Family walk around Lac d'Étival

Two pretty lakes hidden at the bottom of a very pleasant valley – that’s the setting for this walk!
A forest track takes you round the large lake, bordered by woods and meadows.

Suitable for pushchairs.

Details

2615081
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.36 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 24 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 24 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 818 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 793 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Return to the car park along the Route des Lacs d’Étival.

(S/E) Follow the road that winds between the two lakes and heads towards the wooded part of the lake.
Walk past a small beach where the large lake begins, a lake over a kilometre long.
These two lakes are glacial lakes that formed 20,000 years ago and were separated by the moraine left behind by an ancient glacier.

(1) Continue along the road that runs alongside the lake, ignoring all the paths on the left. Enjoy the landscape and the rich flora and fauna, protected under the Natura 2000 scheme.

Note the exceptional nature of this landscape with its varied environments: mixed woodland, mountains, lakes, marshes and reed beds, cereal crops, scrub and grassy areas.

(2) At the end of the lake, continue to the right along the tarmac road that circles the lake.

(3) At the statue of the Virgin Mary, turn right after enjoying the view of the lake and continue along the road to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 794 m - Car park located on the shores of the Grand Lac
  2. 1 : km 0.15 - alt. 793 m - Along the lake
  3. 2 : km 1.33 - alt. 794 m - End of Grand Lac
  4. 3 : km 1.85 - alt. 817 m - Statue of the Virgin Mary
  5. S/E : km 3.36 - alt. 794 m - Car park located on the shores of the Grand Lac

Notes

At the signpost for Grand Lac and around the lake, you will find signs warning about ticks. A major concern in the forests of the Jura, ticks are voracious and can be found everywhere.
Please do read them and don’t forget to check yourself over after your walk.

Swimming is possible in summer (unsupervised).

Worth a visit

Along the route, if you feel like it, you can head to the viewpoint to enjoy a panoramic view of the lakes and the village (elevation gain of 75m over 600m)

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Cbab
Cbab

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely short walk for the whole family. The lake is very pretty, especially in autumn, with lovely light and beautiful colours; it’s a very peaceful setting, with just a few walkers out on this late October afternoon.
Very well laid out with plenty of benches along the lakeside, allowing you to make the most of this lovely spot

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Mabell
Mabell

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk around the lake. Very easy.
But nothing exceptional in terms of views. Unless you climb up to the viewpoint. Quite a steep slope, but manageable if you’re wearing proper footwear.

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-G-
-G-

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The lakeside is lovely, but the walk back along the road (which has very little traffic) is a bit less so.

The fact that you can take a pushchair is a big plus.

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Agnès Bo
Agnès Bo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely family walk

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mariefo
mariefo
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant stroll with a pushchair around the lake on a tarmac path.
Not too busy this Whit Sunday.

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