From Bonhomme to Lac Blanc towards Tête des Faux and Étang du Devin

A circular hike starting from Le Bonhomme. It takes us through the forest to Lac Blanc.
The return journey crosses a small section of the battlefields of theFirst World War. There are numerous military structures, as well as a national necropolis and a German military cemetery.
An important place of remembrance in the history of the Alsace region.

Details

10004143
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.06 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 773 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 770 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,219 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 683 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the car park behind the Bonhomme Town Hall.

(S/E) Go straight up and continue on Chemin de l'École, theGR®532, marked with a yellow rectangle.

(1) Turn left onto Chemin de la Petite Montagne, then turn right at the next junction. After about 80 metres, take the path on the right, still onthe GR®532, for a few hundred metres until you reach the junction of twoGR® trails.

(2) Ignore theGR®5, marked with a red rectangle, which continues straight ahead (this will be the way back), turn right following the yellow rectangle markings ofthe GR®532, which gradually heads south. Go to the crossroads at an altitude of 1084 metres and follow the direction of the Necropolis.

(3) Cross a forest road, then asecond one. 50 m further on, turn right onto the Route des Deux Lacs (marked with a yellow ring), which joins theGR®5, and continue to the Col du Calvaire.

(4) Leave the Route des Crêtes (D148) on your right, towards the Cols de la Schlucht or Col du Bonhomme, head towards Lac Blanc and, to the right of the D48.2, follow the signs for Rectangle Jaune/Sentier Freppel.

(5) When you reach the lake, continue left for about 200 m and leave theGR®532to climb left up to the D48.2 departmental road.

(6) Cross it and head east. Pass below a car park and continue towards the shelter opposite the Auberge du Blancrupt.

(7) Go around the shelter, keeping to the far left, towards the Col du Calvaire. The path is marked with blue rectangles forthe GR®531and climbs to the right of the D48.2 to reach the Col du Calvaire, at the crossroads near a sandstone cross.

(4) Back at the pass, turn right towards Tête des Immerlins on theGR® 532 (marked with a yellow rectangle and green ring).

(8) After the summit of Tête des Immerlins, continue to the Duchesne National Necropolis.

(9) When you reach the Duchesne crossroads, leave theGR®532and head towards Tête des Faux on theGR®5(marked with red rectangles).

(10) A visit to the surrounding area will give you an idea of what the battlefield looked like during the First World War. Then continue on theGR®5towards Roche du Corbeau.

(11) Continue along the same path to Étang du Devin.

(12) You can take a break at the lake, then continue towards the Lodge de l'Étang du Devin.

(13) When you reach the memorial, leave the path to the lodge and turn left. Walk past a series of military structures, then continue on theGR®5until you reach the junction with theGR®532that you encountered on the way there.

(2) Take the opposite route back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 683 m - Car park behind the Town Hall. Close to the - Béhine (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 728 m - Schoolchildren's path
  3. 2 : km 0.74 - alt. 803 m - GR5 and GR 532 junction
  4. 3 : km 3.03 - alt. 1,084 m - Crossing of the 2 forest roads
  5. 4 : km 5.32 - alt. 1,144 m - Col du Calvaire
  6. 5 : km 6.01 - alt. 1,058 m - Lac Blanc (massif des Vosges)
  7. 6 : km 6.55 - alt. 1,107 m - D48.2
  8. 7 : km 6.71 - alt. 1,106 m - Refuge-inn
  9. 8 : km 8.7 - alt. 1,214 m - Tête des Immerlins
  10. 9 : km 9.47 - alt. 1,123 m - Nécropole nationale du Carrefour Duchesne
  11. 10 : km 10.36 - alt. 1,219 m - Tête des Faux
  12. 11 : km 11.13 - alt. 1,138 m - Roche du corbeau (Lapoutroie)
  13. 12 : km 12.46 - alt. 927 m - Shelter at the - Etang du Devin
  14. 13 : km 12.84 - alt. 948 m - Cimetière militaire allemand Kahm (Lapoutroie)
  15. S/E : km 15.05 - alt. 686 m - Car park behind the Town Hall

Notes

Difficult descents or ascents:
- from the Lac Blanc inn (closed) (4) to the lake (5)
- Ascent and descent of Tête des Faux and Roche du Corbeau (10) and (11)
- Descent to Étang du Devin (12).

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

4.7 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Vogepat
Vogepat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 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, both in terms of sport and culture (memories of 1914-1918).
Best done in reverse order to the description due to the difficult descent at the end of the day and in wet weather.
Recent signage is well marked and it's a good idea to keep the old Vosges club sign (see photo).

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laurent95100
laurent95100

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with lovely climbs and a stop at Lac Blanc. Lots of forest trails and a few difficult rocky sections. Excellent description, definitely worth doing again.

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ecm2
ecm2
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
Although the route is not very busy on the sections between Le Bonhomme and Col du Calvaire, and Etang du Devin and Le Bonhomme, there are lots of people at Col du Calvaire, Lac Blanc, the cemetery and Tête des Faux, thanks to the good weather. A beautiful hike with a cool climb. I had never been down to the shores of Lac Blanc before, so this was the perfect opportunity. I had already done the rest of the route on other routes, but you never tire of it.
The descent from Les Immerlins to the cemetery is a bit tricky, but you just have to watch where you put your feet. Varied vegetation, beautiful little paths, everything you need for a great day out.
The hike took 5 hours and 15 minutes, not including breaks.
Thank you for this route.

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henri2010
henri2010

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

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sithmonster
sithmonster

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route is perfect, beautiful weather, lush forest and a thrilling moment at the top of the faux to do and do again. The difficulty is justified. Thank you very much.

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gizmo
gizmo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Correction to the description: in (2) it says "turn right following the yellow rectangular markers"; however, you must turn left.
Nice route, but the "difficult" rating is justified; the route is pleasant and shaded until you reach the Col du Calvaire; beautiful scenery (pine forests, meadows, etc.); very rocky descent to Lac Blanc (unfortunately quite dry... ); many very stony sections on the route after returning to the Col du Calvaire and, from there, sunnier areas. The route is of definite historical interest from the Tête des Faux onwards.

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Bubba
Bubba

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike with varied terrain.
Relatively shaded, which was a delight. I highly recommend it.
What a pleasure to come down near the Lac Blanc mountain bike chairlift and the toboggan run.

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