Lac des Cordes circuit

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A remarkable circuit in the famous Fonts de Cervières valley, with a magnificent lake at the foot of the Pic de Rochebrune cirque.

Details

n°9063
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.46 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,100 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,096 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,517 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 6,417 ft
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Photos

Lake of the Ropes
The rope lake
Lac des Cordes in front of Pic de Rochebrune
Departure from Lac des Cordes

Description of the walk

From Briançon, take the Col d'Izoard road. At Cervières, turn left onto the Fonts de Cervières road (signposted). Continue along this asphalt road. Park in the car park in the hamlet of La Bourgea.

(S/E) Start with a short descent to the footbridge, then follow theGR® ( red and white) andPR® (yellow) markings. Climb quickly through the forest, where a few hairpin bends lead to a cable-assisted section, which is completely safe.

(1) At the top, the slope levels out and the forest gives way to mountain pastures. After a few hairpin bends, you will reach a crossroads.

(2) Take the left-hand path (leaving the old path on your right) and follow a few tight hairpin bends to reach Lac des Cordes.

(3) Stay on the left side of the lake and take theGR® trail, which quickly leads to Lac des Marsailles (now a puddle) and then to the pass of the same name.

(4) Begin the very easy descent, which is rocky at first but then becomes more alpine. Reach theGR®58, which leads to the Col de Péas on the right.

(5) Turn left to reach the hamlet of Les Fonts.

(6) Cross the Cervereytte at the exit on the footbridge and follow the left bank of this torrent to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 6,417 ft - La Bourgea car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.51 - alt. 7,034 ft - Cabled passage
  3. 2 : mi 0.93 - alt. 7,562 ft - Crossroads of the old trail
  4. 3 : mi 1.34 - alt. 8,035 ft - Lac des Cordes
  5. 4 : mi 1.93 - alt. 8,510 ft - Col des Marsailles (2602m)
  6. 5 : mi 3.34 - alt. 7,152 ft - GR58 crossroads - Cerveyrette (rivière)
  7. 6 : mi 4.32 - alt. 6,703 ft - Les Fonts - Refuge des Fonts de Cervières
  8. S/E : mi 5.46 - alt. 6,421 ft - La Bourgea car park

Notes

There is no water along the route except for the fountain at Les Fonts.
A bench awaits hikers at the lake's spillway.
There are also two refreshment stands, one at Les Fonts and one at La Taque, a hamlet in La Bourgea.

Worth a visit

An easy but remarkable circuit in a magnificent setting. The Lac des Cordes is located in the cirque formed by the peaks above it. To the right is the Turge de la Suffie, in the centre is the Escalinade, and to the left is the Grand Pic de Rochebrune. The rocky walls give it the feel of a high mountain, while the most intrepid hikers swim in the lake.
However, in summer, there are large crowds of hikers here.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 73 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
medaral
medaral

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Here’s a really lovely walk to go on. Everything is beautiful! The start is a bit steep, but after a few hairpin bends the gradient eases off. It’s best to set off early, so you can have lunch at around 1 pm at the Refuge des Fonts, one of the best places to eat (in terms of value for money) in the region… but you do need to book well in advance.

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anninha
anninha

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, pleasant walk through the woodland on the way up. We carried on to the lakes further up and reached the pass without going back down to Lac des Cordes via the path that leads down from the Col de Chaude Maison.

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VCANET
VCANET

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk in a stunning setting.
There were a good thirty people around the lake, but the atmosphere was peaceful.
The Refuge des Fonts de Cervières, on the other hand, was packed.

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User 8449027

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A really lovely walk… It’s definitely worth the effort to reach the summit, as the view is magnificent. The 360-degree view is simply one of the most beautiful in the region!
The walk isn’t too difficult but does take quite a bit of time.
We arrived at the car park at around 9.30 am, and there were already a few cars there, so I’d say it’s probably best not to arrive after 11 am...

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FamilyMillet
FamilyMillet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk

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User 7496346

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike

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Zicdoudou
Zicdoudou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent route that starts in the woods and climbs steadily to Lac des Cordes
Encountered a flock of sheep and three sheepdogs; you have to stay calm and let the flock pass
My dog was on a leash, so there was no problem
The section with the cables does not pose any particular problems
The views of the surrounding mountains are magical
There is a spectacular cairn near Lac des Cordes
There is another small lake to the right of the lake. It is not on the GR trail but is worth a visit
Return to the GR to the pass at 2,605 m. The descent is easy
In season, I recommend having lunch at the Refuge des Fonts, booking in advance if you want to try their famous leg of lamb with gratin dauphinois
I recommend parking at the refuge, which is 1 km from the indicated starting point, and starting the hike by following the stream to the starting point. You will then finish the hike at the Refuge des Fonts
Enjoy your walk!

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regis.rollin
regis.rollin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, as described, with stunning views of Lac des Cordes and Lac des Maïts. A quick note about the section with the cables: it is indeed safe. The handrail is very secure, but for those who are not used to walking in the mountains, it can be tricky as there is not much footing.

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User 18066159

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with the family at the end of July.
There was little shade along the route, but the altitude and slight breeze made it more pleasant.
There is no shade at all at the lake, so avoid this hike during hot weather.
River crossing at point "4" in the description: for those who like to dip their feet in the water, it's always nice and VERY refreshing

The few kilometres between the refreshment bar (much appreciated) at point 6 and the car park are less pleasant but the path is flat and shaded. This section is necessary to complete the loop.

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User 1063150

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk, a few people but not too many for mid-August.
The climb through the forest starts quickly.
The short section with ropes is not particularly difficult.

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gk
gk

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike, done during the peak flowering season. The landscapes are absolutely magnificent. Very few people around at this time of year. The marmots let you approach them, except when some inconsiderate hikers let their dogs run wild... The path between Lac des Cordes and the pass is more difficult to follow. You need to follow the red and white markers on the ground and adapt a little before the pass, where there are still some snowy patches. Definitely worth doing.
Note: the section with the cable is only about 30 metres long and is very easy to cross at your own pace thanks to the handrail.

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello and thank you for your comment. In fact, you've said it all: it's really in autumn that hikers calmly enjoy this area. In summer, some days it's a real procession. You've also made an interesting choice in going to the Col de Péas, the border between the Briançonnais and Queyras regions.
I wish you all the best for the future and hope you enjoy the fine weather.

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Pasnog
Pasnog

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

At the time we did this hike, there weren't many people, but I imagine it must be very popular in summer, and rightly so, because it's a very pretty hike with a steady climb through the woods and a magnificent finish at the Cordes lake. We pushed on to the Col de Péas before heading back down to Les Fonds (another hour's climb).

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isabelle5891
isabelle5891

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Thank you for this varied and spectacular route. It's a shame that there are campers near the Cordes lake. Lac des Maits is very pretty too.
I wouldn't say, however, that the cabled section is without any difficulty, but it was frequented on this Sunday morning in August, except for the part between Les Fonts and Le Bourgeat.

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flopicano
flopicano

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely loop, pleasant route.
Beautiful flowers, perhaps thanks to the slightly late spring this year.

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