Lac de Crop

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A classic hike in the heart of Belledonne, ending at one of the great lakes of Belledonne, outside the Sept Laux. Round trip hike.

Details

n°3330940
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.80 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 653 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 656 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,925 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,279 m
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Photos

Lake Crop
Lac de Crop
Lac de Crop
Field of harebells

Description of the walk

Park in the car park before the Pont de la Betta bridge.

(S/E) Take the path that starts below the La Tavernette road. Continue to the Pont de la Betta bridge.

(1) Take this path, cutting across theGRP® variant of the Tour du Balcon des Sept Laux. Keep to the path opposite. You will soon reach a crossroads of paths at the Ravin de l'Avalanche.

(2) Stay on the path to the right. After crossing several streams, you will reach Habert de Crop.

(3) Pass the small dam and continue along a winding path that becomes steeper, coming out atthe second Habert de Crop at the edge of the forest.

(4) Continue along the path and tackle a final series of hairpin bends to reach a ledge. Descend quickly to the nearby Lac de Crop.

(5) Return by the same route to the car park near the Pont de la Betta (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,302 m - Car park before the Pont de la Betta
  2. 1 : km 0.44 - alt. 1,301 m - Betta Bridge
  3. 2 : km 0.82 - alt. 1,370 m - Avalanche Ravine
  4. 3 : km 1.47 - alt. 1,419 m - Habert de Crop
  5. 4 : km 2.68 - alt. 1,688 m - 2nd Habert de Crop
  6. 5 : km 3.87 - alt. 1,921 m - Lac de Crop
  7. S/E : km 7.8 - alt. 1,302 m - Car park before the Pont de la Betta

Notes

Good walking shoes. This hike is very popular with Grenoble residents. It starts from a car park with limited capacity on the road from Prabert. You can park on the road a little higher up (or lower down) or in a car park located at the hairpin bend at the end of the paved road.

Worth a visit

The lake and the view are magnificent. Panoramic view of the Chartreuse to the north and the Ferrouillet to the south. For the more experienced, and if the snowfields allow, it is possible to climb to the Col de la Mine de Fer (additional 600 m elevation gain, 2 hours).

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 49 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
p2rando
p2rando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant, not very long hike, with the lake at the end. Parking can be difficult on Sundays. It's best to arrive early.

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Cyril GX
Cyril GX

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A nice walk to do with the family, even after rainy weather, as neither the ascent nor the descent are slippery. You still need to be careful, though. Lake Crop was magnificent, covered with a beautiful mist that later lifted to reveal the surrounding peaks and the path leading to the Col de la Mine de Fer

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Wingardium
Wingardium

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

There are some beautiful climbs on this hike, so it's not that easy, even though the distance isn't very long.
There's a beautiful lake at the end, but it's not the most beautiful in Belledonne, and there are stunning views of the valley, the Jas des Lièvres and the Cime de la Jasse.
Lots of people on the climb, on the descent and at the lake.

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Cath Khal
Cath Khal

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A short hike that takes just two hours, but it's steep, so it's not that easy for some people. Beautiful views of the Chartreuse mountains and a lovely lake at the end.

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User 17241038

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely hike through beautiful forest with a stunning view from the summit. A nice climb! Everything is well signposted. Thank you!

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User 1105492

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with plenty of variety.
For the return trip, we opted to climb up to the Col du Rafour (see hike to Lac du Crop via the Rafour from Pré Marcel), which is quite steep in the first section from the lake, then descend through the mountain pastures below Orionde to return to the second Habert de Crop.
For this alternative route, there are no signposts but the path is easy to follow (in good weather at least).

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Poulet Hubert
Poulet Hubert

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A classic in Belledonne Always a huge pleasure

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User 4976670

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A sublime hike done during the week, which was clearly a strategic choice as it was completely deserted! We only came across two or three people during the ascent and descent, and there were fewer than ten of us at the lake. Just perfect and very pleasant.

The climb is fairly steep and steady. The signs are easy to follow and the paths are pleasant, shaded for much of the way and with some beautiful views (mountains, waterfalls, river)... 2 hours up and 1½ hours down.

I'm delighted to have done it at this time of year: the flora and fauna are magnificent to observe.

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helenaSB
helenaSB

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike. At this time of year, the lake was still frozen, but there was no snow on the trail leading to it. The climb is fairly steady, except for the first few metres, which are quite steep and rocky. Otherwise, the forest is quite pleasant. I set off in the morning around 8 a.m. and there was hardly anyone there, but the trail quickly filled up in the afternoon. Be careful where you park, as it may not be easy to find a spot if you leave too late!

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Sophie la Marmotte
Sophie la Marmotte

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Seeing this lake when it thaws was a challenge for me as I live very far away! Mission accomplished! Thanks to information from hikers who had been there the week before, I knew I could go there safely (no late snow, etc.), but you have to be careful depending on the year and the route you choose. For my part, I followed the route indicated here and had no problems. The first climb is quite steep, and you hope that the rest won't be the same, but it quickly levels out. The trail is easy to follow, the view is really beautiful on the second part of the hike, and the arrival at the lake is sublime. It was three-quarters frozen and absolutely magnificent under a big blue sky. There were a lot of people around midday (it was a bank holiday) and I'm always sad to see people jumping in as if it were a public swimming pool... We can't say it enough: do NOT swim in mountain lakes...

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granmejanlou
granmejanlou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Walking sticks are essential for crossing snow-covered sections. Crampons are recommended for the descent. On 9 May, there were a few tricky sections.
On the way back, you can make a short detour to the Betta bridge to see the climbing routes (on the left as you descend). There is a beautiful view along the way. The path is steep but secured by a cable.

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FAMROUS
FAMROUS

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with wonderful scenery.
One thing that made it special was that we did it in early December, and the second part of the trail (which never sees the sun!) was icy. Without crampons, the climb (and especially the descent) is very difficult.
However, the view of the lake and from the lake is magnificent. We even admired a lone skater on the frozen lake.
Even at this time of year, the car park is very quickly full, but you can use other car parks, which are the starting point for other routes.

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sebco
sebco

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is always a classic hike around Grenoble. It was a bit crowded, but we managed to find parking.
Still, it's best to wear walking shoes and bring walking sticks.

An option worth considering: a walk around the lake (or half of it, but it's still worth it):
We did it in 45 minutes.
Do it in a counterclockwise direction.
In the middle of the lake, there's a slightly tricky section towards the large rocks, then it ends through a scree slope. Be careful with young children, as it's not necessarily suitable.
On the first part of the lake walk, there are fabulous views of the mountains and their reflections in the lake.

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Capucine S
Capucine S

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This hike is still as magnificent as ever! It's best to do it during the week and outside of school holidays if you prefer peace and quiet, but the lake shores are vast... I agree with Didine73: the markings are not red and white but yellow (perhaps the GR has been diverted since this guide was created?)

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Rosane
Rosane

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
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 despite the overcast weather. There were many people near the lake during our lunch break. There were no difficulties except for the crowds on the way down. We arrived at 11 a.m. and finished at 2:30 p.m.

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