Circuit of the Perches, Grand and Petit Neuweiher lakes

This short hike offers breathtaking views of the Col des Perches and the lake of the same name, Sternsee. A bench and a small table above the scree overlooking the lake are ideal for a snack break while admiring the landscape.
At the Grand Neuweiher lake, stop at the refuge inn to quench your thirst before heading back to Rimbach.
Moderator's note: the Blue Disc trail between (6) and Ermensbach is closed to the public and should not be used as an alternative to the Yellow Horse trail (Steinweg).

Details

76557
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.75 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 628 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 627 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,137 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 557 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Start from the free car park opposite the church in Rimbach near Masevaux.
Take the path opposite the car park behind the cemetery.

(1) After about 150 metres, at the intersection, take the small path on the right which leads to Rue du Belacker. Continue along this street, then Rue du Sternsee until you reach an intersection. At this point, the route has been changed. Turn left and follow the blue triangle signs towards Lac des Perches via Riesenwald.

(2) At Lac des Perches, take the path on the right marked with a blue rectangle to Col des Perches.

(3) At Col des Perches, take the path on the left towards Neuweiher, marked with redGR®5signs via Obere Bers.

(4) At Haute Bers, take the small path on the left towards the spring, marked "Blue, White, Blue".
After the spring, either continue straight ahead across the meadow or go to the chalet for a short break, then take the path opposite the chalet marked "Blue, White, Blue Rectangle" to the forest entrance.
The markings change. Continue straight ahead along the path via Joppelberg, following the blueGR®531rectangle markings. See Practical Information.

(5) When you reach the lake, stop for a break at the Auberge-Refuge du Neuweiher before heading back towards Ermensbach (blue disc).

(6) At the intersection, follow the "Chevalet Jaune" signs along the stone path towards Ermensbach. You will arrive at Rue de la Mine, then Rue d'Ermensbach at the chapel.

(7) At the Ermensbach chapel, turn left, then 50 metres further on, turn right towards Rimbach, following the "Croix Jaune" signs to the cemetery of the Rimbach church. Opposite is the car park where the route starts (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 559 m - Free parking opposite the church in Rimbach.
  2. 1 : km 0.09 - alt. 578 m - Fork in the road, turn right.
  3. 2 : km 4.08 - alt. 980 m - Lac des Perches
  4. 3 : km 4.49 - alt. 1,070 m - Col des Perches
  5. 4 : km 5.57 - alt. 1,128 m - Turn left before the > - Chalet de Haute Bers
  6. 5 : km 7.64 - alt. 827 m - Lac du Grand Neuweiher
  7. 6 : km 8.33 - alt. 779 m - Fork in the road, turn right.
  8. 7 : km 10.28 - alt. 559 m - Turn left at the chapel.
  9. S/E : km 11.75 - alt. 558 m - Free parking opposite the church in Rimbach.

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

4.8 / 5
Based on 77 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Lolo_Flo_90
Lolo_Flo_90
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The walk was exactly as described. Beautiful scenery.
A good picnic spot after passing Lac des Perches with a panoramic view of the lake, or a little further on at Grande Chaumes with a large grassy area.
A bit tiring due to the stony paths

Machine-translated

User 18892707

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A demanding route, starting with a 1,000-metre climb.
Beautiful panoramic views. Passes around Lac des Perches and Lacs de Neuweiher. Refreshments available at the Lac de Neuweiher inn.

Machine-translated

User 25941137

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A wonderful tour with my 78-year-old mum, who walks every day but doesn't hike.

Machine-translated

Clemss
Clemss

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Top application, very accurate route description and tracking, easy to use. Nice route with beautiful views of the Lac des Perches.

Machine-translated

Ninne
Ninne

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk, interesting viewpoints The markings are sometimes difficult to see.

Machine-translated

Alsacenath
Alsacenath

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb walk in autumn colours and beautiful sunshine, the lakes were magnificent!
There were plenty of places to picnic or eat at the Neuweiher inn, which we recommend. It took us 3 hours to get there from the start.

Machine-translated

sandrine.martin
sandrine.martin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

beautiful route, tough climb but magnificent view, in autumn this lake and its reflections is truly majestic.

Machine-translated

Catherine Catouche
Catherine Catouche
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did this walk on a Sunday in very hot weather.
The first half of the hike is difficult because of the steep gradient.
Fortunately, there are some great rewards in the form of magnificent scenery.
On the descent to Lake Neuweilher, we were treated to a concert all the way from the auberge!
We had a picnic by the lake and came back down, happy to have reached the car.

Machine-translated

Positiver68
Positiver68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike that I do once or twice a year.
2 magnificent lakes; the Haut Bers hut is a marvel with a lovely picnic table and blueberries all around.

Machine-translated

JOSETTE25
JOSETTE25

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb parking at the start. Super rondo with three superb lakes. Quite a steep climb to the Col des Perches. Then a stony path to the other two lakes, but without difficulty. This hike is often in the forest, so is very enjoyable in very hot weather.

Machine-translated

tutublod
tutublod

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The climb up to the Lac des Perches is very interesting, with beautiful paths and scenery.
When we reached the lake, we took the GR 531 (blue rectangle), which passes beneath the lake. It's a fine path, but quite rocky and technical, especially in wet weather.
For a snack, we took advantage of the "hors sac" shelter near the Auberge du Neuweiher.
The return journey to Rimbach took us along the aptly-named "Steinweg" (stone path), signposted in yellow, as the beautiful blue-disc path had unfortunately been condemned by the owner.

Machine-translated

Simdel
Simdel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
A very nice hike with a fairly steep start. Access to the Lac des Perches and then the Col des Perches provides a pleasant downhill route, albeit rocky on some sections. Beautiful scenery and pleasant shade in warm weather. The lakes also provide an opportunity to cool off. Many springs dot the route.
A few signposting problems at the end due to a dispute with forest owners, but nothing too serious as parallel access is possible.
The car park provided by the local council at the start is really very good, thank you.
I would recommend

Machine-translated

T0urmaline
T0urmaline

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Taken on 27 April 2024, we thoroughly enjoyed this hike. The first part up to Lac des Perches is quite strenuous, and the section leading up to the Col des Perches is even more so! (We're in our sixties).
The stone path on the way back is a curiosity.

Machine-translated

Jewa
Jewa

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Lovely walk, very fine viewpoint at the tête des perches
Alternating dirt and stone paths
relatively technical descent at times

Machine-translated

bourdenetpierrot
bourdenetpierrot

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

The climb up to the Lac des Perches is a very sad one along a forestry track that reveals a very sick forest with a lot of clear-cutting by foresters who leave a lot of branches on the spot - it looks like a war zone.
The section between Lac des Perches and Lac de Neuweiher is very beautiful, with lovely paths and a superb view.
The return from point 6 is really not so good with an unpleasant and compulsory stone path, the blue disc path being forbidden following the purchase by a landowner who closed the passageway
If this continues, we'll soon be hiking on tarmac roads.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.