Lac de Lispach and Rouge Feigne

Starting from Lake Lispach, this hike will take you through a variety of landscapes. From the peat bogs bordering Lake Lispach, you’ll see the Vosges forest and even some stubble fields at Rouge Feigne at an altitude of over 1,100 metres. The return journey along the mountainside will convince you that the Vosges are not just mountains for cows... Please note: some sections are tricky, particularly for those prone to vertigo or in wet or icy conditions.

⚠️ 27/05/2026: The Diehlaine trail between (4) and (2) is currently closed for safety works.
If this trail reopens, please do let us know in the comments section for this hike.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.94 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,230 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,243 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,799 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,969 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
  • ⚐ City: La Bresse (88250)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.05279° / E 6.947647°
  • Accessible from the train station Gare de LA BRESSE LE LISPACH.
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3618OT, 3618OTR
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in one of the many car parks lining Lake Lispach. There is plenty of space; the best option is the car park on the eastern side of the lake, heading towards the Col des Faignes.

(S/E) The hike begins gently with a walk around Lake Lispach at an altitude of around 900m, going anti-clockwise. Follow the hollow yellow circles.

(1) Once you have crossed the reservoir (source of the Chajoux) and reached the road, turn right and follow it for about a hundred metres towards La Bresse.

(2) Turn left onto a forest track that climbs gently but steadily. From here, follow the hollow red circles until you return.

(3) Once you reach the top, take a small path on the left and walk past the Rouge Feigne. You are now at an altitude of over 1,100 metres. A little further on, at the start of the descent, you will see the La Bresse ski resort on your right.

(4) Right at the start of the descent, you’ll have a lovely view.

The return journey is a little more challenging, as it often involves rocky terrain on the mountainside. The route is not dangerous, except in icy conditions, so please do take care. You will eventually reach the ski slopes at Lac de Lispach and the car parks (S/E), still following the hollow red circles.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,982 ft - Parking. Follow the edge of the - Lac de Lispach
  2. 1 : mi 0.85 - alt. 2,986 ft - Lispach Road. Origin of the - Chajoux (rivière)
  3. 2 : mi 0.99 - alt. 2,972 ft - Turn left onto a forest track
  4. 3 : mi 2.26 - alt. 3,704 ft - Once at the top, take the path on the left
  5. 4 : mi 3.23 - alt. 3,652 ft - Point de vue près du Rouge-Feigne
  6. S/E : mi 5.94 - alt. 2,986 ft - Car park at the start

Notes

Make sure you have good walking boots. They’ll come in handy on the way back.
Take some provisions and water with you.
In summer, bring a picnic; the area around the lake is very pleasant. Remember to take your rubbish with you or put it in a bin!
Finally, the return journey is very tricky when there is ice or snow. There is a risk of a fatal fall. Avoid it if possible in this case.

Worth a visit

Take a rest by the shores of Lake Lispach; it is a lovely spot and well-maintained. Swimming is not permitted there.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 49 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
User 1288281

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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User 20596132

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The walk around the lake is splendid and really very pleasant. At around 9:00 in the morning, we only came across one or two people. The climb that follows is on a very passable path, so there are no particular difficulties. We did this hike last week at the end of August, and we were a little disappointed by the end because part of the circuit was closed by a prefectural decree, so we had to take another route down (which, based on the comments, I think was much less interesting than the planned route). But it's still a great hike!

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BMarcel
BMarcel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The first part of the route is easy, with a tour of the lake and a pleasant climb. The descent is more difficult, worthy of the sentier des roches. Good footwear and fitness are essential.

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Cathy n
Cathy n

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A wide variety of paths. In high summer, there are no difficulties. The steep path at the end is not to be taken in winter and is in any case forbidden throughout the ski season. The lake is magnificent, with benches all around, and beautiful reflections in the morning.

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RANDO ASSE
RANDO ASSE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

hike made on monday 1st may, a nice climb at the start (knowing the tour of the lake we avoided it).
At point 3 we branched off towards the Champis shelter and climbed opposite and descended towards Rouge Feigne, very surprising to see this ancient body of water covered in "Feignes". the diversions was worth it and we rejoined the Mariron path. and ate under the shelter below the viewpoint and returned to the car park via the superb Chemin des Rochers (which we had already walked in both directions on different circuits starting from Lac de Longemer.
It's a very nice route but you have to be very careful on the rocks. Although it's forbidden, we came across two mountain bikers there and today there were wheel tracks.

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Samuel et Céline
Samuel et Céline

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

First hike with viso rando!
We set off with a rucksack and lunch. After walking around the lake, we had a picnic by the lake and then continued the hike. The first part was uphill, but after the red sign, the hike became interesting. My 12-year-old son really enjoyed the rest. Even though it's signposted as "difficult", we proceeded with caution (you need to be comfortable with difficult sections and be afraid of heights) and had a great time. (Yes, with hindsight, in very wet and frosty weather, you shouldn't do it). The direction of the walk is very good.
Beautiful views on the way down to Lac de Lispach!
In short, a very nice walk.

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Pierrot DAVID
Pierrot DAVID
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The tour of the lake alone is worth the trip. A little disappointed by the start of the hike to Rouges-Feignes on a path of little interest. However, the rest of the route is fantastic for an experienced hiker, especially the return section on the mountainside, with some tricky but well-designed sections (iron rungs, cables, footbridges). (Iron rungs, cables, footbridges). I can confirm that people prone to vertigo should avoid this section in bad weather. Although the description of the itinerary is indeed succinct, the "red ring" signposting around the Tête des Cerfs is more than sufficient to follow the route. I met around twenty hikers. I personally followed this loop after the "Lac de Lispach depuis Longemer" hike. This makes for an all-day walk (approx. 15km with 800m of ascent). However, I couldn't find the viewpoint towards the antenna.

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fclchk
fclchk

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

We hiked on snow-covered paths. The uninteresting uphill section took us to a path that was inaccessible without snowshoes. We carried on as best we could and eventually reached the cross-country ski trail that took us to the viewpoint, from which we saw absolutely nothing.
The descent was more complicated because of the 30-40cm of snow. We gave up and rejoined the cross-country skiing route.
There was no difficulty at all apart from the snow.

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Barbe à fleurs
Barbe à fleurs

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk.
Pleasant even in wet weather.
Good hiking boots are essential.
To be done again and again.

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89470640
89470640

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb walk in very pleasant surroundings
Flora of peat bogs and high stubble fields very interesting for enthusiasts

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Eustache 55
Eustache 55

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely hike with beautiful views. We did the route in the opposite direction.
We liked finishing at the lake more. I think it was a good choice.
The part of the lake in the woods is magnificent.
What's more, we had the chance to meet two professional entomologists who were carrying out an inventory around the lake.

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Jacques Mudry
Jacques Mudry

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice route, lovely scenery, beautiful peat bog at Rouge Feigne.
The description is very basic for finding the path in the second part.
Where there are no markings, some directions should be given.
This is the case for the viewpoint. We walked past it without going to see it.
Also at the picnic shelter (superb view of the Hohneck), we found ourselves on the track leading down to the road, having missed the start of the second part of the trail.

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locolomat
locolomat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Walk completed on 19/07/2020.
The route is perfectly signposted and corresponds on the ground to the "Circuit de la tête des cerfs par le sentier Dielaine" hike.
For me, the second part is the most interesting; described as difficult, it is in fact accessible to reasonable and cautious people.
The first part remains a beautiful walk through undergrowth and on easy paths.
A very pleasant walk.

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sophiedu77
sophiedu77

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It took us 3 hours to complete this hike without exerting ourselves. We did it in the opposite direction (uphill along the ski jump), preferring the steep path on the way up. We didn't find it technically very difficult (experienced hikers). The lake is very beautiful and the Rouge Feigne peat bog is just magnificent.

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oural
oural

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

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