Lake Muzelle

de fr

A breathtaking hike leading to the magnificent Lac de la Muzelle in the Écrins National Park.
A challenging climb alongside streams and waterfalls.

Details

n°39618978
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.87 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 4,154 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 4,154 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 7,054 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,064 ft
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Photos

Lac de la Muzelle
View from the refuge
Lac de ma Muzelle
Lac de la Muzelle

Description of the walk

Park in the car park of the small hamlet of L’Alleau.

(S/E) From the car park, head west towards the fountain square. Pass the campsite and continue straight on. Cross the stream and follow the signposts. Begin the ascent towards the lake and reach the first junction.

(1) Walk back and forth for about ten metres to see the waterfall indicated before continuing the route. Navigate countless hairpin bends on fairly steep sections before enjoying a short, level stretch leading to a junction of paths.

(2) Continue to the right. Things are getting tough! A 500-metre climb awaits you before the next junction. Fortunately, the route runs through woodland and alongside streams featuring beautiful waterfalls and a few swimming pools. After a few steep switchbacks and rocky sections, you’ll reach a signpost.

(3) Turn left towards the lake and cross the stream via a footbridge. Further on, pass another waterfall and begin the final steep climb (400 m elevation gain on this section) with gradients of around 20%. A series of steps leads you to a well-deserved flat section. Go round the peat bogs on the right. The lake is finally visible, offering a magnificent view.

(4) Head down to reach Lac de la Muzelle and its refuge.

(5) Follow the path back in the opposite direction to return to the Alleau car park (out and back).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,064 ft - L'Alleau car park. Near the - Vénéon (torrent) - Affluent de la Romanche
  2. 1 : mi 0.36 - alt. 3,346 ft - Waterfall junction
  3. 2 : mi 0.91 - alt. 4,111 ft - Junction of trails
  4. 3 : mi 2.54 - alt. 5,951 ft - Footbridge
  5. 4 : mi 3.27 - alt. 7,047 ft - View of the - Lac de la Muzelle
  6. 5 : mi 3.41 - alt. 6,962 ft - Lake Muzelle - Refuge de la Muzelle
  7. S/E : mi 6.87 - alt. 3,064 ft - L'Alleau car park

Notes

Watch the hike on video via the following link https://youtu.be/7nmcuaCLDL0

Thefirst section up to point (3) is fairly shaded early in the day.
From point (3) onwards, constant exposure to the sun (hat or cap strongly recommended).
Trekking poles are very useful, especially for the return journey.
The refuge is open until 30 September and accepts credit cards (which is so rare at high altitude).

Worth a visit

Lac du Lauvitel to the west, more accessible and easier than Lac de la Muzelle.

At the refuge, you can continue by taking:
- to the east, towards La Roche Percée and the Muzelle Glacier.
- to the south, the Col de la Muzelle.
- to the west, towards the Col du Vallon.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 5317998

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

It's just a shame that there aren't many signposts at the start of the hike.
The hike is quite difficult, but it's worth it. The landscape is magnificent once you reach the lake. We continued with a short detour to see the glacier. The view of the lake and the two Alps is magnificent. With the detour to the glacier, it only took us 6.5 hours there and back.

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champet67
champet67

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Superb hike with varied landscapes and terrain. The arrival at the pass with the lake in the distance is magical.
It's a challenging hike given the elevation gain, but it's not dangerous!
Thanks to those who marked these chaotic paths.

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la gazelle
la gazelle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb, very challenging hike, round trip from the car park in Bourg d'Arud (municipality of Venosc).
GR trail all the way. Breathtaking scenery. 7 hours of walking, 1,250 m elevation gain.
Possible 20-minute extension above Lake Muzelle to see the pierced rock.
Snowfields along the torrent halfway along the route.

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Marion&co
Marion&co

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Solo hike, 5 hours and 45 minutes. Quick break at the lake with blueberry tart at the refuge as a reward for the final climb.
The steps on this last section were very welcome, but it was still very physically demanding (perhaps too much for me).
The weather was turning, so we didn't climb the rock formation. The descent was difficult due to the steep slope and lots of rocks (I knew this on the way up!).
A hike with varied landscapes, almost always accompanied by the sound of water and numerous waterfalls, very pleasant.
We spotted a few marmots just before the lake.
A very beautiful hike.

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scieszyk
scieszyk

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a lovely walk; quite a long one

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