Among the lakes in this guide, only Lac de Gérardmer has a supervised beach described by the sources reread; Longemer tolerates unsupervised swimming, and swimming is prohibited at the lakes of Corbeaux, Blanchemer, Lispach, Ténine and Retournemer. The Saulxures-sur-Moselotte leisure base also has a supervised area, according to our article on swimming. The season declared from 6 June to 6 September 2026 for Gérardmer is over, and no 2027 dates were published on the pages reread on 26 October 2026.
The lakes at a glance
| Lake | What the sources say | Swimming | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gérardmer | 660 m altitude, 115 ha, largest natural lake in the Vosges | Supervised Union Nautique beach from June to September, unsupervised natural areas | Lac de Gérardmer |
| Longemer | 736 m altitude, 76 ha, boats available for rent at the lakeside | Tolerated, not supervised | Lac de Longemer |
| Retournemer | Private lake, private fishing | Prohibited | Lac de Retournemer |
| Corbeaux | Walk around the lake in about 30 minutes according to the page (about 20 minutes according to the shuttle page) | Prohibited, water activities not authorised | Lac des Corbeaux |
| Blanchemer | Floating peat bog dangerous to access | Prohibited, camping and fires prohibited | Lac de Blanchemer |
| Lispach | Cited by the summer shuttle page of the La Bresse tourist office | Prohibited, water activities prohibited except fishing | Lac de Lispach |
| Forlet (lac des Truites) | 1,061 m altitude, 2.8 ha, the highest of the Vosges lakes according to the page | Not covered by the page | Lac du Forlet |
| Pierre-Percée | Pays des Lacs site, with Lac de la Plaine | Prohibited at both lakes | Lac de Pierre-Percée |
Where to swim in summer
Lac de Gérardmer has supervised swimming: the Massif des Vosges page describes supervised swimming at the Union Nautique beach from June to September, and the 2026 page of the ministry responsible for health gives a season from 6 June to 6 September 2026 for this base. The Massif des Vosges page adds that unsupervised swimming is possible at several natural areas. Our Lac de Gérardmer guide details the beach and the walk around the lake.
Lac de Longemer, in Xonrupt-Longemer, is described by the commune as a lake where swimming is tolerated but not supervised, the commune declining all responsibility in the event of an accident. The full summary of the season, including Lac de la Moselotte at Saulxures, is in our article on swimming in the Vosges lakes and in the guide to the Saulxures water sports base.
On the Pierre-Percée site, the operator writes « Baignade interdite sur les 2 lacs » (swimming prohibited on both lakes) and specifies that, for Lac de la Plaine, swimming has no longer been offered since 2024 and is no longer authorised. See the Lac de Pierre-Percée guide.
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The lakes where swimming is prohibited
In La Bresse, the tourist office writes that swimming and all water activities, fishing excepted, are prohibited at the lakes of Corbeaux, Blanchemer, Lispach and Ténine. The summer shuttle page describes walks on foot at the lakes of Corbeaux, Blanchemer and Lispach.
For Lac des Corbeaux, the tourist office page indicates a walk around the lake in about 30 minutes on a trail accessible to everyone (the shuttle page writes about 20 minutes of walking), and a trail to the roche du lac of about 1 h 30 round trip, not accessible in winter. The same page carries the heading « Route fermée en hiver » (road closed in winter). Our Lac des Corbeaux guide and the article on the swimming ban at Lac des Corbeaux give the access details.
Lac de Blanchemer is described by the tourist office with a floating peat bog dangerous to access; camping, fires and swimming are prohibited there, and bivouacking is tolerated. Its name, “mer blanche” (white sea), comes according to the page from the reflection of snow in its waters in winter. Find the walk in the Lac de Blanchemer guide and, for peat bogs, in our article on peat bog walks.
In Xonrupt-Longemer, Lac de Retournemer is a private lake according to the commune, with swimming prohibited and private fishing (Lac de Retournemer guide).
High-altitude lakes and those of the Munster valley
Lac du Forlet, also called lac des Truites, lies at 1,061 m altitude in the commune of Soultzeren. According to the Munster valley page, it is the highest of all the lakes in the Vosges, and it covers 2.8 ha. The Lac du Forlet guide describes the access from La Bresse.
Other lakes have their own guide in the same area or on the ridges: Lac de Fischboedle and Lac de Schiessrothried, Lac Blanc and Lac Noir d’Orbey, Lac des Perches, Lac de la Lauch and Lac du Ballon and Lac Vert. To link several lakes by car, see our Route des Crêtes guide.
Fishing, paddleboarding and camping by the water
At Longemer, the commune indicates that fishing is practised on the lake and along the Vologne from 1 May until the evening of 1 November, with a deadline on the 3rd Sunday of September for salmonids (except whitefish), and recommends carrying the local fishing permit. For the other lakes, see our guide to fishing in the Vosges.
For water sports and lakeside accommodation, see the guide to kayaking and canoeing, the one on stand-up paddleboarding and the comparison of lakeside campsites.
See also
- Swimming in the Vosges lakes: 2026 review
- Lac de Gérardmer: walk around the lake, beach and activities
- Lac de la Moselotte at Saulxures
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Frequently asked questions
Can you swim at Lac des Corbeaux?
No. The lake's official page and the La Bresse tourist office's shuttle page state that swimming and water activities are not authorised, fishing excepted. The same rule applies to the lakes of Blanchemer, Lispach and Ténine.
What is the largest natural lake in the Vosges?
According to the Massif des Vosges page, it is Lac de Gérardmer: 115 ha, 660 m altitude, 38.40 m maximum depth, of glacial origin.
Where can you swim around La Bresse and Gérardmer?
For Lac de Gérardmer, the Massif des Vosges page describes supervised swimming at the Union Nautique beach from June to September, and the 2026 page of the ministry responsible for health gives a season from 6 June to 6 September. At Lac de Longemer, the commune writes that swimming is tolerated but not supervised. No 2027 date was found on the pages reread on 26 October 2026.