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:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.23 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 969 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 970 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,851 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,922 m
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Photos

lac des 9 Couleurs
Lac des Neuf Couleurs
The Long Lake
The Nine Colours 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 : km 0 - alt. 1,927 m - Departure from the exit of Fouillouse
  2. 1 : km 5.28 - alt. 2,613 m - Refuge du Chambeyron
  3. 2 : km 6.37 - alt. 2,785 m - Fork in the road. Return trip to Lac des Neuf Couleurs - Lac Long (Mercantour)
  4. 3 : km 7.81 - alt. 2,845 m - Lac des Neuf Couleurs
  5. 4 : km 10.28 - alt. 2,751 m - Pas de la Couleta
  6. 5 : km 12.09 - alt. 2,344 m - In the valley, head towards Fouillouse on the right
  7. 6 : km 13.18 - alt. 2,205 m - Fort de Plate Lombarde
  8. S/E : km 15.23 - alt. 1,927 m - 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 58 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
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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Tommy05
Tommy05

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Magnificent lake and mountain circuit, superb view of the Ubaye valley and surrounding mountains. The climb from Fouillouse along the path leading to the Chambeyron refuge and then to the various lakes up to the Lac des 9 Couleurs is very well marked with a comfortable trail for the most part. The arrival at the Lac des 9 Couleurs is exceptional, and the climb to the Col de la Gypiere adds little elevation. The climb to the Tête de la Frema is a little more difficult. Returning by the same route is the easiest option, but the loop via the Pas de la Couleta adds real value to the hike. However, the path is steeper and a little slippery.

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sylvie la crau
sylvie la crau

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, the arrival at the lake is truly magical....
The descent is a little difficult because it's slippery, but it allows you to see different scenery than on the way up.
Just don't do it when it's very hot.

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BelineCenoi
BelineCenoi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Our last hike of the holidays, and what a hike it was!

A steady climb up to the refuge with breathtaking views everywhere you look...you don't know where to look first.
Don't hesitate to take a break at the refuge to spot the local chamois...
The rest of the trail is in a very rocky setting.

Don't hesitate to push on to the Tête de la Fréma, which will easily take you to 3,000 metres and offer you an XXL panorama!

By far our most beautiful hike of the summer.

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Nicole Guil
Nicole Guil

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in September under sunny skies.
The landscapes are magnificent and varied throughout the hike.
The mountains are magnificent and the lakes are beautiful. A hike with no technical difficulties.

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rage2001
rage2001
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This varied hike allows you to discover a traditional mountain village (Fouillouse), the pretty Chambeyron refuge, and finally the magnificent Lac des Neuf Couleurs, nestled at the foot of the Aiguille de Chambeyron, the highest point in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department.

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michelgalopin
michelgalopin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike to do once in a lifetime!

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ramaco
ramaco

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A hike not to be missed. A little crowded on the way up, but very few people on the way down. The scenery is magnificent. Don't start the hike too late as the car park fills up quickly. The car park is located at the entrance to Fouillouse, about 800 metres from the start. We walked a little over 19 km in total.

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Randophil57
Randophil57

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 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 from Fouillouse.
The climb to the lake is easy going with people on the trail.
The return via the Pas de la Couletta is magnificent, in peaceful tranquillity.
In total, we covered 18 km and came away with some beautiful images in our minds....

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