The three lakes

Looking for a varied hike with different terrain? Then look no further than the Three Lakes Hike.
Rooted footpaths, forest tracks, uneven terrain, crossing the Gazon du Faing, Lac Noir, Lac Blanc and Lac des Truites (also known as Lac du Forlet) and, on a clear day, a diversion to the Belmont Rocher observatory or Rocher de Hans.
A lovely hike to do in fine weather. It's better for the scenery.

Details

481832
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.16 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,394 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,394 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,281 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,130 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

From Orbey, take the D48 II towards Les Lacs, Col du Bonhomme. Go past the village of Pairis for about 4.5km and turn left onto the D48.3. Reach the Lac Noir car park, which will be the start of the walk.

(S/E) Follow the D48.3 road for 25m.

(1) Take the yellow rectangular path on your left. This is the Sentier Cornélius. It joins a wider path that curves left and then right.

(2) About ten metres before you reach the D48.2 road, take the small track on your left.

(3) After 150m, turn right to continue along the Lac Blanc.

(4) Continue along the D48 to the left for around 200m, then turn left onto the Sentier Freppel, signposted Cercle Rouge. Continue for 15 minutes, then turn left onto the yellow rectangular path, ignoring the right-hand path signposted "Col du Calvaire".

(5) A short climb will take you to the ski lifts. Take the forest track on your left, GR®5Rectangle Rouge.

(6) Climb up to the Gazon du Faing, following the signs for the Hautes Chaumes crossing or the Yellow Triangle signs, which will take you 30 minutes later to the Lac des Truites.

(7) Turn left and head downhill for 200m until you come to a junction signposted Lac des Truites, on the right, marked with red triangles. The descent continues along a steep, winding path to the Lac des Truites.

(8) At the Forlet farmhouse inn, continue around the lake to the right, marked with red triangles, to reach the dam.

(9) Continue along the path on your left, marked Cercle Rouge, to cross the Forêt Domaniale des deux lacs. At the crossroads of 4 paths, veer slightly to the left to continue straight ahead and join a track a few metres further on, following it to the right. After a bend to the left, fork right onto a path as far as the next crossroads.

(10) Follow the Red and White Rectangle markings. On the left, cross a track to reach the Lac Noir car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,133 ft - Parking du - Lac Noir
  2. 1 : mi 0.04 - alt. 3,143 ft - Cornélius path
  3. 2 : mi 1.3 - alt. 3,363 ft - 10m before D48.2, turn left
  4. 3 : mi 1.38 - alt. 3,445 ft - Possible fork to the - Observatoire Belmont
  5. 4 : mi 1.6 - alt. 3,461 ft - Parking du - Lac Blanc (massif des Vosges)
  6. 5 : mi 2.32 - alt. 3,675 ft - Ski touring
  7. 6 : mi 2.82 - alt. 4,055 ft - Entrance to the Gazon du Faing
  8. 7 : mi 4.33 - alt. 4,275 ft - Intersection - Gazon du Faing
  9. 8 : mi 5.21 - alt. 3,570 ft - Refuge le Forlet
  10. 9 : mi 5.55 - alt. 3,494 ft - Dam - Lac des Truites
  11. 10 : mi 6.8 - alt. 3,442 ft - Intersection
  12. S/E : mi 7.16 - alt. 3,133 ft - Arrival at - Lac Noir

Notes

Off the route: You can continue straight on to make a diversion to the Belmont Rocher observatory and retrace your steps.

(4) From Lac Blanc, you can climb up to see the Vierge Hans by following the small signposted "Cercle Rouge" path to the left of the lake.

This is an average hike requiring a minimum of training.
IBP index=57hkg on the FFRandonnée website.

Good footwear required.

Worth a visit

Hans and the Virgin Rock
Belmont Observatory Rock
Black Lake
Lac Blanc
Lac de Forlet

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

4.7 / 5
Based on 261 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 30762950

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This route could be classified as ‘difficult’, or even very difficult.
Right from the start at Lac Noir, the footpath is very uneven; you’re constantly navigating between boulders and tree roots.
Some sections are dangerous, requiring you to climb over moraine boulders.....
On the ascent to Lac Blanc, some sections are also dangerous, very wet and extremely steep.
However, the reward is there: as you approach the summit, the path offers a view of the lake in its entirety, with no vegetation obstructing the view. Experienced hikers would stop for a snack at this spot....
Afterwards, you can take a more leisurely walk towards Lac du Forlet or head back to Lac Noir and the car park.

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User 10557232

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A challenging route, particularly the climb to Lac Blanc, which is technical with large boulders on a very rough path. The section along the ridge is absolutely stunning, set amongst the peat bogs. I’d recommend following the sign for the ‘panoramic path’. It’s definitely worth it.

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achdidier
achdidier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk; as it’s not very far away, we enjoy doing it at different times of year, and it’s always a real pleasure

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User 13055922

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk with magnificent views of the lakes both up in the hills and nearby.
There are some fairly challenging sections, but it’s well worth it – the scenery is magnificent.

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Cabru
Cabru

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A route with some steep and stony sections (the climb after Lac Blanc and the descent towards Lac du Forlet), where you need to be careful, but it’s not impossible! Otherwise, a lovely walk with varied scenery and some beautiful views. And for July, it wasn’t too crowded.
There were a few moments of uncertainty about which way to go towards the end of the route.

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juleo68
juleo68
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk – thanks for sharing!
No time for a warm-up – it climbs straight up the Cornélius path to the left of the county road.
The signposting is really well done; it changes (colour and shape) as you progress along the route

The route is very rocky in places, so you’ll need to watch your ankles carefully. There are plenty of shaded areas, which is rather welcome in summer, as once you’re up on the long straight stretch leading to Lac du Forlet, there won’t be much shade – make sure you bring a hat and water. The area is very busy in July and August; at times it feels like you’re on a motorway.

On the way back, I found the descent towards Lac Noir very tiring as there are lots of large stones on the path.
All in all, a lovely hike with a good elevation gain; there are regular stunning views, so do stop for a break to take it all in!

Good walking boots are essential!

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Seb_le_randonneur
Seb_le_randonneur

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

There were lots of people, especially around Lac Blanc. But it was a very pleasant walk all the same. We got caught in a heavy downpour with strong winds on the ridge (which the weather forecast hadn’t predicted). Make sure you bring rain gear.

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annysam
annysam

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Stunning scenery, with some slightly challenging sections of the trail leading to Lac Blanc. But overall, it’s magnificent. It was so beautiful that we even carried on along the ridge towards Lac Vert. We returned via Lac Forlet and then rejoined the original route.

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User 26587910

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Stunning walks. A few tricky sections with scree in several places. But the rest of the route offers a variety of flat sections, elevation changes and woodland paths, which are rather pleasant in the heat. Swimming is not permitted in the lakes.

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User 19104609

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful views, 5km in the shade through the forest; after Lac Blanc, it’s mostly in full sun. Take care in hot weather! We did this walk as a family with children aged 6 and 8 who are used to walking. The paths were very steep for almost the entire route – we hadn’t expected that. Walking boots are essential and a minimum level of fitness is required for this walk. A total of 13 km in 4 hours 15 minutes, not including breaks.

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Muflier
Muflier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, accessible to a wide range of people, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of these lakes in a beautiful green setting; and, to top it all off, the mild temperatures during these heatwaves are a real bonus.

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User 1035767

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb, very enjoyable walk with magnificent scenery

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User 24610553

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent walk with a variety of landscapes; it’s a bit tricky to park at Lac Noir.

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Evouuue
Evouuue

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike we did in mid-June; very well signposted.
Suitable for beginners: although we’re not particularly fit, we completed it in 3 hours 50 minutes without hiking boots (which I wouldn’t recommend, as some sections are steep and there are a few rocky stretches).

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atp17
atp17

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb, fairly accessible hike with a few fairly steep sections.
It’s best to start from the Lac Blanc car park, where parking is easier.

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