Lac Blanc tour hiking and Hans Rock

Lac Blanc tour hikking is a classic among the long list of hikes to do in the Vosges. Usually, the start of this loop of around two hours is from the Lac Blanc car park at the opposite of the restaurant Le Mille Mètres on the D48.2 road when you are coming from Orbey. On this page, I suggest to start this loop from the Col du Calvaire, the climb on the ridges will be easier and you will quickly access to the most beautiful views over the Lac Blanc and Hans Rock. For this two starting possibilities, the paths to cover are the same. Part of this route is also passable in winter for ski touring or snowshoeing and gives access to the Hautes-Chaumes on the ridges for a day of walking with your feet in the snow!

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In summer, the "navette des crêtes" bus takes you to the Col du Calvaire departure from Colmar. If you arrive by car, park in the parking in front of the Lac Blanc welcome center. The hike begins at the bottom of the ski slope, next to the "Baby" surface lift from the ESF ski school's. This part is not marked, but you just have to go up by the ski slope and join the arrival of the "Carrefour" surface lift. At the top of the slopes 1 , enter the forest and follow the GR5 trail, marked with a red circle or red rectangle. On this part in the forest, which runs along the ridge, you can already enjoy some beautiful views of Lac Blanc through the fir forest.

Map of the tour around the Lac Blanc and Hans Rock from the Col du Calvaire in the Vosges

Arrived at the exit of the forest 2 at an altitude of 1234m, you have already done the hardest! Continue on the path on the left (red circle Marker) to enjoy the panorama above Lac Blanc 3 to the source of Lac Blanc. At the end of the forest 2 , you can also take a right on the GR5 (red rectangle Marker) and go through the Hautes-Chaumes and the Tanet-Gazon du Faing Nature Reserve . This alternative route (see the map) also allows you to go around Lac Blanc, but does not offer a view of the lake. It remains interesting to say the least because it allows you to enjoy the Hautes-Chaumes landscape. Note that this part can be practiced in winter when the snow conditions make the trail above the lake (red cerce Marker) too dangerous because of the risk of avalanche!

Arrived at the Lac Blanc source, turn left, always following the red circle marker towards Château Hans which you will reach in a few minutes. Château Hans is a rock in the shape of a fortress from which it takes its name! It is above all a magnificent point of view allowing you to admire the Lac Blanc and the Hans rock with the statue of the Virgin at its summit.

From Château Hans, the continuation of the loop around Lac Blanc descends with a relatively steep slope in the middle of a scree of rock blocks 4. Some passages are fitted with stairs and handrails. This section 4 to the Lac Blanc car park is rather delicate but widely accessible to experienced hikers. If you are tired or not used to the difficult passages in the rock, I recommend that you turn around and retrace your steps. This will be an opportunity to go through the Tanet-Gazon du Faing Nature Reserve if you haven't already done so on the outward journey.

When you arrive at the Lac Blanc car park, follow the Freppel path (red circle Marker) which runs along the lake below the departmental road. At the lake end, leave the red circle marker path to take the yellow rectangle marker path. Take a few minutes to admire the Lac Blanc glacial cirque from the shore of the lake 5 before the last short, but fairly rough climb. The path that will take you back to the Lac Blanc Station parking lot goes through the forest and then through the Lac Blanc Station ski slopes.

To see nearby: Hiking tour of the three lakes: Lac Blanc, Lac Noir and Lac du Forlet, ski ride or snowshoeing in winter towards Tanet via the Gazon du Faing, admire the panorama above Orbey from the Faudé tower...