Lac des Neuf Couleurs below Brec de Chambeyron

de fr

Hike leading to the Lac des Neuf Couleurs surrounded by the Aiguille de Chambeyron, the Brec de Chambeyron and the Tête de la Fréma, just a stone's throw from the French-Italian border.
The hike includes high-altitude lakes, rivers, waterfalls, animals depending on the time of day and your luck (marmots, chamois, etc.), scree slopes, and more.

Details

n°10005
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.46 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,179 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,182 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 9,354 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 6,306 ft
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Photos

Lac des Neuf Couleurs
lac des 9 Couleurs
Lac des Neuf Couleurs
The Long Lake

Description of the walk

(S/E) On leaving Fouillouse, take the marked trail on the left towards the Chambeyron refuge and Lac des Neuf Couleurs.
This section climbs quite steeply for a long time (over 500 m of elevation gain) and is the most difficult part of the hike. Keep following the trail towards the refuge.

(1) When you reach the Refuge de Chambeyron, head towards Lac des Neuf Couleurs and join Lac Long.

(2) From the lake, continue straight ahead and head for Lac des Neuf Couleurs.

(3) At the lake, take the same path back towards the Chambeyron refuge until you reach Lac Long.

(2) At the lake, turn left towards Fouillouse via the Pas de Couleta.

(4) Descend the Pas de Couleta, pass a shepherd's hut and descend into the valley.

(5) Once in the valley, head back towards Fouillouse on the right.

(6) At Fort de Plate Lombarde, rejoin the GR®5-GR®56, which continues towards the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 6,322 ft - Departure from the exit of Fouillouse
  2. 1 : mi 3.28 - alt. 8,573 ft - Refuge du Chambeyron
  3. 2 : mi 3.96 - alt. 9,137 ft - Fork in the road. Return trip to Lac des Neuf Couleurs - Lac Long (Mercantour)
  4. 3 : mi 4.86 - alt. 9,334 ft - Lac des Neuf Couleurs
  5. 4 : mi 6.39 - alt. 9,026 ft - Pas de la Couleta
  6. 5 : mi 7.51 - alt. 7,690 ft - In the valley, head towards Fouillouse on the right
  7. 6 : mi 8.19 - alt. 7,234 ft - Fort de Plate Lombarde
  8. S/E : mi 9.46 - alt. 6,322 ft - Starting point

Notes

-The road leading to Fouillouse is quite narrow.
-Parking is available at the entrance to the village of Fouillouse.
-Water and picnics
-The Chambeyron Refuge offers drinks, food, dry toilets and a water point. This year, the refuge is open from 15 June to 29 September 2019.
-As the weather in the mountains can change quickly, take something to protect yourself (cold, rain, sun or wind), especially if you add the Fréma peak to your hike. It can be reached by continuing the hike after the Lac des Neuf Couleurs. The path is quite steep and slippery and once you reach the top, the wind can be quite cool. The view is very nice.
You need to add about 2 km and 300D+ to include this summit and 1 hour of ascent for 30 minutes of descent.

Worth a visit

Depending on what time you arrive in Fouillouse, the Châtelet bridge over the Ubaye is worth a look. There is a viewpoint coming from Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye on the D25 just before taking the road to Fouillouse.

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

4.9 / 5
Based on 64 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
PUBOL
PUBOL

Thank you for clarifying that
Indeed, you can make the outward journey and
back via the same route
It’s less difficult

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Mic001
Mic001

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very scenic route; although there’s a significant elevation gain, it’s fairly easy going, as the climb is steady with a few flat sections. The route is much less busy on the way back. The route can also be done in the opposite direction for those who prefer gentle descents.
For those who feel confident on the outward leg, the round trip to the Tête de la Fréma is well worth the effort. This section is much more physically demanding and the sections are slightly more technical.

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Poulet Hubert
Poulet Hubert

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb hike. For the descent, take the Pas de la Couleta.
A lovely circular walk

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champet67
champet67

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello – a very lovely route for keen walkers, given the distance and the elevation gain. As for us, we climbed up to the Col de la Gypiere. That’s a total of 1,060 metres of elevation gain and 17.5 km. The Lac Long is also very colourful – it’s a shame the water level is so low. I’d already done this route back in 2003. I have some lovely memories of it.

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PUBOL
PUBOL

Yes, on the way back next time I’ll take the same route as on the way there

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Kilou
Kilou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike; the sequence of the three lakes – Lac Premier, Lac Long and Lac des 9 Couleurs – is an absolute marvel.
The return route via the Pas de la Couletta is very slippery, with lots of stones.

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PUBOL
PUBOL

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely hike at 2,800 metres through a very rocky landscape and past a stunning lake

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pepol13
pepol13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route, but the route is actually more like 18.5 km if you don’t take any detours.
We’re both occasional walkers and the last two kilometres were a real struggle.
I can confirm that this route is challenging.
Patrick

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User 13099635
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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Co12
Co12

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A "must-do" hike with very varied landscapes between Fouillouse and the Tête de la Fréma, which we climbed to the top of. The return trip to this summit is on a steep slope from the lake, and be careful at the cross at the top, as the Italian side is "airy". But the views are extraordinary. A few marmots brightened up the hike.

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cyril h
cyril h
• Edited:

I will modify the text in the practical information section to include the Tête de la Fréma.
You need to add about 2 km and 300 metres of elevation gain to include this summit, and 1 hour of climbing for a 30-minute descent

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Fred Scavo
Fred Scavo

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 : No

A beautiful climb to start the hike with magnificent scenery all along the way.
I did the loop coming back down via La Couletta, which was also very beautiful and very green, a change from the route up to the lakes, which is rather arid. A fleece is recommended as it is very windy and there are large snowfields between Lac Long and Lac des 9 Couleurs.
I didn't climb to the top of the Frema because I didn't realise you had to go via the Col de la Gypiere (this isn't signposted).

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dj3805
dj3805

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Very cool climb. Clear and very even trail to the refuge.
The descent via the Pas de la Couleta was more chaotic.
Very beautiful hike.

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saacha007
saacha007

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pretty hike, but given the reviews – a hike that's a victim of its own popularity – I was expecting better. Let's just say it's looong, and given how crowded it was, I would have gladly chosen other places to explore. To be honest, I'm writing this more for myself, as a reference for a future visit.
The lake gets its name from the variety of colours it takes on depending on the weather and the seasons, I was told.
On that day, it was black.
It was nice to be under the Brec de Chambeyron (I especially enjoyed the second part of the loop, by the way)
Enjoy your walk, everyone!

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Fred Scavo
Fred Scavo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A magnificent hike with fantastic scenery. It is best to do the loop via La Couletta on the way down.

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