Lake Chalain

A pleasant walk to do in a day. The trail runs either along the lake, overlooking it or along the edge of the rocks with viewpoints.

Details

11160
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.89 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 175 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 174 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 603 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 492 m

Description of the walk

Departure from the village of Marigny near the church.

(S/E) Walk past the church on your left and continue to the junction with Rue des Voituriers. Turn left.

(1) At the junction, turn right and follow theGR®559(white and red markings). Turn right at the next fork and continue to a T-junction.

(2) Turn right towards the lake, then right again to reach the shore.

(3) Walk along the lake on your right.

(4) Continue straight ahead, then turn right to cross the campsite. Take the car exit.

(5) At the exit, cross the bridge and immediately take the path on the right, which initially runs parallel to the road and then joins it.

(6) Turn right to follow the tarmac road, which makes a sharp left turn.

(7) At the end of the bend, leave the road and take the path on the left that goes uphill. Keep left at each intersection. Pass the Roche viewpoint and then the Frate viewpoint before arriving at a crossroads.

(8) Turn left (sign indicating return to the Chalain estate) via some steps (mini ladders, no danger).

(5) Cross the bridge and walk back through the campsite in the opposite direction. At the exit, turn left.

(4) Retrace your steps to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 519 m - Park in Marigny near the church.
  2. 1 : km 0.35 - alt. 520 m - At the fork, turn right.
  3. 2 : km 1.48 - alt. 534 m - Turn right towards the lake.
  4. 3 : km 1.82 - alt. 497 m - Walk along the lake on your right.
  5. 4 : km 3.22 - alt. 495 m - Go straight ahead then turn right. - Lac de Chalain
  6. 5 : km 4.03 - alt. 493 m - Cross the bridge and take the path on the right.
  7. 6 : km 5.44 - alt. 498 m - Turn right to follow the tarmac road.
  8. 7 : km 6.01 - alt. 525 m - Leave the road and take the path on the left.
  9. 8 : km 8.39 - alt. 569 m - Turn left via the steps.
  10. S/E : km 12.89 - alt. 519 m - Marigny near the church

Worth a visit

When you reach the campsite after descending the stairs, turn right along the river and follow it upstream to the "resurgence" (200m).

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.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Milenalisou
Milenalisou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The walk is very beautiful and offers lovely views.
However, you can no longer take the stairs at the end: the sign for "retour lac de Chalain" (return to Lake Chalain) is no longer there and a yellow cross indicates that you should not follow this path. I did it anyway, but it was really dangerous with fallen trees blocking the way. I think you should continue straight on towards the lake viewpoint and return via the small village of Fontenu.

Machine-translated

DELION Alain
DELION Alain

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very well.
Something to do with the family.
Very beautiful scenery.

Machine-translated

cocotom
cocotom

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very beautiful hike. Be careful on the stairs, they are much further than the Frate viewpoint (do not hesitate to continue). However, the descent is very dangerous. Do not attempt with children. The path is 20 cm wide with a drop on one side and no railing! The views of the lake are magnificent. Recommended for experienced hikers.

Machine-translated

Xavier Dufour
Xavier Dufour

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Built partly to avoid the otherwise superb elevation changes.

Machine-translated

nono 02
nono 02

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The end of the route is a bit chaotic after marker 8.
Poor route.

Machine-translated

vallée des chapieux
vallée des chapieux

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Be aware of route changes just before the restricted area (dangerous passage due to rockfall).
Perhaps provide more advance warning before the hike.

Machine-translated

clemo39
clemo39
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike that I highly recommend, with a very good path and shade.
Note
As indicated on the 14 km hike, the trail is marked with red and white markers from the start to point 3. We only found two yellow markers and then yellow markers from point 3 onwards for the rest of the route.
Be careful on the descent from point 3 in wet conditions due to stones and roots.
As for the end of the route, one hour in the sun is not so bad.
The little church in Marigny was open, so it's worth a visit.
However, there is no access to the houses on the lake.
Thanks again to the organiser.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

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