The summit of the Baerenkopf via Lake Lachtelweiher

This hike passes by the small Lachtelweiher lake, which nestles peacefully at an altitude of 740 metres. The route passes numerous authentic farm inns, alternates between forests and stubble fields, climbs passes and peaks with panoramic views, and ventures close to the source of the Doller.

Details

1220404
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.98 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 728 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 721 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,074 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 431 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at Niederbruck church.

(S/E) Go around the church on the right, follow the Red Disc marked route to the Entzenbach farmhouse inn. The climb to the lake begins and is quite steep!

(1) When you reach the farm, leave the road and take the Red Disc trail, which joins the Blue Disc trail. You will reach a pass with a shelter, then a gentle descent through the meadows leads to an inn on the Lachtelweiher road. Continue to the small lake.

(2) Go up the tarmac road to the small car park on the left at the end of the road. A Blue Rectangle marked trail leads to the Lochberg farmhouse inn.

(3) Take the carriage road on the right for 150 metres, then leave it on the left for the Blue Ring path, which climbs through the forest to a crossroads.

(4) Turn left onto the Blue Triangle trail, which climbs up a wooded ridge, passes a shelter and leads to the Schlumpf stubble fields.

(5) At the crossroads before the ski lift, turn left onto the Anneau Rouge trail, which descends towards Fennematt.

(6) At the bottom of the slope, take the Blue RectangleGR®531path on the left, which climbs towards a pass, a vast grassy plateau.

(7) You will pass the source of the Doller. At the fork, follow the path on the right which climbs towards the ridge and joins theGR®53marked Rectangle Rouge at the Col du Lochberg.

(8) At the pass, take theGR®53on the left and climb up to the Baerenkopf.

(9) Descend a few metres to a flat area and leave theGR® on the left to follow the red-white-red rectangle trail. After 200 metres, turn right, following the same markings.

(10) After a descent through the forest, join the blue rectangle trail that leads to the Bruckenwald farmhouse inn. Leave the carriage road and take the yellow triangle trail that descends through the forest to the village and returns to the church car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 432 m - Eglise de Niederbruck
  2. 1 : km 1.68 - alt. 618 m - Ferme auberge de L'Entzenbach
  3. 2 : km 3.24 - alt. 737 m - Lachtelweiher
  4. 3 : km 4.78 - alt. 907 m - Ferme-Auberge du Lochberg
  5. 4 : km 5.5 - alt. 995 m - On the left, Blue Triangle
  6. 5 : km 5.79 - alt. 1,001 m - Schlumpf (le)
  7. 6 : km 6.37 - alt. 929 m - Fennematt valley
  8. 7 : km 6.56 - alt. 937 m - Source of the &gt - Source de la Doller
  9. 8 : km 7.19 - alt. 981 m - Col du Lochberg (979m)
  10. 9 : km 8.06 - alt. 1,074 m - Baerenkopf
  11. 10 : km 10.89 - alt. 756 m - Ferme Auberge du Bruckenwald
  12. S/E : km 12.98 - alt. 432 m - Eglise de Niederbruck

Notes

There are few water sources along the hike, apart from the lake and the Doller spring.
You will cross several meadows where cows graze peacefully.
There is a shelter on the stubble fields above the Lochberg farm (Sommerseite shelters).

Worth a visit

For a gourmet break, don't hesitate to stop at the Lochberg farmhouse inn
Beautiful view from the Schlumpf stubble fields.

 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

4.6 / 5
Based on 17 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 3911859

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike on a magnificent day with beautiful autumn colours – what a pleasure!
I highly recommend it 👌

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RafRuns
RafRuns

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Thanks to the author of this hike.
A pleasant walk through the woods with some nice little climbs in places.

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User 18480909

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike. Beautiful view from the stubble fields above Locberg.

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User 1730742

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, well described and signposted (except for the blue triangle, which is missing – or hidden – at point 4, where you turn left). If you pass by there, turn left shortly after the small iron gate once you enter the woods.

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LaurentG*
LaurentG*

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice outing. Very steep route in places.

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cloclo78
cloclo78

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with some fairly steep climbs.

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matt068
matt068

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very beautiful hike. The route is perfectly signposted (thanks to the Club Vosgien and Visorando); there is no risk of getting lost.
There is a large car park at the start, near the church in Niederbruck.
The Lochberg farmhouse inn, on the route, has a good capacity and the meals are excellent. You can walk around the Lachtelweiher. The source of the Doller is located just above the farmhouse inn. The only disappointment is that the Baerenkopf does not offer a view because there are too many trees, which can be interesting, however, when it is very hot (which was not the case).

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Erenkar
Erenkar

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

As always, Visorando is a great help!

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Pierre Ykman
Pierre Ykman

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

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balou17
balou17

O rage, O rage, O despair, impractical

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damien.hartmann
damien.hartmann

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with superb views of the Doller Valley, especially just after the Sommerseite refuge.
Special mention for the bench and its pun on the descent from Baerenkopf to Niederbruck – I stopped there for 20 minutes just to enjoy the beauty of the view and the surroundings.
The route itself was reasonably busy for a Sunday in August – you can't expect to be alone on the trails with three farm inns along the way.

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eino
eino

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Circular completed in the opposite direction. Picnic stop at the source of the Doller.

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simfr
simfr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk

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mariejose sester
mariejose sester

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route in a valley that is rarely visited. A beautiful view from the Schlumpf.
A good place to visit is the Bruckenwald farm. Please check opening days in advance.

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stimpfling.alain
stimpfling.alain

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, we recommend it.
However, we had difficulty finding the path between points 3 and 4.

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