Take the path near the farm, which is waymarked with yellow disks, towards Lac Vert (or Lac de Soultzeren). Walk past the dam and take the path waymarked with yellow disks towards Lac du Forlet, which you will reach after a good hour's walk.
After the dam, leave the yellow disk waymarks and follow the red disk waymarks towards the Lac Noir and Lac Blanc. At Haufenwannkopf, follow the yellow triangle waymarks towards Gazon du Faing. There is a steep climb up towards Altenkraekopf (1) to reach the Gazon du Faing.
Take the GR5 path (red rectangles) towards the Gazon du Faîte (Ringelbuhlkopf) and Le Tanet via the Hautes Chaumes (high pastures).
After the Chaume du Tanet, climb up Le Tanet, and keep going until you reach a small mountain pass before Le Haut Fourneau (Wurzelstein). Leave the red rectangle waymarks for the red cross waymarks bordering the path down to the Sarrois mountain refuge, and then at Hungerloch, take the path with the yellow disk waymarks back towards Seestaettle.
Lakes and pastures
A beautiful hike that takes you up to the “Gazons”, the famous pastures of the Hautes Vosges, and along the steep slopes overlooking the magnificent cirques where the lakes of Lac Vert and Lac du Forlet lie. All of this is situated at an altitude and in landscapes that are reminiscent of the Alps.
Details
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 10.99 km -
Average duration: 4h 25 -
Difficulty: Moderate -
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Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 433 m -
Descent: - 425 m -
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Highest point: 1,304 m -
Lowest point: 1,053 m
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Country:
France
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Area: Vosges mountains -
City:
Soultzeren (68140) -
Start/End: N 48.083662° / E 7.058792° -
IGN map(s): Ref. 3618OT, 3618OTR, 3718OT, 3718OTR -
Hour-by-hour weather
Photos
Description of the walk
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,068 m - Seestaettle Inn
- 1 : km 0.58 - alt. 1,054 m - Lac Vert ou de Soultzeren (Vosges)
- 2 : km 1.5 - alt. 1,159 m - Chalet Erichson
- 3 : km 3.31 - alt. 1,065 m - Lac du Forlet dam - Lac des Truites
- 4 : km 4.46 - alt. 1,122 m - Haufenwannkopf
- 5 : km 5.44 - alt. 1,273 m - Altenkraekopf - Altenkraehkopf
- 6 : km 9.71 - alt. 1,291 m - Chaume du Tanet - Tanet (le)
- 7 : km 9.94 - alt. 1,263 m - Bifurcation
- 8 : km 10.58 - alt. 1,125 m - Hungerloch
- S/E : km 10.99 - alt. 1,068 m - Seestaettle Inn
Notes
Access:
You can reach the Seestaettle Auberge (inn) from Munster. After Munster, head towards the Col de la Schlucht, following the road past Stosswihr and Soultzeren. Before reaching the Col de la Schlucht, about 4km after leaving Soultzeren, turn right onto the scenic route towards Le Tanet and the Lac Vert. The road leads to the Auberge.
This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:
Reviews and comments
4.6 / 5
4.6 / 5
4.9 / 5
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Mar 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
The route was covered in snow; snowshoes would have been useful on the ridge, where there was up to 40 cm of powder snow.
I cut the route short and descended via the Yellow Saltire; the snow was easier to navigate than it would have been without it, as I’d already done this route before.
Thank you
A lovely hike with a winter setting.
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
A magnificent route, sometimes technically challenging for the ankles, and a little complicated in terms of elevation for the less athletic.
I would describe it as difficult rather than average.
My watch showed a higher elevation gain and loss than the map indicated, 550 metres instead of 430
Otherwise, great views, magnificent hike 👍😉
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Overall rating : 4.3 / 5
Date of your route : Sep 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
A very beautiful hike with magnificent scenery. Be careful, as the trails are very rocky and not suitable for people with weak ankles or knees.
Between points 7 and 8, follow the red marker, not the indicated trail. We turned back to find the trail, but ended up in the middle of a herd of cows on a very muddy path
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Overall rating : 4.3 / 5
Date of your route : Aug 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
A lovely walk with beautiful views.
There were crowds on the Faing grass ridge on 26 August, but few people on the other trails.
Warm welcome at the Seesteatle inn.
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
A magnificent route, both for the lakes and the views from the ridges, and without any particular difficulty (just a few fairly steep but steady climbs, which can be tackled without too much effort). The signposting by the Vosges club is incredible; we should take inspiration from this in the Alps 
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Overall rating : 4.3 / 5
Date of your route : Jun 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
The Erichson chalet near Lac Vert deserves a recommendation and a mention without reservation.
We really like this rental. It should be mentioned that it is a Club Vosgien refuge.
The staff are very friendly, delicious local specialities are on offer and the view is exceptional.
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Overall rating : 4.3 / 5
Date of your route : Apr 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
A very nice hike that first takes you past the 2 lakes (green and forlet) and then onto the ridges. The final climb up to the ridges is very stony (yellow triangle) and a little steep, but this is compensated for by the beautiful view of the Altenkraehkopf (which you won't get if you go straight up from the Lac du Forlet (red triangle)). Don't hesitate to take the red and white rectangular panoramic path at the gazon de Faîte, which is closer to the cliff than the red rectangular path (which is very stony).
When the path reaches the crest road at the end of the route, there are 3 options - either continue straight on and climb back up to the tanet (the most beautiful), or shorten the walk by descending a gentle slope to the green lake (red circle), or return to the start car park by descending a steeper slope at the beginning (yellow cross).
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Feb 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
A very nice walk with beautiful views. Some tricky sections in the rocks.
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
A pleasant little hike, especially for families
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Aug 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
Very interesting tour, beautiful 360° views
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
A beautiful walk with magnificent views.
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Overall rating : 4.3 / 5
Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
Colour errors on your site, but good overall
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Overall rating : 4.7 / 5
Date of your route : Apr 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
with the exception of the signposting at the start of the walk, which has been changed from yellow circles to blue rectangles.
very interesting walk
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
We did this walk as a family (2 teenagers aged 16 and 14).
The paths are a bit technical (lots of stones). It climbs steeply at times. Alternating sun and shade before reaching the Chaumes.
Beautiful lakes and views over the Plaine d'Alsace and the Vosges.
Very popular paths at weekends.
Be careful ⚠️ if it rains it can be slippery.
Several inns open.
The weather is fine if you go for a walk and take lots of photos.
All in all, a very nice walk. A very pleasant discovery.
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