Lac Noir and Lac des Truites or Lac du Forlet from the Col du Wettstein

This is an easy hike with beautiful views of the Keysersberg valley to the east and the ridges to the west. You will always find a sunny spot for a picnic around Lac des Truites. The Auberge du Lac Noir welcomes you for a break and the Ferme Auberge du Forlet is open at the end of April. You can also eat at the Mussmiss farmhouse inn, which is clearly signposted on arrival at the Col du Wettstein.

Details

2842294
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.60 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 294 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 287 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,125 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 882 m

Photos

Description of the walk

To the moderators: I consider this hike to be shorter and complementary to the hike referred to in the software.
https://www.mygpsfiles.com/app/#4dTlLloL
Jean

Park at the Col du Wettstein car park.

(S/E) Cross the D48 with caution and take the path marked with a yellow rectangle (GR® 532) opposite, heading north-west, which you will follow until you reach Lac Noir. The path climbs steadily through the woods. When you leave the forest, you will quickly reach the crossroads, which is also the return point.

(1) At the sign for Les Hautes Huttes, continue straight ahead north towards Lac Noir. This path is marked with a yellow rectangle and joins a main road, part of which is paved. Shortly before reaching Lac Noir, pass a group of chalets and the A.N. refuge on the left side of the road. After the last bend, you will reach the Lac Noir dam.

(2) When you arrive, you will see the restaurant on your right and the dam with information boards and a small commemorative plaque on your left. Take the path marked with a red, white and red rectangle (south-west) corresponding to the direction of Lac des Truites, which starts uphill in the forest. Do not follow the path that runs alongside the lake.

(3) At the crossroads, turn left (south) onto the path marked with a red disc. This path will gradually turn right, heading west towards Lac des Truites or Lac du Forlet.

(4) Leaving Lac des Truites, at the dam, turn left onto the main path marked with a yellow disc (heading east) parallel to the arrival path. This path will then climb up to a place called Altenkraeh. Follow the path until you leave the forest and come out at the Hautes Huttes crossroads where you arrived.

(1) Continue right, heading south (yellow rectangleGR® 532 signpost) Col du Wettstein to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 883 m - Col de Wettstein (882m)
  2. 1 : km 1.45 - alt. 967 m - Carrefour des Hautes Huttes
  3. 2 : km 3.32 - alt. 950 m - Lac Noir
  4. 3 : km 3.95 - alt. 1,073 m - Crossroads of marked trails
  5. 4 : km 5.82 - alt. 1,065 m - Lac des Truites
  6. S/E : km 9.6 - alt. 883 m - Wettstein Pass. - Nécropole Nationale du Wettstein

Notes

Seasonal catering is available at the Ferme Auberge du Forlet and the Ferme Auberge de Musmiss. The latter is directly accessible from the car park at the Col du Wettstein. Catering is available at the Auberge du Lac Noir all year round.

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 31 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 26701925

A magnificent hike in a beautiful landscape. An easy walk, which is what I was looking for.
Thank you for the information sheet!

Machine-translated

User 3940225
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The markings were random

Machine-translated

User 27417395

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, fairly short hike that alternates between forest and meadow landscapes, which are really nice.
It's best to wear good walking shoes, as many areas are stony and there are a few roots at the start of the walk. The Lac Noir is uninteresting, but the Lac des Truites is really nice.
3½ hours, relatively easy.

Machine-translated

clucion
clucion

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very attractive and varied

Machine-translated

Rebert
Rebert

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk to the lakes

Machine-translated

frenchydoc1
frenchydoc1

Thank you for your review. I'm delighted that you were able to hike above the fog, as the view of the Hohneck is well worth seeing. As for the difficulty, you're right, it's hard to classify the hike as it depends on several factors: length, duration, elevation gain, weather conditions, but also the hiker's ability. Don't overlook your physical condition and check the weather conditions carefully. This hike is certainly more difficult in winter with frozen or even snow-covered trails.

Machine-translated

Dominique Eme
Dominique Eme

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A beautiful hike that started in foggy conditions and a Halloween atmosphere, ending up above a sea of clouds. Magnificent.
The choice of difficulty level always seems a bit random to me. It depends on the level of the person describing the hike. For me, it's more of a medium difficulty hike.

Machine-translated

frenchydoc1
frenchydoc1

Thank you for your review. Useful for hikers. There are indeed many possible variations in summer with a pleasant break at a farmhouse inn. Enjoy exploring with Visorando

Machine-translated

PARUSSOM
PARUSSOM

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very pleasant family hike with no significant difficulty, set amid beautiful landscapes. Depending on your preferences and where you choose to stop for lunch, the walk can start from any of the three corners of the triangle, with a midday break at one of three farmhouse inns or taverns

Machine-translated

frenchydoc1
frenchydoc1

Thank you for your positive and helpful review for hikers of all ages!

Machine-translated

Bob trotteur
Bob trotteur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Great hike to do with family or friends, but make sure you have good shoes and possibly protective gear such as ankle braces, knee pads or other items for those who are more fragile.
There are lots of rocky paths.

Machine-translated

frenchydoc1
frenchydoc1

Thank you for the useful information for the entire Visorando community. I am very happy to know that the hike remains easily accessible at the end of winter with access to the trout lake. Enjoy your hikes and please let us know of any obstacles or difficulties you encounter.

Machine-translated

joseph.haeghens
joseph.haeghens

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice hike on 18/02/2024, very rugged trail before reaching the trout lake. Beautiful scenery.

Machine-translated

frenchydoc1
frenchydoc1

Thank you for your very useful review for other hikers. The signposting is constantly changing, so it is safer to download the route and follow it in real time with "visorando". Check your direction regularly, whether you are going uphill or downhill, which can also be done with a compass and a map. Your review, mymy 88974, illustrates very well the importance of not just following the signs and preparing your hike well.

Machine-translated

mymy88974
mymy88974
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Be careful at the very beginning, at the top of the climb as you leave the forest, as the yellow rectangular markers have disappeared, causing some confusion because Les Hautes Huttes is signposted (in full) on the right, when it is much simpler and more logical to go straight ahead. We only found the markers again once we reached Les Hautes Huttes.
Otherwise, a superb walk on a pleasant September day.

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.