Col de la Bailletaz from the Saut Dam

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This easy hike in the Grande Sassière Reserve will take you to a high mountain environment, between lakes and glaciers.

Details

n°14548471
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.13 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 565 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 565 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,850 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,271 m
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Photos

Saut Dam
Saut Dam
Lac de la Sassière
towards Lac de la Sassiere

Description of the walk

From Bourg-St-Maurice, head towards Val d'Isère (D902). At Villaret du Nial, turn left towards La Sassière. Cross Villaret du Nial and continue to the Saut Dam. Park in the car park by Lac du Saut.

(S/E) Take the track towards Lac de la Sassière. Leave the Chalet du Santel on your left, continue along the track and head for the dam.

(1) Turn right and cross the dam. Just after the dam, turn left towards Col de la Baillettaz.

(2) Ignore a path on the right and continue south.

(3) At the next intersection, continue straight ahead on the path towards the pass. Pass at the foot of the stunning Pointe de Picheru and cross over with Lac de la Sassière below on your left.

(4) Climb a few switchbacks and pass above Lac Santel. This will bring you to Col de la Bailletaz (magnificent panorama; note Lac de la Bailletaz nestled 100 m below).

(5) Return via the same route in reverse until you reach the intersection near the dam.

(2) Then take the path on the left. Follow the Sassière river. Further on, pass the Chalet de la Sassière on your right. Follow the southern shore of Lac du Saut and join the road at the hamlet of Le Saut, now in ruins.

(6) Turn right onto this road and head to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 2,291 m - Car park - Lac du Saut
  2. 1 : km 3.29 - alt. 2,460 m - Intersection - Lac de la Sassière
  3. 2 : km 3.91 - alt. 2,474 m - Intersection near the dam
  4. 3 : km 4.17 - alt. 2,494 m - Intersection
  5. 4 : km 5.31 - alt. 2,613 m - Winding climb
  6. 5 : km 6.94 - alt. 2,850 m - Col de la Bailletaz
  7. 6 : km 12.89 - alt. 2,280 m - Hameau du Saut
  8. S/E : km 13.13 - alt. 2,291 m - Lac de Saut car park

Notes

The environment you will be passing through during this hike is fragile. Please take care with the flora (picking edelweiss is prohibited) and do not disturb the local wildlife. Take your rubbish with you and pick up any you find.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

From (6), you can climb up to see Lac du Plan du Cheval by heading south-east

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 13 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
courtelm
courtelm

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

The car park was full, but there weren't many people on the circuit.

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François57
François57

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There are a few people on the way to the lake. The climb to the pass is fairly easy but offers spectacular views.

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PIERRE MONNIER
PIERRE MONNIER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 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 hike in magnificent surroundings. You're sure to see marmots. The climb to the pass is physically demanding for seniors like us (aged 77 and 78), but the beauty of the surroundings makes it well worth the effort.
PP and MM

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Alain04
Alain04

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike with magnificent panoramic views. The climb is very gradual. There is a snowfield to cross on the last section just before the pass. Otherwise, there are no real difficulties. Marmots and ibexes await you, along with splendid flora at this time of year.

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smashdc
smashdc
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Gentle climb from the Lac du Saut car park, 10% to 15% depending on the section.
Magnificent scenery from the start and even better on the way back with the sun in the early afternoon
No difficulty in reaching the Col de Bailletaz, but the climb becomes more sustained with some beautiful sections at 20%–25%. However, the terrain is easy, even if there are some rocks.
Very strong wind in open areas, especially at the summit, with cooler temperatures (the same for the glacier)!
In the end, it's quite quick to make the round trip and I decide to go to the glacier when I see the sign: 1½ hours from Lake Sassière. For good walkers, as there is a little over 500 m of elevation gain. Easy terrain, however.
There is a stream to cross as you approach the glacier, including an unstable rock. It's best to have walking sticks!
Once at the top, the views are fantastic! If you want to go down to the bottom of the lakes, there are only rocks and it seemed quite far to me because you have to go around them, and the view will be blocked, so I didn't go, especially as I would have been close to 23 km.
Plenty of marmots and baby marmots!
Another must-see.

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WALHAIN
WALHAIN

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I would like to thank Visorando for telling me about this hike
The walk from Le Saut to Lake Sassière is long and almost flat, but above the lake towards the pass, it gets tough, with the reward of encountering several chamois.
A fond memory.

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titi670
titi670

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little hike with splendid views of Sassierre and the surrounding area (Mont Blanc, etc.)

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gbg
gbg

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Made in the author's opinion. It's a very beautiful, easy hike with stunning scenery. We really enjoyed it. Quite a few people up to Lake Sassiere. Very few after that

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Rhéa25
Rhéa25

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An absolutely superb hike, extremely easy going, and I agree with the previous comment about starting on the pretty path and finishing on the track on the way back, it's so much more pleasant and bucolic!

I pushed on to Pointe de Bailletaz. It takes a good 20 minutes to climb up there, with an elevation gain of 870 metres, but the view from the top is absolutely exceptional, with a majestic 360° panorama. However, this section is only suitable for people who are comfortable on steep, unstable trails and have a good footing...

A magical walk to do, even if you stop at the pass, which already offers superb panoramic views!

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Jdlavariante
Jdlavariante

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It seems to me that it might be preferable to follow the same route but in the opposite direction: a wide path at the end of the route seems preferable to the pretty single track, which requires a certain amount of attention... I accompany groups affiliated with the French Federation of Retired Sports Enthusiasts, which may influence my opinion...

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HD14
HD14

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful, easy hike with magnificent scenery.

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flots69
flots69
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

yesterday's hike with a teenager who wasn't very motivated at the start.
you have to arrive early to find a parking space at the Saut car park because at 8 a.m., the car park was already full.
focus on the small abandoned hamlet with stone cottages: very pretty.
then we hiked to the sound of marmots whistling.
no difficulties until Lac de la Sassière. It's completely flat. The lake has beautiful colours. But you can see that the heatwave has dried it out...
the signs provide sufficient directions. The climb begins with the ascent of the pass. Again, I don't see any major difficulties. It's a bit of a climb, but there are worse ones.
we had to stop at Lac du Santel because my daughter had an accident with her shoes (the soles came off...)
a very beautiful hike for us

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Francis.Ahr
Francis.Ahr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb outing. Crowded up to Lake Sassière. Much quieter after that. Very beautiful panoramic views.

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