The Three Lakes Hike

An iconic loop across the Vosges ridges: three alpine lakes in a single day.

Start: Col du Calvaire, Orbey

Distance

14 km

Elevation

+ 620 m

Duration

5 – 6 h

Difficulty

Intermediate

The route

What to know before you go

The Three Lakes loop is the one to do when you pass through Orbey. You start at the Col du Calvaire, climb onto the ridge, and string together three mountain lakes in a landscape that shifts every fifteen minutes. Budget a good half-day, solid shoes, and plenty of water. On a clear day, the panorama over the Alsatian plain alone is worth the climb.

The route, step by step

A breakdown of the loop with the key landmarks and distances.

Start at Col du Calvaire
0 km
Free parking along the road, at 1,144 m altitude. Follow the Club Vosgien waymarks south toward Rocher Hans.
Rocher Hans, first panorama
2.5 km
First real climb, then onto the ridge. Plunging view over Lac Blanc below; for many hikers, the single best spot on the loop.
Lac Blanc
5 km
Descent to the lake, around the southern shore. Flat rocks along the water make it the perfect lunch stop.
Lac Noir
8 km
Short climb then a descent toward Lac Noir, wilder, darker, and much quieter than Lac Blanc.
Lac du Forlet (Trout Lake)
11 km
The smallest of the three, tucked in a glacial cirque. A mountain inn nearby if you want to split the day.
Back to Col du Calvaire
14 km
Traverse across the pastures and forest edge. One last view of the plain before the descent.

What you'll see

The main points of interest along the loop, in the order you'll meet them.

Panorama over the Alsatian plain from Rocher Hans

Lac Blanc, a vast glacial lake at 1,054 m

Descent into the Lac Noir cirque

High-altitude pastures in full bloom (June-July)

Stop at the Forlet farm-inn for a local snack

Chance to spot chamois on the ridge

Recommended gear

The minimum list to head out with confidence, even in good weather.

High-cut hiking boots
Windbreaker (the ridges are exposed)
2 L of water per person
Snack + energy bars
Sunscreen and a hat
IGN TOP25 3718 OT map (Colmar / Le Bonhomme)
Trekking poles recommended for the descent
Small first-aid kit

On the trail

A few images to get a feel for it before lacing up.

Our tips for the day

1Start early: the Col du Calvaire car park is often full before 10am on summer weekends.
2In fog, stay on marked trails: the ridges are open but visibility drops fast.
3Check the forecast the day before (Météo-France or meteovosges.fr): storms can build in under an hour.
4Swimming is forbidden at Lac Blanc and Lac Noir: both are EDF reservoirs (pumped-storage) with hidden currents.
5The Forlet farm-inn (km 11) serves Munster cheese, tarts and savoury plates. A great spot to break the day.
6Off-season (May, October), dress warm: the lakes sit above 1,000 m altitude.