Route to the Sainte-Marguerite Lakes

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The Lacs Sainte-Marguerite are two pretty lakes a stone's throw from the Mont Thabor refuge. The Lac Rond and Lac Long are set in a very mineral environment at the foot of the Cheval Blanc.

Details

n°284683
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.28 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 639 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 640 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,538 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,907 m
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Photos

Mission accomplished!
MARMOT
Long lake at the foot of Cheval Blanc

Description of the walk

Park at the Lavoir car park (1923m), which can be reached by a track from the Val Fréjus resort.

(S/E) Follow the track and join the small hydraulic structure on the Charmaix torrent at a place called La Losa (2099m).

(1) At the crossroads, take the track on the right which climbs relatively gently towards the bottom of the valley. Leave a path on the right after Le Plan and reach the end of the track.

(2) Cross the stream and the Mont Thabor refuge will gradually come into view. The climb now continues on a steeper path.

(3) At this junction, you can go around the hillock where the Mounioz chalets are located either by keeping to the right and leaving the path on the left, or by keeping to the left and leaving the path on the right (the latter option is shown on the route map).

(4) Continue on to the Mont Thabor refuge.

(5) Turn right towards the lakes hidden behind a small hill. Walk along the Lac Rond and then the Lac Long on the right, going to the end of the Lac Long.

(6) Go around it and join the Tour du Mont Thabor trail that descends from the Col des Bataillères.

(7) Turn left onto this trail and return to the refuge.

(5) Ignore the path on the left that you took on the way up and stay on theGRP® (yellow and red markings). Head east towards the Col de la Vallée Étroite. Join theGR®5at a crossroads.

(8) Turn right towards the south for a round trip to the Col de la Vallée Étroite.

(9) From the pass, return to the previous junction.

(8) Descend to the right, following theGR®5to return to La Losa.

(1) Continue straight ahead to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,908 m - Lavoir car park
  2. 1 : km 1.34 - alt. 2,100 m - La Losa
  3. 2 : km 3.11 - alt. 2,266 m - End of the trail
  4. 3 : km 3.39 - alt. 2,335 m - Trail intersection
  5. 4 : km 3.78 - alt. 2,369 m - Trail
  6. 5 : km 5.05 - alt. 2,501 m - Refuge du Mont Thabor
  7. 6 : km 5.78 - alt. 2,514 m - End of Lac Long
  8. 7 : km 6.05 - alt. 2,519 m - Return to the trail
  9. 8 : km 7.53 - alt. 2,433 m - Junction of the GRP with the GR5
  10. 9 : km 7.66 - alt. 2,433 m - Col de la Vallée Etroite
  11. S/E : km 12.28 - alt. 1,907 m - Lavoir car park

Notes

The Col de la Vallée Étroite is on the border between the departments of Savoie and Hautes-Alpes, formerly the border between France and Italy.
At the beginning of summer, snowfields may be present, which may significantly alter the route in order to avoid them.

Worth a visit

Leaning house on the edge of the access road to Val Fréjus.
On the descent following theGR®5, the marmots are not shy.

 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

4.8 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Garsjac
Garsjac

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty lakes near the Mount Thabor refuge. Not much shade. A few marmots visible.

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BOLLARD
BOLLARD

Very pretty lakes on the way to Mount Tabor and completely safe. Lots of marmots on the way up.

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VIKING5083
VIKING5083

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very beautiful route that takes us to the foot of Mount Thabor, via the refuge and the two lakes.
Thank you for this guide. I recommend following the suggested route, climbing up the left bank of the Charmaix torrent (more interesting route, fewer people...). This means that at La Losa, you should not follow the sign directing you to climb up the path on the left.

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MARTIN Xavier
MARTIN Xavier

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with superb views. Done with a 10-year-old child without any problems. The first 2 km are steep. The trail is well marked.

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BOLLARD
BOLLARD

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

easy to find, plus the lakes are very pretty
I also took lots of photos of marmots

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imagineve
imagineve

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike in a superb setting.

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vald'oiserando
vald'oiserando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

very beautiful hike in a magnificent setting

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JNMASSON
JNMASSON

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful walk and few people once we arrived at the lakes at the end of the morning.
Don't forget to buy some Beaufort cheese at the Fromagerie des Lavoirs (former barracks).

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gbacherot
gbacherot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very pretty hike, fairly easy to access.
Very beautiful panoramic views.
And what's more, you can buy Beaufort cheese and visit the maturing cellar at the cheese dairy.

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migar
migar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike that comes highly recommended. Not too difficult and the scenery is spectacular.
From the reservoir, we took the route in the opposite direction to the one suggested. We climbed up the right side of the valley (north-facing slope) and descended via the gently sloping path (south-facing slope on the left, passing by the chalet). Our choice was guided by the sign indicating the refuge.
The quality of the wardens is worth noting.
Very friendly and excellent fruit juice. The lakes are very beautiful.

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Grandecasse
Grandecasse

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike under blue skies.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.