Tour of four Alsatian lakes

de fr

An exceptional hike offering panoramic views of successive lakes. There are a few challenging climbs, but it's well worth the effort. Best done in good weather to fully enjoy the views available to hikers.

Details

n°10296259
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.40 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 743 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 742 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,306 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 954 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

White Lake
Green Lake
Trout lake
White Lake

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the Lac Blanc car park, take the Anneau Rouge marked trail.

(1) At the intersection, turn left towards the Belmont observatory.

(2) Turn left onto the Disque Bleu trail towards Lac Noir.

(3) Under the power line, turn left again to walk along the lake towards the inn and continue on the Disque Bleu trail. Cut across a forest road and rejoin it further on.

(4) At this intersection, climb left onto the forest road following the red disc markings, then turn right onto a path to reach Lac du Forlet. Exceptional view of the cliffs surrounding the lake.

(5) Walk along the dyke and take the Yellow Disc marked trail on the left towards Chalet Erichson.

(6) Continue along this path to the Gaertlesrain inn.

(7) Descend the path opposite the inn to reach Lac Vert.

(8) Turn right to go around the lake and arrive at the dyke.

(9) Climb the path marked Anneau Vert then Chevalet Jaune to reach theGR® 5 (Rectangle Rouge).

(10) Turn right onto theGR® 5 to Gazon du Faing.

(11) Turn slightly left and continue towards Lac Blanc on theGR® 5 then follow the Anneau Rouge markings.

(12) Turn right onto the Freppel trail that runs alongside Lac Blanc to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,057 m - Dike - Lac Blanc (massif des Vosges)
  2. 1 : km 0.72 - alt. 1,237 m - Rocher Hans
  3. 2 : km 1.08 - alt. 1,212 m - Belmont Observatory
  4. 3 : km 2.5 - alt. 1,004 m - Lac Noir
  5. 4 : km 3.69 - alt. 1,072 m - Forest road - Lac Noir
  6. 5 : km 5.68 - alt. 1,065 m - Lac des Truites
  7. 6 : km 7.23 - alt. 1,167 m - Chalet Erichson
  8. 7 : km 7.6 - alt. 1,105 m - Gaertlesrain Inn
  9. 8 : km 7.95 - alt. 1,060 m - Lac Vert ou de Soultzeren (Vosges)
  10. 9 : km 8.18 - alt. 1,054 m - Dike - Lac Vert ou de Soultzeren (Vosges)
  11. 10 : km 9.47 - alt. 1,219 m - GR junction - Tanet (le)
  12. 11 : km 12.1 - alt. 1,300 m - Gazon du Faing
  13. 12 : km 15.19 - alt. 1,120 m - Freppel Trail - Lac Blanc (massif des Vosges)
  14. S/E : km 16.4 - alt. 1,057 m - Dike - Lac Blanc (massif des Vosges)

Notes

Erichson Chalet Shelter

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

Auberge au Lac Noir.
Ferme-auberge du Forlet.
Gaertlesrain Farm Inn.

Please check opening hours (subject to health restrictions).

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.

Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 27994710

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very good route, not very busy in November, ha ha, with pouring rain that put hikers off.

A varied route with magnificent views, if you don't mind the fog 😂.

A truly beautiful day, with places to refuel around each lake 🤩

Machine-translated

User 3602256

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with varied landscapes. Some sections can be a little difficult.
There are lots of people near the lakes, inns and on the ridges.
But this hike is really very enjoyable.

Machine-translated

User 25567544

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, quite technical in places. I recommend good equipment. There is a slight issue with the signposting at the green lake, so follow the route carefully and not the green circle. Magnificent scenery!

Machine-translated

Mikko
Mikko

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, and as all the previous comments say: varied and magnificent landscapes. You need to wear good walking shoes because there are lots of stones and roots along the entire route. The hike took 8 hours, including breaks.

Machine-translated

User 8457505

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great two-day hike, camping at Lac du Forlet. The start of the hike was difficult, but easily manageable with good physical condition. Part of the hike is on shaded forest trails. After that, the hike continues for several kilometres at high altitude on sunny trails.
There were several hostels along the route, including at Lac Blanc, Lac Noir and Lac du Forlet. Perfect for stocking up on supplies!
However, there are no rubbish bins along the route, including in the inns.

Machine-translated

nottin68
nottin68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 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. Difficult. Great diversity of landscapes and technical passages. A difficult first part, with significant elevation gain on a rocky trail. Option to take the Cornelius trail between Lac Blanc and Lac Noir.

Machine-translated

RafRuns
RafRuns

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It's a magnificent route around (in my opinion) the most beautiful lakes in the Alsatian Vosges. So it's normal that there are lots of people, especially on certain sections close to the roads.
The tour is quite challenging, especially at the beginning, but it's really worth it because the scenery is so beautiful! In good weather, you can even see the Bernese Alps.
Just a note on point 9: the route doesn't quite match up, as the green rings are not marked on the uphill path, only the blue/white rectangle. However, both seem to arrive at roughly the same place.
Many thanks to the author of this beautiful route!

Machine-translated

le club des tuches
le club des tuches

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Everything is perfect.

Machine-translated

virgule
virgule

Thank you for this information.

I'm trying to figure out what "few people" means in the Vosges. Does it mean you won't see anyone? Or just two or three hikers?
I went hiking on a weekday outside of school holidays at Petit Ballon, and when I arrived at the farmhouse inn (where I hadn't imagined I would need to make a reservation), it was practically full at 12:30 p.m. So I'm not sure what "few people" means.

Machine-translated

Michounet
Michounet

Hello
To answer your question, of course it's much better during the week with fewer people on the trails.
For example, Monday and Tuesday.
Of course, at weekends, our trails in the Vosges are very busy.
As I am retired, I take advantage of the beginning of the week.

Machine-translated

virgule
virgule
• Edited:

This area is very popular with hikers but is quieter during the week.

Hello,

I see that it is a very popular area, but this description does not mean the same thing in every region. In the Montagne de Reims, where I often hike, "very popular" means seeing a dozen people and a few dirty tissues over the course of half a day. It means seeing a dozen cars in the nearest car park.

I know that on the marked trails of the CV, "very busy" has a completely different meaning.

In short, during the week, does it mean coming across someone every 10 minutes, every 5 minutes? Does it mean always having people in your field of vision? Does it mean having to clean the trails from time to time? Is there a chance of not encountering anyone, for example, out of season, in mixed weather?

Thank you for your information.

Machine-translated

Michounet
Michounet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent circular walk with superb landscapes and views!
The start is difficult with safety attachments, cables and handrails.
Therefore, this hike is for experienced hikers.

Machine-translated

JACQUEMIN
JACQUEMIN

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful day. A satisfied group of hikers.

Machine-translated

blairo68
blairo68

Thank you very much for your feedback.

Machine-translated

blairo68
blairo68

This area is very popular with hikers but is quieter during the week.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking The four lakes from Lac Blanc

Visorando Member
Les quatre lacs depuis le Lac Blanc
↔14.79 km ↗+522 m ↘-520 m ◔5h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Orbey (Haut-Rhin)
A magnificent hike with trails that are sometimes alpine in character.

Walking Four Lakes Circuit in the Vosges

Visorando Member
Circuit des quatre lacs dans les Vosges
↔16.85 km ↗+797 m ↘-806 m ◔7h 05 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Orbey (Haut-Rhin)
Hike in the Alsatian Vosges from Lac Blanc to Lac Vert and return via Lac des Truites and Lac Noir. These are three loops that follow on from each other so well that you can shorten the route at two points.

Walking Tour around Blanc and Noir lakes

Visorando Member
Tour des lacs Blanc et Noir
↔9.03 km ↗+559 m ↘-551 m ◔4h 10 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Orbey (Haut-Rhin)
A pretty walk, alternating between rises and descents following sinuous winds and paths over ridges with magnificent views. ‘’The’’ meeting place for local chamois.

Walking Lac Noir, Col du Calvaire and Lac Blanc circular

Visorando Member
Boucle du Lac Noir, Col du Calvaire et Lac Blanc
↔9.82 km ↗+336 m ↘-335 m ◔3h 45 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Orbey (Haut-Rhin)
10 km with beautiful views of two glacial lakes. The largest and highest, Lac Blanc (depth 72 m), covers 29 ha at an altitude of 1,055 m, while Lac Noir (depth 45 m) covers 14 ha at 955 m. Breathtaking views from the Belmont Observatory. Don't forget your camera.

Walking Tête des Faux and Duchesne Cemetery from Col du Calvaire

Visorando Member
Tête des Faux et Cimetière Duchesne à partir du Col du Calvaire
↔7.25 km ↗+160 m ↘-164 m ◔2h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Le Bonhomme (Haut-Rhin)
A memorial hike to a small peak that was the scene of violent clashes in 1914-1915, traces of which are still visible on the ground. Along the way, you will pass the very moving Duchesne Cemetery located in the middle of the forest.

Walking The three lakes

Visorando Member
Les trois lacs
↔11.53 km ↗+425 m ↘-425 m ◔4h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Orbey (Haut-Rhin)
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.

Walking Tour of Lac Blanc via the Ferme-auberge du Pré Bracot

Tourism professional
↔10.63 km ↗+528 m ↘-536 m ◔4h 35 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Le Bonhomme (Haut-Rhin)
This circular route, starting from the Lac Blanc resort, takes in some of the most beautiful sites in the Hautes Vosges (Gazon du Faing, Château Hans) and ends at the Ferme-auberge du Pré Bracot.

Walking Lac Noir, its source, two viewpoints and the stubble fields.

Visorando Member
Le Lac Noir, sa source, deux belvédères et les chaumes
↔6.55 km ↗+355 m ↘-351 m ◔2h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Orbey (Haut-Rhin)
A varied hike starting from Lac Noir, progressing through the beautiful Vosges forest, taking us to the Hans rock overlooking Lac Blanc. The return route, which is less busy, allows you to discover the source of the lake and the stubble fields near Gazon du Faing.

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.