Lac de Souliers and Pic Ouest de Côte Belle from Souliers

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From Souliers, a pretty hamlet in the Queyras, a family hike to Lac Souliers. From there, take a detour via Pic Ouest, at the end of Côte Belle, for its magnificent panoramic view overlooking the Col d’Izoard.

Details

n°792223
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.28 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,016 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,017 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,847 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,829 m
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Photos

View from the western peak
A few edelweiss
Lake Souliers
Granges

Description of the walk

Park at the exit of the village of Souliers, before the chapel.

(S/E) Take the path to the right of the chapel to climb gently up the valley floor. 1.5 km after setting off, pass by a sheepfold converted into a chalet.
Continue along theGRP® Tour de la Dent de Ratier trail, marked in red and yellow, until you reach the junction (2075m) where the path to the Col du Tronchet branches off to the left and the path to Lac de Souliers continues straight ahead.

(1) Go straight on to complete a circular route. Continue past the sheepfold. The path leads through meadows to the bottom of the valley, where you turn left. It climbs steeply to a small pass overlooking Lac de Souliers.

(2) Walk along the right-hand side of the lake to take the path that climbs steeply up to the right towards the north-west. A good climb of 360m in elevation gain to reach the Côte Belle ridge. Follow it to the left as far as the Pic Ouest (where the antenna is).

(3) Descend back to the lake via the same route.

(2) Go round it and turn right to take the path running to the right of the ridge leading to the Tronchet ridge. This path is used by those coming from Brunissard.

(4) Less than 500 metres after leaving the lake, leave the path and take a small track on the left (south). This track goes round the Crête du Tronchet to reach the Col du Tronchet and rejoin theGR®58Tour du Queyras.

(5) Continue straight on at the Col du Tronchet, then head back down the initially sandy path to reach the first junction.

(1) Turn right to follow the route back to the village (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,831 m - Chapelle de Souliers
  2. 1 : km 2.05 - alt. 2,060 m - Crossroads before the Bergerie de Souliers
  3. 2 : km 4.13 - alt. 2,489 m - Lake Souliers
  4. 3 : km 5.32 - alt. 2,847 m - West Peak
  5. 4 : km 7 - alt. 2,427 m - Crossroads after the lake
  6. 5 : km 7.97 - alt. 2,344 m - Col du Tronchet
  7. S/E : km 11.28 - alt. 1,830 m - Chapelle de Souliers

Notes

Water point (draw water directly from the pipe supplying the trough) a few hundred metres after the start.

(4) Alternative route: you can keep to the right until the next junction, then turn left towards the pass. There is just a little more climbing involved.

Worth a visit

On the damp path at the start, there are many blue butterflies.
When you reach the lake, you’ll notice a gap in the mountain to the east.
This lake is very popular with families. To see wildlife, it’s best to do the hike early in the morning.
You’ll also find, after Lac de Souliers, a few edelweiss (well hidden so they aren’t picked).
And of course the magnificent view of the Pic Ouest. At its foot, looking tiny, the Col d’Izoard. A 360° view. To the south, Mont Viso and the Queyras ranges. Then Italy, Montgenèvre. The Northern Alps, with Mont Blanc in the distance on a clear day. The valley leading up to Lautaret, the Barre des Écrins, Pelvoux...

Fort Queyras is open to visitors from 1 May to 5 November; further information here.
A reduced rate of €10 instead of €13 will apply to your visit to the Fort if you show the details of this hike.

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

4.8 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
sjoannic
sjoannic

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

Thanks to the author of this hike!
The arrival at the lake is very pleasant (but it gets very crowded, especially after midday!!) and the view from the top of Pic Ouest is sublime, with a 360° view of the Col d'Izoard and all the peaks: magical!
The path up to the lake has been modified to limit erosion. Above all, on the descent, crossing the area known as the vallon is prohibited. You must follow the marked trails, which adds a little distance (12.6 km on my counter).

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Pasnog
Pasnog

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 lovely circular walk with varied scenery. There are lots of people at Lac de Souliers as the site can be reached in 45 minutes via another path.
Please note that the path has been altered in the final section of the climb to the lake, but IGN has not yet updated the map to reflect the new route.

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daubram05
daubram05

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Here’s an alternative route starting from the car park at the abandoned scrapyard, on the road to the Col d’Izoard

With the fine weather and the warmth of the valleys, there’s a strong urge to head up into the high Alpine mountains.

Lake Souliers is a fine excuse to set off from the deserted scrapyard near the Col d'Izoard.

And the remaining snowfields will kindly let us pass to climb the western peak of Cote Belle at an altitude of 2,854 metres.

And there, the view is breathtaking, even more beautiful than in summer with the white patches adorning the summits.

See it here
https://youtu.be/Dh9lh6Kdj_0

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ptit coeur
ptit coeur

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,

We did this hike in July 2019; it’s absolutely stunning, though quite a challenge to reach the summit. But it’s a real sense of achievement once you’re up there, with a breathtaking 360° view.

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