Lac Autier

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A round trip that will see you cover nearly 600m of elevation gain in 4 hours and enjoy this magnificent lake.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.09 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,923 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,923 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 7,448 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,525 ft
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Photos

Lac Autier
Gordolasque Valley
Lac Autier
view of Lake Autier

Description of the walk

Start from the Pont du Countet car park at Belvédère.

(S/E) From the car park, follow the track running alongside the Gordolasque on the right bank heading north, pass a shelter and continue to the next junction.

At marker 413, continue straight on for just over 50m.

(1) Cross to the right via the wooden footbridge, then head north-east for a few hundred metres to marker 414.

(2) At marker 414, turn right towards the small stream, descend slightly before crossing it.
Follow the path heading south-east then north-east. Where the path is unclear, several cairns will help you find your way without difficulty.

(3) As you approach the stream at the bottom of the valley, to cross it, follow the yellow markings heading north-east. A few more minutes’ walk and you will reach Lac Autier.

(4) It is possible to walk around the lake
Turn back, stopping just before marker 414 and the stream.

(5) Turn left onto a path that passes through Les Gravières. Cross the bridge over the Gordolasque and arrive at the Pont du Countet car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,525 ft - Car park at - Pont du Countet
  2. 1 : mi 0.86 - alt. 5,860 ft - Footbridge at the - Gordolasque
  3. 2 : mi 0.94 - alt. 6,017 ft - Marker 414
  4. 3 : mi 1.61 - alt. 6,900 ft - Lac Autier Valley
  5. 4 : mi 2 - alt. 7,431 ft - Lac Autier
  6. 5 : mi 3.02 - alt. 5,974 ft - Turn left before the stream
  7. S/E : mi 4.09 - alt. 5,525 ft - Pont du Countet car park

Notes

- Watch out for snow at the start of the season!
- Please note: the estimated time of 3 hours 15 minutes is based on an automatic distance/speed calculation at a speed of 3.5 km/h; allow 4 hours for a good walker and 5 hours if there are children or elderly people.

During hot weather, the ascent can be done in the shade... by setting off early enough (~7.30 am at the park gate); what’s more, you’ll likely be the first ones there and may enjoy being the first on the way up and not meeting anyone.

If you have an extra 1½ hours, you can join theGR®®52to descend on the Refuge Nice side: Tour de la Tête du Lac Autier

Worth a visit

Lac Autier.
Views of the highest peaks of the Mercantour (Gélas, Malédie).
Abundant wildlife.
Belle and Sebastian’s cabin (1965 film).

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

4.6 / 5
Based on 55 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
IsaP83
IsaP83

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 : Yes

A lovely walk. We saw chamois and ibex. On the way there, it was all uphill. On the way back, it was all downhill, of course.

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Hervénat
Hervénat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We went for a walk during the week, but there were still quite a few people about. If you follow the route on the app, there’s no risk of getting lost.
The climb is quite a workout, but the views are magnificent. It was overcast when we arrived at Lac Autier, which meant we couldn’t see the peaks, but the scenery there is very beautiful.
Plenty of wildlife.
On the way back via La Gravierre, we spotted several families of chamois.
Thank you for this lovely route!

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User 28390908

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The climb is quite steep, but what a walk!
The scenery is exceptional, and this day will be unforgettable. Thank you for this brilliant route.
P.S.: For those who say the return route isn’t as interesting: on the way back I came across three chamois – that alone might make it worth it

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User 29785526

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The elevation gain wasn’t great – it’s over 700 metres – so the difficulty is now completely different.

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Corentin_robb
Corentin_robb

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a relatively quiet route, so make sure you bring something to keep you warm when the clouds block out the sun; there can be a slight breeze up near the lake in particular. Traces of snow. Wildlife is everywhere if you keep your eyes peeled: plenty of marmots and chamois.

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Corbelli
Corbelli

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Taken in early November, on a weekday, with few people on the trail. However, it was still just as magical... an explosion of autumn colours and a lake already partially frozen... what a reward! The clear sky further highlighted these magnificent colours, punctuated by a few tame chamois. We encountered a few patches of ice on the last steep slope, but nothing too serious.

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chicofm
chicofm

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Steep but magnificent. At the end of September, the first snows made the lake and peaks look impressive.

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User 9356392

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 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, starting off gently along the Gordolasque river, then climbing steeply up to the lake. The return via the gravel pits is not essential; we found the right bank more pleasant (Belle et Sébastien hut). Done in August in high season in the middle of the morning, there were few people on the trail.

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Soso30320
Soso30320

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A superb hike that we had already done on our way to the Nice refuge. This time, it was an equally enjoyable round trip. The view of the mountains surrounding us throughout the climb is spectacular.
For a Sunday in July, we came across quite a few people, but it was far from being a motorway!

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User 11192386

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hiking without shade once you're on the trail leading up to the lake. The elevation gain is almost all at once.
There are streams, so bring a water filter if you have one.
The cairns mentioned in the description are almost gone, but the path is still fairly easy to follow.

Very nice hike 🥰

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Miss-Lutti
Miss-Lutti

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2024
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 where you can encounter many animals. We saw ibex, chamois, and a herd of sheep and goats. It is very pretty and fairly easy to follow. We only lost the trail when crossing the waterfall, but we quickly found it again with the app. Be aware that it is longer than indicated.

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Jean-François Cousin
Jean-François Cousin

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The hike is magnificent. The climb is relatively difficult for someone of my age (69). However, I was rewarded at the summit when we arrived at Lake Autier, as we saw seven beautiful chamois several times... it was splendid!
The descent is also demanding on the knees!
In short, it took me twice as long as expected!

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eb91
eb91

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk with a herd of chamois before arriving at the lake.
However, it is quite physically demanding with some steep steps in places!
The route is relatively easy to follow even without the signs.

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dominiqueschemann
dominiqueschemann

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

1) No need to cross
2) there are no more cairns
3) the yellow markings have been erased in many places
4) the route around the lake is complicated
5) the walking time does not correspond to the fairly steep climb

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ponpone
ponpone

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, since they rebuilt the stone steps, I find that these steps (in height) are a little more difficult to climb, but it's still a very beautiful hike with lots of chamois that aren't very shy at the lake

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Walking Tour of the Tête du Lac Autier

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↔7.16 mi ↗+2,989 ft ↘-2,989 ft ◔5h 55 ▲Difficult
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A beautiful loop in the Gordolasque valley that takes you close to five lakes, including the superb Lac Autier and Lac Niré. There are also some beautiful waterfalls, including the vast Cascade de l'Estrech. Numerous chamois can be seen throughout the hike. A few ibex and marmots can be spotted below the Lac de la Fous dam.

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This magnificent circular will take you to the two main peaks of the Vallée des Merveilles: Mont du Grand Capelet and Mont Bego. You will encounter numerous chamois around the Pas de l'Arpette and Lac Autier.

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Discover the Gordolasque Valley and the Mercantour.

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