Loop of the lakes at the Refuge de l'Étandard

This hike, which takes place entirely above 2,000 metres, takes you to the edge of two artificial lakes fed largely by the Saint-Sorlin Glacier, dominated by the Pic de l'Étandard.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.75 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 617 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 617 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,534 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,061 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Start from the Col de la Croix de Fer by climbing the small peak where a stele has been erected.

(1) Reach the crossroads of the two beautiful tracks below the stele and take the right-hand track. By simply following this track, you can reach the Refuge de l'Étandard. If you are in good shape, you can also cut across the track's hairpin bends via slightly steeper paths.

(2) Reach the Col des Tufs plateau, where you will also find a sign indicating Lazard.

(3) Reach the Refuge de l'Etandard by turning onto the descent via the track.

(4) Cross the stream on a metal footbridge located slightly downstream from the refuge.

(5) Follow the track which, further south, runs along the left bank of the Grand Lac or Lac Bramant, crossing a dam.

(6) Reach the Lac Belan dam and continue south on the path that follows the shore.

(7) Leave the trail that runs along the shore and take the one that climbs up to the right. Join the junction with the trail on the right bank.

(8) Take a hairpin turn to the left. Cross the Col Sud des Lacs and continue on the left
Head north on the path along the right bank until you reach the intersection about halfway along Lake Bramant.

(9) Take the path that climbs diagonally above the lake to reach the Col Nord des Lacs.

(10) Head right, east, on the yellow-marked trail, which is sometimes steep and overlooks the track

(11) After passing under a chairlift, join the track that descends for a long time, passing several times near the ski lifts.
Return to the intersection you passed at the start of the hike.

(1) Take the path on the right to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 2,064 m - Car park - Col de la Croix-de-Fer
  2. 1 : km 0.19 - alt. 2,071 m - Trail junction. Near the source of the - Eau d'Olle (torrent)
  3. 2 : km 3.95 - alt. 2,527 m - Col des Tufs (2525m)
  4. 3 : km 5.04 - alt. 2,448 m - Refuge de l'Étandard
  5. 4 : km 5.17 - alt. 2,439 m - Metal footbridge
  6. 5 : km 5.51 - alt. 2,450 m - Dam - Lac Bramant
  7. 6 : km 6.24 - alt. 2,473 m - Lac Belan dam
  8. 7 : km 6.7 - alt. 2,479 m - Fork
  9. 8 : km 7.11 - alt. 2,511 m - Junction of the left and right bank trails
  10. 9 : km 8.68 - alt. 2,466 m - Trail in a scarf
  11. 10 : km 9.35 - alt. 2,534 m - Col Nord des Lacs
  12. 11 : km 10.56 - alt. 2,246 m - Chairlift
  13. S/E : km 13.75 - alt. 2,064 m - Car park

Worth a visit

From point (8), a trail leads to the foot of the glacier in 1 hour 15 minutes.
View of the glacier at points (8) and (10), then view of the Aiguilles d'Arve on the descent.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 51 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
brigitte38
brigitte38

Yes, you're right, I made a mistake! I'll see if I can remove it...

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Wingardium
Wingardium

What does this have to do with Pic de l'Etendard? In my opinion, the comment is not about the right hike!

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brigitte38
brigitte38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful panoramic views at Pic St Michel and Col Vert, but with little space for picnics.
Pic St Michel and Col Vert require a good amount of physical effort, so you have to earn the panoramic views, hihihi...
Be careful if you suffer from vertigo on part of the route, but you can avoid it if you don't look down too much!
Picnics are possible at the Roybon refuge, which is closed but has picnic tables.
A beautiful hike! Thanks to the author!

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User 13769418

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

nice hike, very easy. Not much elevation gain, no difficulty
The landscape is impressive from all sides

NEGATIVE POINT:
The descent from the northern pass of the lakes: uninteresting stony path (ski slope).

i would recommend going down the same way you came up

the lake was undergoing construction work, so the water level was very low

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ber73420
ber73420

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike to do in early summer
On 12 August, the lakes are far from full!

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pascalbigot
pascalbigot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike
The scenery is breathtaking
No particular difficulties.
The descent from the northern pass of the lakes: very difficult, rocky path with little interest (runs alongside a ski slope). Tip: descend via the same route as the ascent: the view is magical enough to see from two different angles!
In mid-June, there were still parts of the path covered in snow!

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User 14965125

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike in a high mountain setting, made even more special by the fact that it had snowed and we did almost the entire hike in the snow, wearing forest crampons. The lakes were frozen, with some parts an extraordinary glacier blue.

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Wingardium
Wingardium

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

With this autumn weather and very changeable conditions in the Alps, it's difficult to find the right day for a hike. This day was the least bad of the week, with a cloudy sky, small clouds and sand from the Sahara suspended in the air.
We followed the route more or less. The refuge was closed for the season, Lake Bramant was full, but Lake Blanc was at its lowest level due to work on the dam.
The descent back down was a bit rough, but the final trail to the Col de la Croix de Fer was very pleasant.
There were very few hikers and a few sheep (without hooves and with a shepherd)

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Totofvalrando
Totofvalrando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful route with a view of the Étendard glacier, the Aiguilles d'Arves and some beautiful lakes. It was a shame that the Lac Blanc was almost empty due to construction work
We followed the route as indicated, descending via the trail.
Very beautiful view looking down on the Arves valley

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User 16781192

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did the hike in this direction: Col de la Croix de Fer – former César Durant refuge – Col Nord des Lacs – ridge on the south-east side of the Aiguille Rousse (splendid and fairly easy) – tour of the lakes and return via the refuge and Col du Tuf! A superb loop with the detour to the Aiguille Rousse!!!

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Mamou73
Mamou73

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The various numbered points along the route and the information provided were extremely helpful. Thank you, Visorando

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gll
gll
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WALK IN THE AREA!
This is a magnificent hike because the landscape is high mountain, the view is splendid and the lakes are deep blue, not to mention the views of the Saint-Sorlin glacier (which can now be reached without climbing, which was not the case in 2006 when the glacier was at the end of the third small lake).
Like other reviewers, I don't recommend taking the same route back as it follows a very steep, stony and slippery ski slope. Instead, climb above the lakes and join the Col des Tufs, which will take you back to the path you took on the way there.
The hike is easy (except for the return route) because the road leading to it is not difficult and the walk around the lakes is almost flat.
You can eat or have a drink at the Étendard refuge.

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Fiole laurent
Fiole laurent

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hiking trail to explore. Stunning scenery

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MamIza
MamIza

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful route. Magnificent views. Very crowded at weekends...

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smashdc
smashdc
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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