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Lake Gérardmer – Donkey's Leap loop from Gérardmer

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Hiking trails & Routes

Lake Gérardmer – Donkey's Leap loop from Gérardmer

Hard

4.6

(301)

1,682

hikers

Lake Gérardmer – Donkey's Leap loop from Gérardmer

03:54

12.3km

350m

Hiking

Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 6, 2026

Tips

Includes segments that may be dangerous

Parts of this route comprise highly technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience is required.

After 2.86 km for 451 m

After 10.6 km for 375 m

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

428 m

Lake Gérardmer

Highlight • Lake

Beautifully nestled between the wooded mountains of the Vosges lies this beautiful lake and the municipality of the same name.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

2.92 km

Phény stream

Highlight • Gorge

From the car park of the motocross track you can walk to the Saut de la Bourrique along the stream through a small gorge. It goes on a narrow path over several old stone bridges. Highly recommended!

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4.59 km

Col de Sapois

Mountain Pass

5.30 km

Donkey's Leap

Highlight • Waterfall

According to legend, the Bourrique jump owes its name to a donkey that saved its lord at the bottom of the waterfall. Returning from the crusades, the latter would have …

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7.83 km

Merelle Observatory

Highlight • Summit

A beautiful wooden tower with a narrow spiral staircase, it can accommodate a maximum of four people at a time. During the week and in bad weather, you won't have to wait long.

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8.90 km

Forest Trail and Stream in Parc naturel régional des Ballons des Vosges

Highlight (Segment) • Forest

The path to the waterfall is quite challenging, but with good footwear and a certain amount of surefootedness, it's no problem. The nature here is pristine and beautiful.

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9.48 km

Mérelle Waterfall

Highlight • Waterfall

There is one big and many smaller beautiful waterfalls along the creek.

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9.53 km

Along the Ruisseau de Merelle

Highlight (Segment) • Waterfall

For children a wonderful and adventurous hike

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10.6 km

Les Roches Noires Lakeside Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Nice lake shore path. Because there are many big rocks, unfortunatelly bicycles and baby strollers cannot be used.

Tip by

12.3 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

4.37 km

2.79 km

2.31 km

1.60 km

1.23 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

5.72 km

3.60 km

1.91 km

446 m

337 m

276 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (880 m)

Lowest point (660 m)

Weather

Wednesday 12 August

33°C

17°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 8.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

May 8, 2024,Ruisseau du Phény - Cascade de Mérelle

A superb walk! Two magnificent waterfalls, pretty little bridges to cross, varied trails, splendid nature and some more technical passages in the rocks make this loop perfect.

Showing Translation

March 12, 2026,Die wilden Narzissen von Gérardmer 🌼🌱

A perfect day at Lac de Gérardmer.

We perfectly timed the daffodil bloom on the slopes above Gérardmer.

Countless yellow bells push their way through ferns, grass, and thick layers of oak leaves.

We enjoyed the lake in the sunshine and the stunning view from the Mérelle Tower. Then there were the rocky paths up to the waterfall and the …

Showing Translation

May 19, 2023,🇫🇷 Lac de Géradmer - Cascade de Mérelle - Observatoire de Merelle - Saut de la Bourrique

Today's tour was fantastic. Lots of rock trails, waterfalls and a great gorge.
And a lookout tower with an endless queue 😂
In the end we had climbed another mountain with a beautiful view of Gerardmer and had the place to ourselves👌
I don't think that can be topped with the 2 remaining tours.

Showing Translation

August 11, 2024,Saut de la Bourrique – Cascade de Mérelle Runde von Gerardmer

I don't want to bore you, but the journey alone with the 🦆 through the Vosges is a dream.
The tour starts off by going around the busy lake with a few official bathing spots. Later it goes off through a gorge and then back to the lake along the watercourse or waterfall. There we were able to cool off …

Showing Translation

August 8, 2024,Gerardmer 🅿️ghg : Saut de la boutique / Observatoire de Mérelle / Cascade de Mérelle 08/08/2024

Short hike on the heights of Gerardmer. the path along the stream and which leads to the Bourique jump, although closed, is passable as is the old blue disk (unmarked) which descends from the Mérelle observatory. The rocky scree which descends from the top of Mérelle towards the lake via the Mérelle waterfall is really technical and deserves your full …

Showing Translation

June 3, 2024,Observatoire de Merelle – Cascade de Mérelle Runde von Gerdsee

Part 1 of our tour, because unfortunately the recording was interrupted.
Beautiful but not so easy tour. Because it had rained heavily the day before and some tree felling work was being carried out, it was very slippery. Always along the water and waterfalls

Showing Translation

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Lake Gérardmer – Donkey's Leap loop from Gérardmer

Lake Gérardmer

Phény stream

Donkey's Leap

Merelle Observatory

Forest Trail and Stream in Parc naturel régional des Ballons des Vosges

Mérelle Waterfall

Along the Ruisseau de Merelle

Les Roches Noires Lakeside Trail

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