can visit the Rocher du Hans.
(4) Take the path on the left marked with a Red Ring and continue to the Source du Lac Blanc (table and benches for six people).
(5) Pass the Source du Lac Blanc and continue north, still following the Red Ring markings for about 500 m, until you find a path on the left that joins the GR®5 and the stubble fields.
(6) Change of scenery. From the stubble fields of Gazon du Faing, there is a view of the Vosges side (you can see Saint-Dié to the north-east).
Take one of the small unmarked paths climbing northwards parallel to the GR®5 marked with the Red Rectangle, then continue through a beautiful forest to the Col du Calvaire.
(7) Cross the road (with care), veering to the right and leaving the Route des Crêtes on your left. Follow the path down the GR®531 marked with a Blue Rectangle, which is to the left of the Route du Lac Blanc (going downhill) towards the Auberge du Blanrupt (restaurant with a terrace and lovely views). Pass several holiday homes and hotels on your left.
(8) From the restaurant, turn sharply right and head uphill for about a hundred metres. Pass a small DDE building on your left.
(9) Opposite, take the path marked with a Blue Ring on the left to the Lac Blanc car park and the Auberge-Bar: Le Mille Mètres.
(10) Once you reach the car park at the southern end of the lake, on the left as you face the lake from the car park, head up the Sentier Cornelius. It leads through a mass of rocks and large roots towards Lac Noir and is marked with the Yellow Rectangle sign for the GR®532. Follow it downhill until you reach the car park where you started (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Association / Club / Walk leader
