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Access from the Col de la Schlucht via the D417 towards Gérardmer, then take the D34D towards Retournemer, La Bresse. Continue towards La Bresse and take the D34C, La Bresse Lispach, to Lac de Lispach, where you can park after the lake in the car park by the small dam.
The starting point is on the other side of the dam, which you cross on foot.
(S/E) From the dam, follow the path that runs more or less along the edge of the lake. This alternates between wooden duckboards, forest paths and scree slopes. The path is obvious and well marked.
When you reach the north side of the lake, you will find a wide, flat path that runs along the lake and its floating peat bogs.
Continue along this path until you reach the access road.
(1) Various paths lead off from the three-way junction at the Chalet de Lispach. Take the easternmost path up towards the old mine and the Rocher des Vieux Chevaux (marked with yellow rings).
The path climbs through a beautiful forest of tall trees until you reach a fork marked "Ancienne mine" on the left.
(2) Continue straight ahead towards the Rocher des Vieux Chevaux.
After a few hundred metres of climbing, you will reach a plateau and a three-way junction. Continue straight ahead towards the Vieux Chevaux, still in a beautiful forest that has replaced the Chaume de Fachepremont.
At the end of the forest, you will come to the small Rocher des Vieux Chevaux, where the magic of the Lispach elves is replaced by the magic of the panorama of Lake Longemer stretching out below you.
(3) Take a break to enjoy the bird's eye view of the lake and the surrounding mountains.
Return via the same path, which offers a different landscape when viewed from the other side.
Continue along the path and descend to the start of the mine path, which is now on your right.
(2) Take this small path on the right and continue along the hillside to the mine. This is actually a cavity in the rock from which copper ore was extracted around the 16th century.
Take the path downhill, being careful as the slope can be slippery, especially after rain.
The path descends until it reaches the one that runs alongside the lake. Take this path on the right and return to the dam and car park by following the same route you took on the way there (S/E).
Given the heavy flooding at the moment, there's a lot of water running everywhere, so take a change of shoes with you, as the water gets onto the paths and sometimes flows quite strongly.
Visorando member
Difficult 
Moderate 
