Two glacial lakes on the Alsace side of the massif, below the Hohneck: the small Lac de Fischboedle is reached in under an hour’s walk from the valley, while Lac de Schiessrothried is 30 to 45 minutes from the Gaschney car park, higher up the slope. Here’s what the Munster Valley tourist office says about actual access to each one, to help build a day out in nature that matches your fitness level.
Two lakes, two levels of effort
The classic starting point is the Steinabruck car park, at the Chalets de la Wormsa, about 2 km past the village of Metzeral. From there, Lac de Fischboedle is reached in 30 to 40 minutes of walking, with no discouraging elevation gain. It’s the smallest of the Vosges lakes, covering just 0.5 hectares at 794 m of altitude.
Lac de Schiessrothried sits higher: between the Spitzkoepfe and the foot of the Hohneck, at 930 m of altitude. The tourist office gives 30 to 45 minutes of walking from the Gaschney car park in its fishing and refuge listings, while its suggested itinerary linking both lakes counts 1h30 from the Gaschney, 2h from the Hohneck and 4h from the Wormsa. A common mix-up is assuming both sites can be covered on one short walk: that isn’t the case, so it’s worth picking a starting point based on how much time you have.
Lac de Fischboedle, an easy late morning outing
Lac de Fischboedle is glacial in origin, though its current shape dates from a raising of the water level carried out around 1850 by Munster manufacturer Jacques Hartmann, who turned it into a fish reserve. A scree slope feeds the lake, giving it an almost alpine character despite its small size.
The site is accessible on foot only: no vehicles are permitted beyond the Steinabruck car park. A small shelter, put up by the Club Vosgien of the Munster Valley, offers cover for walkers. Dogs are welcome on site.
To extend the outing, the tourist office lists a waymarked route starting from the Chalets de la Wormsa: the Wormsa waterfalls and Lac de Fischboedle, 8.17 km, 317 m of elevation gain, about 3 hours of walking, rated intermediate difficulty. This route crosses the protected Wormsa valley site, at the foot of the Hohneck and the Kastelberg, and stays within a day hike logic, comparable in spirit to the Lac de Lispach trail on the La Bresse side, though with a steeper profile.
Lac de Schiessrothried, below the Hohneck
Lac de Schiessrothried is also glacial in origin. According to the commune of Metzeral, it was originally no more than an over deepened peat bog, turned into a lake by a small dam meant to regulate the flow of water towards the textile factories and sawmills of the Munster valley. The lake covers 5.6 hectares and lies on the route of the GR5, between the Spitzkoepfe and the Hohneck.
It’s a first category fishing lake: brown trout, Arctic char and brook trout are present, with a valid fishing licence required. The nearest starting point remains the Gaschney car park, 30 to 45 minutes of walking away according to the tourist office listings, and the return leg needs to be added to the total time of the outing.
Those looking for a barely developed mountain lake, in the same spirit as Lac de Retournemer on the Vosges side, will find no beach and no refreshment stand here. The Schiessrothried refuge, run by the Vosges Trotters Colmar club, stands on the shore with a warden on site; the association serves no meals and opening dates are worth checking with it.
Planning your day around your fitness level
For a short family outing, aim for Lac de Fischboedle alone from Steinabruck: 1h to 1h20 round trip, with no special technical gear needed. For a full day of hiking, combining both lakes from the Wormsa means allowing around 4 hours of walking according to the tourist office, with hiking boots and enough water recommended given the cumulative elevation gain.
Those who prefer starting from the Gaschney side (reached by road from Muhlbach-sur-Munster) reach Schiessrothried in 30 to 45 minutes, an option worth considering for anyone already staying in the Munster Valley or planning to continue with a hike to the Hohneck.
As with any high altitude outing in the massif, trail conditions can vary by season: the tourist office keeps a closed trails page. As of 4 August 2026 it reports that the municipal order banning the path between Lac du Schiessrothried and the Kerbholz, below the Spitzkoepfe ridge, has been withdrawn and that this section of the GR 531 is accessible again. Checking with the Munster Valley tourist office before setting out helps avoid an unwelcome surprise along the way.
For comparison with other peat bog lakes in the massif, less enclosed but just as protected, Lac de Blanchemer offers an accessible alternative on the La Bresse side, in a more family friendly register than Schiessrothried.
Key takeaways
Fischboedle is reached in under an hour from the Steinabruck car park: a short outing, with no major elevation gain, suited to a family morning. Schiessrothried is reached in 30 to 45 minutes from the Gaschney car park, while the tourist office counts 1h30 from the Gaschney or 4h from the Wormsa for the itinerary linking both lakes. The choice of starting point (Wormsa, Gaschney or Hohneck) directly determines the real difficulty of the outing, far more than the distance shown on maps.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Lac de Fischboedle and how do you get there?
Lac de Fischboedle sits in the town of Metzeral, in the Munster Valley (Haut-Rhin), at 794 m of altitude. It's reached on foot only, from the Steinabruck car park at the Chalets de la Wormsa, about 2 km past Metzeral. Allow 30 to 40 minutes of walking, no vehicles are allowed beyond the car park.
How long does it take to reach Lac de Schiessrothried?
The Munster Valley tourist office gives 30 to 45 minutes of walking from the Gaschney car park in its fishing and refuge listings. Its figures of 1h30 from the Gaschney, 2h from the Hohneck and 4h from the Wormsa cover a suggested itinerary linking both lakes. The lake sits at 930 m of altitude, between the Spitzkoepfe and the foot of the Hohneck.
Can you swim or fish in these two lakes?
Swimming isn't set up at either site, which have no beach and no lifeguard; a mountain refuge, with no catering service, stands on the shore of the Schiessrothried. That lake is classed as a first category fishing lake: brown trout, Arctic char and brook trout can be caught there, with a valid fishing licence.