Lac Blanc, Lac Noir and Lac Vert form a trio of glacial lakes around Orbey, in the Haut-Rhin. All three share the same origin, a cirque carved out by Vosges glaciers, but they differ sharply in altitude, access and the activities on offer. This comparison helps you choose the outing that suits your family best, from a trail open to everyone to a more demanding circuit or a quiet fishing spot.
Lac Blanc: the highest and best equipped
At 1,055 metres above sea level, Lac Blanc covers 29 hectares with a maximum depth of 72 metres, according to data from the Colmar tourist office. Access is via the Station du Lac Blanc 1200, in Orbey: parking on site, free open access, dogs welcome.
The resort runs activities all year round: a bike park for mountain biking, a treetop adventure course and a barefoot sensory trail in summer, a rail luge open all four seasons, plus cross country skiing in winter. On 1 July 2026 the joint authority that runs the site, the Syndicat mixte pour l’aménagement du site du Lac Blanc, voted to end ski lift operations, and with them alpine skiing, from the 2026-2027 season. For a family outing with no special gear, a year round waymarked trail links the Col du Calvaire car park to the Lac Blanc dam, walkable in both summer and winter, including with young children.
Lac Noir: the wildest, tucked into its cirque
At 955 metres above sea level, Lac Noir sits on 14 hectares in a granite cirque ringed by fir trees, with a depth of 45 metres. The free car park lies around 200 metres from the lake, and an inn offers food on site. The mood here is more rugged and untamed than at Lac Blanc, with rocky outcrops overlooking the shore.
The Lac Noir loop comes in several versions, from a short circuit suited to regular walkers to a longer, more demanding route over rough terrain. The elevation gain stays moderate, but the ground turns technical in places, making it less suited to very young children than the Lac Blanc trail.
Lac Vert: the quiet one, on the Munster valley side
Less known than its two neighbours, Lac Vert sits on the Tanet massif, at 1,053 metres above sea level, covering 7.2 hectares according to the Munster valley tourist office. Its name comes from the reflection of the surrounding fir trees and an algae that spreads from late June to late July, giving the water its distinctive colour.
Access by car runs via the Munster road toward the Col de la Schlucht, then a forest road from the 12 kilometre mark, with the Parking du Tanet nearby. The Munster valley tourist office publishes no walking time between that car park and the shore. Lac Vert is classed as a category 2 fishing water and remains first and foremost a fishing spot, for carp, pike, perch, tench and roach.
Swimming: a formal ban at Lac Blanc and Lac Noir
Unlike some other Vosges lakes where swimming is tolerated or supervised (see our comparison of Vosges lakes where you can swim), the town of Orbey formally bans all water activity and swimming on Lac Blanc and Lac Noir. Municipal order 2018/52 justifies the ban with the presence of EDF installations, the risk of rockfall from the cliffs, the lack of supervision and the absence of water quality monitoring.
Lac Vert is not covered by that same order, but no designated swimming area exists there either: it is a fishing water, not a leisure centre.
Comparison at a glance
| Criterion | Lac Blanc | Lac Noir | Lac Vert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altitude | 1,055 m | 955 m | 1,053 m |
| Size | 29 ha | 14 ha | 7.2 ha |
| Depth | 72 m | 45 m | Not published |
| Swimming | Banned (order 2018/52) | Banned (order 2018/52) | No designated area |
| Access | On site parking, Station du Lac Blanc | Free parking 200 m from the lake | Parking du Tanet nearby |
| Mood | Developed, resort activities | Wild, granite cirque | Quiet, fishing focused |
Extending the outing
The Col du Calvaire, starting point of the family trail to Lac Blanc, lies on the route of the GR5, the Vosges crossing: a way to continue onto a longer stage if the group is up for it and properly equipped. For a walk closer to La Bresse, Lac des Corbeaux remains worth considering before making the trip to Orbey, bearing in mind that the La Bresse tourist office bans swimming and all water activities there, fishing aside.
In every case, Club Vosgien waymarking and the signs posted on site take priority over any information found online: the rules for a site can change from one season to the next.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you swim in Lac Blanc or Lac Noir near Orbey?
No. Municipal order 2018/52 issued by the town of Orbey formally bans swimming and any water activity on both lakes, because of EDF installations, the risk of rockfall from the surrounding cliffs, and the lack of supervision or water quality monitoring.
Which lake is easiest to reach for a family with young children?
Lac Blanc, via the year round waymarked trail between the Col du Calvaire car park and the lake's dam. The resort also offers a barefoot sensory trail suited to children and direct car access to the site.
How do you get to Lac Vert from the Munster valley?
Take the Munster road toward the Col de la Schlucht, then a forest road from the 12 kilometre mark to the Parking du Tanet. The Munster valley tourist office describes the lake as easy to reach, with parking nearby, but publishes no walking time to the shore.