Lac de Gérardmer is the largest natural lake in the Vosges, and it also offers the widest range of options: a supervised beach, pedal boat rental at the town-center quays, or a walk or bike ride around the lake. This guide brings together the 2026 hours and rates verified with the tourist office and the town hall, so you can pick an activity without wasting time figuring it out on site.
The lake at a glance
Sitting at 660 m altitude, Lac de Gérardmer covers 115 hectares, with a maximum length of 2,200 m, a width of 750 m and a depth reaching 38.40 m. Like most lakes in the Vosges, it has a glacial origin and sits at the bottom of the valley just below the town center, making it walkable from the hotels and campsites along its shores.
As for boating, only unpowered craft or those with electric motors are allowed on the water. A municipal permit, issued by the town hall, is required for any private boating, including for owners of rowboats or small electric craft.
The beach: Union Nautique or free swimming
For supervised swimming, the Union Nautique beach at quai de Waremme operates from June to September with lifeguards on duty. The site has two designated swimming areas, around 200 m of sandy beach and green space, a 60 m water slide, a ping-pong area and a snack bar with a terrace overlooking the lake. Changing rooms, showers and toilets are on site, and renting two sun loungers with a parasol costs 5 euros.
2026 entry rates: 6 euros for an adult, 3.50 euros with certain passes, 4.20 euros for a child (2 euros with a discount), and free for children under 4 as well as for Gérardmer-resident children under 10. Local residents can opt for an annual pass at 55 euros (adult) or 37 euros (child). Other formats exist depending on the facility: the town’s full price list is what applies on the day.
Away from Union Nautique, several natural areas around the lake remain open for free swimming, with no supervision or set hours. It’s the option to favor if you want to avoid the July-August crowds, provided you’re comfortable with there being no lifeguard.
Pedal boats, canoes and electric boats: where to rent
Rental operators are grouped on two quays. At quai de Waremme, Union Nautique adds pedal boat rental to its swimming offer. At quai du Lac, two operators sit across from each other: La Perle and La Chaloupe, both offering classic pedal boats and electric motor boats, with La Perle also offering solar-powered models. A canoe-kayak base is also set up on the Ramberchamp side, to the west of the lake.
The rental season starts in early April and runs until mid-October, weather permitting. Life jackets meeting European standards are provided for all ages. Rates depend on the chosen duration (30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour or longer) and the number of seats on the pedal boat or electric boat: it’s best to check the price posted at the quay or call the operator before heading over in peak season, when queues get longer in the early afternoon.
Walking or cycling around the lake
The loop trail around the lake covers 6 km with 80 m of elevation gain, rated moderate difficulty by the tourist office. The route first follows the left side of the lake (with your back to town), skirts the lakeside campsite, then reaches a narrow, rocky stretch that isn’t suitable for strollers, before running alongside the road to Épinal up to quai des bateliers. Good shoes are worth bringing: this stretch can get muddy depending on the weather, and becomes hard to manage in winter.
On foot, at a strolling pace, plan on 1.5 to 2 hours to cover the 6 km with a few stops. On a bike, the narrow, rocky section makes it more technical than a simple ride on a cycle path: a mountain bike or a bike with wide tires handles it without trouble, while a road bike or a child’s bike will be put to the test on this particular stretch. Parking is available in the free town-center car parks or right by the lake, about 300 m from quai des bateliers.
Planning a day around the lake
Lac de Gérardmer lends itself to a full day out: a morning of swimming or pedal boating, lunch by the water, then a walk around the lake in the late afternoon once the heat eases off. To extend the trip toward wilder lakes, lac de Retournemer and lac de Blanchemer offer a clear contrast: no beach or pedal boats, but protected shores and a quiet that busier Gérardmer doesn’t offer. For an outing combining water and a waterfall in the same day, cascade de Tendon pairs well with a route starting from La Bresse.
Between a paid, supervised beach, free unsupervised swimming, pedal boats at the town-center quays, and a lake walk suited to both walkers and mountain bikers, Lac de Gérardmer covers the essentials of a day by the water in the Hautes Vosges, without requiring long trips to combine activities.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you swim freely at Lac de Gérardmer, or do you have to pay?
Both options exist. The Union Nautique beach (quai de Waremme) is staffed with lifeguards from June to September and charges an entry fee: 6 euros per adult and 4.20 euros per child in 2026, free for children under 4. Elsewhere along the shore, several unsupervised areas allow free swimming with no lifeguard on duty.
How long does it take to walk around Lac de Gérardmer?
The waymarked route covers 6 km with 80 m of elevation gain, rated moderate difficulty by the tourist office. At a strolling pace, plan on 1.5 to 2 hours, allowing for a narrow, rocky stretch on the far side of the lake from town that isn't suitable for strollers.
Where can you rent a pedal boat at Lac de Gérardmer?
A few rental operators share the quays: Union Nautique at quai de Waremme, and both La Perle and La Chaloupe at quai du Lac. The season runs from April to mid-October, life jackets are provided, and rates depend on the rental duration and the number of seats on the pedal boat.