Circuit of the 6 lakes around Hohneck

A long hike around the third highest peak in the Vosges mountains and the highest in the Vosges department, following six lakes.
The route offers beautiful views and all types of terrain (paths, roads, trails, forest, clearings, alpine pastures, etc.).
This is a very difficult hike for experienced hikers only (length, duration and significant elevation gain).
Not to be attempted in winter; best done in late spring, summer or early autumn.

Details

1476095
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 31.02 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 12 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,506 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,504 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,362 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 495 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Steinabruck car park on the side of the road, Rue de Mittlach, between Metzeral and Mittlach.

(S/E) Go to the bridge and cross it. Turn left and follow this path westwards. Ignore the path that climbs up to the right at the first intersection. Continue along the path, following the signs for Lac Fischboedle. Cross the stream "Le Wormsabach" and continue along the path marked with a red rectangle (GR® 5). After a long climb, you will reach Lac de Fischboedle.

(1) Turn left to follow the blue cross signs heading south.
Climb up the path about a hundred metres to the right, marked with a blue cross. Be careful, as the signpost and path are difficult to see at the intersection. Then follow the path, keeping the same signposts, ignoring any intersections. This section is quite complicated, as it is a narrow path with a steep gradient. When you reach the clearing at Kerbholz, take a moment to enjoy the view.

(2) Continue along the path downhill, following the blue cross signs towards the south. Descend very slightly, then follow a contour line to reach the Lac d'Altenweiher

(3) Cross the dam and follow the path on the right, marked with a yellow signpost pointing north-west. This is a fairly difficult section on a narrow path with a steep drop. Follow this path to Small Pass du Rainkopf.

(4) Turn left and take the short climb south-west, following the blue rectangle markings, which will take you to the summit of Rainkopf.

(5) Stay on the path marked with blue rectangles heading west, signposted Col de l'Étang. Cross the D430 and D34a roads twice to reach the Col de l'Étang, where there is also a shelter.

(6) Continue downhill to the forest path at the intersection, then immediately take the path that descends to the right towards the north. You will arrive at the Tourbière de Machais.

(7) Follow the red triangle markings and walk along the peat bog towards the north-west (be careful not to get too close, as this is a marsh). Stay on this path until you reach the road. Cross the road (this is the Route des Américains or D34a) and take the path in the forest marked with red triangles that runs alongside the road.

(8) You are now on Chemin des Italiens. When you reach the crossroads, take Chemin de Blanchemer. Turn right and you will soon reach Lac de Blanchemer, following the same signs.

(9) Walk along the lake, then take the path that climbs into the forest at the public toilets, following the yellow disc signs towards the north-east. When you reach the road, follow it uphill and turn left onto the path at the clearing. Cross the ski slopes. Then take the path that descends to the right, heading north, to the Lac de la Lande dam.

(10) Cross the dam and follow the lake, then take the path marked with a blue ring heading east.

(11) Cross the Lande ski lift twice to reach the Schmargült inn.

(12) Pass above the Schmargült inn. Follow the road to the intersection with the Route des Crêtes. Turn left towards the "Le pied du Hohneck" inn.

(13) Pass in front of the inn and, a few metres further on, take the path on the right that climbs up through the mountain pastures to Hohneck, the highest point in the Vosges department. Enjoy the landscape, with a 360-degree view of the Vosges mountains. On a clear day, you can see the Alsace plain and, more rarely, the Bernese Alps and even Mont Blanc.

(14) Continue on the path marked with red rectangles (GR®5), which descends towards the Petit Hohneck, heading south-east. Go around and past the Auberge Schiessroth. Continue on the red rectangle path which descends to the Lac de Schiessrothried.

(15) Cross the dam and follow the red rectangle trail downhill towards the south-east until you reach Lake Fischboedle, which you passed on the way there.

(1) Take the red rectangle trail eastwards. At the crossroads, leave the trail you took on the way there and take the left-hand track. Go through a stone tunnel and continue along the path to the bottom of the valley. At the bottom, turn left at the intersection and follow this path to the car park (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 495 m - Parking: Rue de Mittlach
  2. 1 : km 3.54 - alt. 796 m - Lac de Fischboedle
  3. 2 : km 5.06 - alt. 1,078 m - Clearing at Kerbholz
  4. 3 : km 7.56 - alt. 921 m - left - Yellow Easel - Altenweiher
  5. 4 : km 10.17 - alt. 1,192 m - Rainkopf small pass - Blue Rectangle
  6. 5 : km 10.88 - alt. 1,304 m - Blue rectangle - Rainkopf
  7. 6 : km 12.55 - alt. 1,023 m - Abri de l’Étang
  8. 7 : km 13.02 - alt. 987 m - Red Triangle - Tourbière de Machais
  9. 8 : km 13.79 - alt. 971 m - Parking and - Chalet de Machey
  10. 9 : km 16.92 - alt. 993 m - Yellow Ring - Lac de Blanchemer
  11. 10 : km 19.75 - alt. 1,047 m - Blue Ring - Lac de la Lande
  12. 11 : km 20.76 - alt. 1,120 m - Ski lift near the - Moselotte (rivière)
  13. 12 : km 21.51 - alt. 1,207 m - Schmargült Inn
  14. 13 : km 22.69 - alt. 1,244 m - The foot of the Hohneck
  15. 14 : km 23.54 - alt. 1,361 m - Red rectangle (GR5) - Le Hohneck
  16. 15 : km 26.79 - alt. 932 m - Red rectangle - lac de schiessrothried
  17. S/E : km 31.02 - alt. 495 m - Parking: Rue de Mittlach

Notes

There are no drinking water sources, so bring plenty of water.
(Between 9 and 12) You can get supplies at the inns when they are open.
(9) There are public toilets at Lac de Blanchemer.
(1) Shelter at Lac de Fischboedle
(6) Shelter at the Col de l'Tang.
Bring a cap in case of hot weather, and a jacket, as it is often windy at high altitudes.
Also bring headlamps, as the hike takes at least 12 hours and I finished it after dark.

This route passes through multiple protected areas, which may be subject to special regulations:

 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.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 20 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
User 26681093
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Two-day hike for four people with camping
We arrived at La Bresse at night and camped at Lac de la Lande before setting off for Hohneck
For the second night, we stayed at the Tourbière de Machais
Some technical trails
We printed a map in advance to follow this hike
The filter water bottle came in handy as there were few places to refill with drinking water
There is the Hohneck for food if you wish
Superb views, with plenty of opportunities to take beautiful souvenir photos
A total of 36 km with a few detours for the views, enjoyment and to refuel

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julie_lwr
julie_lwr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Four-day hiking trip with camping: we set off in the afternoon and camped at Lake Fischboedle, where there were a few other campers but nothing crazy.
On the second day, we went to Blanchemer Lake. This day was more challenging, with beautiful landscapes and some great climbs! We camped in the unattended refuge around its fireplace. There is also a large table and a bench. Camping is prohibited at the lake, but several groups of campers were doing so without any problems, so it's up to you...
On the third day, we went to Lake Fischboedle again. We had a picnic at the top of Hohnoeck, with beautiful sunshine and a 360° view. However, it was in this area that we met the most other hikers.
On the morning of the fourth day, all we had to do was get back to the car park.
We did the hike as a couple, with my dog (a Brittany Spaniel) on a leash. It was great!

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GB39
GB39

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route
The first part, up to the Col de l'Étang, is the wildest and least frequented. The Club Vosgien signposting is very good. The rain made the route very slippery, so caution is advised.
Beautiful scenery and a rainbow as a bonus.

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Mathieu ILHE
Mathieu ILHE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Three-day trek with portage in our case. We adapted by starting from the other side, from the Bresse station below Lake Lande.
For those who are interested, we camped at the summit of Rainkopf, then at Schiessrothried Lake. Well, camped... On the second night, the rain forced us to knock on the door of the Schiessrothried Lake refuge, where we were warmly welcomed for the night. Thanks again to the wardens!

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seba75
seba75

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with stunning waterfalls, beautiful lakes, dams and, in some places, clear views to admire our beautiful mountains 😉
Some areas are quite rocky, so be very careful, especially if it rains or in autumn, as it can be slippery.
Very physically demanding for those who are not used to it or are not sufficiently trained.

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Domimam
Domimam

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, interesting and varied route. Starting from the foot of the Hohneck.

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VALW_
VALW_

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, but not without difficulty. The climb is steep on the first day! Be careful not to set off too late if you want to reach Blanchemer Lake. It's difficult to find water before reaching the refuges on the second day.
The hut with a fireplace at Blanchemer can be very useful in bad weather.
There is little wildlife, except on the Hohneck plateau where chamois can be seen.

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erisab
erisab

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, reserved for experienced hikers, it deserves its classification as very difficult. It took me 9 hours to complete.

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lucisk
lucisk

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We shortened the route from Rainkopf to make it more enjoyable, but everything is very well explained and it's very easy to adapt the route depending on the weather and how much energy you have. It was a great walk! We stayed at Schmartgult and enjoyed Hohneck in the early morning with the chamois.

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Stef1972
Stef1972

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We set off from the Schlucht pass to save half an hour's drive.

The weather was fine and warm, but the small shaded single tracks were very welcome.
We went swimming at Blanchemer and camped in the forest.
A superb route.

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Emilie Vay
Emilie Vay

Thank you! I'll check on the Bivouac side.

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daft27
daft27

Hello, I didn't think to break up this hike.
However, I don't know if camping is allowed on this side of the Vosges. I think it's a nature reserve. Good luck anyway...

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Emilie Vay
Emilie Vay

Hello,
Thanks, Daft, for this itinerary and description. I'm wondering about the best way to split this hike over three days, given that we're arriving (by train) on Friday at midday and leaving on Sunday in the middle of the afternoon. Technically, the two days would therefore be divided into D1 = half a day, D2 = full day, D3 = half a day (the "two-day" split suggested in the comments is not going to work).
Our idea is to camp but eat/refill our water bottles at an inn or refuge from Friday evening onwards.
As I don't know the area, I would be delighted to hear any suggestions/advice on possible places to stop. We are a small group of mixed abilities, so we don't want to make it too intense. I was aiming for a schedule that wouldn't put anyone off on the first day.
Many thanks in advance!

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Dauphinelle
Dauphinelle

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike:
- with very varied landscapes
- challenging because it is physically demanding and technical
- alternating between very quiet sections and busier parts
- a real change of scenery!

Thanks to the description, we planned 3 litres of water per person for the day and the bivouac. This was definitely necessary on this hot August day, and there are no refreshment points before the first inn.
We did the route in two days, camping near Blanchemer. We couldn't have done it in a single day as it was too long and too hard for us. Two days was perfect!
The clear and precise description was very helpful, thank you :-)

Please note that camping is not allowed at Blanchemer Lake (although this rule is not widely observed).
Check the camping areas by visiting the "quiet zones of the Ballon des Vosges Regional Nature Park" website.

Thank you for sharing this information.

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philippegle
philippegle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route, thank you
- athletic and technical (ideal for trail runners)
- a change of scenery and varied landscapes
- aquatic and refreshing (swimming possible, particularly at Blanchemer)
- gourmet with the inns
- nice bivouac possibilities in several places
- wild

We were pretty much alone at the start of the hike until we reached Rainkopf, after which there were more people.

A quick rant:
We saw lots of people cutting corners and damaging the terrain, which isn't great (just look at the ridges) and doesn't actually save any time in the end. Think about the people who will be hiking here in 10 or 20 years (or even longer).

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