Dreieck, Lac Blanc, Lac du Forlet

Park at the car park known as ‘Dreieck’ on the Route des Crêtes (D61), overlooking Lac Vert. Please note: this is very busy during the high season. It is possible to park at the side of the road.

(S/E) Take the GR®5 path, marked with a Red Rectangle, which heads north towards the Gazon du Faing. Continue along the cliff edge and ignore the path that branches off to the left just before the flat rock perched on the edge of the precipice known as “Taubenklangfelsen”. Keep following the GR®5 until you reach a junction of paths at Gazon du Faing (elevation 1302).

(1) Turn left (north), staying on the ridge and following the GR®5, until you reach a crossroads (elevation 1296).

(2) Leave the GR®5, turn right onto the path leading into the blueberry bushes and follow the red-and-white Red Rectangle and Red Disc markings. Continue the descent, passing beneath Château Hans (a viewpoint on a rock overlooking Lac Blanc) to reach the dam.

(3) Turn right onto the GR®532 (Yellow Rectangle) and, much further on, leave the track to follow a path branching off to the right called the “Sentier Cornélius” to reach Lac Noir.

(4) Walk a few metres to the left along the D48.2. Leave this road at the right-angled bend and turn right onto the uphill path (red and white Red Rectangle and Green Disc). Cross the first track, then take the next one on the left (Red Disc). At the Fork in the road, take the left-hand track until you reach a large crossroads on a plateau.

(5) Continue straight on (Red Disc) and follow a level path through alpine meadows before entering the forest and descending towards the dam at Lac du Forlet (or Lac des Truites). Cross the dam and walk along the lake (Red Triangle) to the Forlet farmhouse inn, which is open from the start of the summer grazing season (food and drink, Munster cheese for sale). After this stop, return to the track, turn right, pass the large rock on the descent and, at the bend in the track, turn left onto a faint path that leads into a small valley. ‘See Practical Information’.

(6) Follow this unmarked path, passing through a gate and leaving the small chalet at the far end on your right, then climb up the valley. The path is often barely visible and damp (watch your step). Climb up the valley and, after passing the wet area, stay at the bottom of the valley as it widens, keeping the Altenwasen Refuge (private). Extraordinary views of the Ringbuhl and its rocky cliff face (chamois may be spotted). After a fairly steep climb, you’ll emerge onto a vast meadow below the refuge. Climb the three steps leading to the terrace in front of the refuge.

(7) Turn left onto the vaguely passable track leading to the refuge and descend a fairly steep slope to the junction with the Yellow Disc trail, near another refuge (Chalet Schoch). Take the path on the right. After a fairly steep climb, you’ll emerge onto a balcony-like meadow. The track remains level and passes by Chalet Erichson (Club Vosgien).

(8) After Chalet Erichson, you’ll come out onto an easier track at a hairpin bend (Red Disc). Follow this track to the right as far as the Dreieck car park (S/E).

Club Vosgien signposting

(1) You can shorten the walk by heading directly to point (4) from point (1), via the Altenkraehkopf, which offers superb views of the Munster Valley, the Alsace plain, the Black Forest and the Bernese Alps in fine weather. To do this, follow the Yellow Triangle markings.
This shortcut takes you to the Forlet farmhouse inn.

Between (2) and (3): The Hans Castle rock is a good spot for a picnic.

(3) Refreshments are available at Lac Noir (refreshment bar) at the Forlet farmhouse inn. At the Altenwasen mountain hut, a drinking water spring feeds a tap located beneath the terrace next to the steps. This spring is tapped behind the hut in an unpolluted area and the water is channelled via a pipe.
Lac Blanc and Lac Noir are two interconnected lakes designed to generate electricity using gravity. Water is pumped into the upper lake during the day and flows back down to power the turbines.

Between (5) and (6), the path between the rock face and the forest is magnificent and little-used, but it crosses a wetland area, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
If you encounter difficulties, there is an alternative route from the bend in the Lac Forlet track: continue for about a hundred metres until you find a path leading uphill to the right, which joins a Yellow Disc-marked trail; follow this to Chalet Erichson.