Lac du Clou and Lacs Verdet via Le Monal

In autumn, around the hamlet of Monal, the larch trees set the valley ablaze, while on the opposite slope, the Mont Pourri glaciers sparkle in the sun. Higher up, it is the Balmes glaciers that steal the show.
This hike to the lakes is a feast for the eyes.

Details

n°829537

Creation:
16 Oct 2017

Last update:
11 Jan 2024

Last review:
16 Aug 2023

Activity: Walking
Distance: 16.18 km
Average duration: 7h 40
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 1,067 m
Descent: - 1,066 m
Highest point: 2,735 m
Lowest point: 1,697 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Vallée de la Tarentaise
District: Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise (73640)
Start/End: N 45.545875° / E 6.913534°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3532ET, 3532ETR
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Description of the walk

Park in the Chenal car park.

(S/E) Go up the road, where traffic is regulated.

(1) At the second hairpin bend, leave the track to the left towards Combaz and Monal. Continue climbing on the right to reach the hamlet of Fenil.

(2) Stay on the main track and enter the larch forest. You will reach a junction at La Legettaz.

(3) Leave the track to the left towards Le Monal and continue climbing along the track, which has some fairly rough sections.

(4) As you climb, ignore the path on your left that descends towards Le Monal, which you will take on the way back.
Continue climbing up a steep slope, followed by a flat section overlooking the Clou valley. Cut across a bend in the track via a well-marked shortcut (cairn). Return to the track and leave it shortly afterwards via a grassy path on the left towards the ruins of the Chapelle Saint-Jacques chapel. From the chapel, descend to the foot of the dam.

(5) Cross the bridge and climb back up towards the buildings at Le Clou, continuing to the left of the buildings. The track gives way to a steep path leading to Lac du Clou.

(6) Go around the lake on the right, ignoring the paths that branch off to the right, and look for a path much higher up.

(7) Turn right onto the path and follow it for a long time; it will gradually climb a little. It is marked by a few cairns and some faded white and yellow paint marks.

NB: there are many tracks in this area, so stay on the most clearly marked one. As you approach the Lacs Verdet stream, the tracks turn north (do not cross the stream but climb the slope to reach the lakes).

(8) From the lakes, descend via the ascent route to the intersection with the path that descends to Le Monal.

(4) Take the path on the right and descend to the hamlet of Monal (it is also possible to take the track on the right further down, at (3), which descends to the hamlet).

(9) At the exit of the hamlet, take a small path on the left, leaving the track towards Échaillon opposite. Initially flat, the path then descends to reach the hamlet of La Combaz.

(10) In the hamlet, follow the southbound track.

(1) At the hairpin bend, continue straight ahead to descend to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,697 m - Chenal car park
1 : km 0.74 - alt. 1,784 m - Track towards La Combaz and Le Monal
2 : km 2.09 - alt. 1,896 m - Le Fenil
3 : km 2.58 - alt. 1,928 m - La Legettaz
4 : km 3.49 - alt. 2,076 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
5 : km 4.54 - alt. 2,200 m - Clou Dam
6 : km 5.65 - alt. 2,372 m - Lac du Clou
7 : km 6 - alt. 2,414 m - Path on the right towards the Lacs Verdet
8 : km 8.24 - alt. 2,732 m - Lacs Verdets
9 : km 14.21 - alt. 1,872 m - Le Monal
10 : km 14.96 - alt. 1,817 m - La Combaz
S/E : km 16.18 - alt. 1,698 m - Chenal car park

Notes

Chenal car park: leave the D502 at Les Pigettes, before an avalanche barrier, heading towards Tignes on a narrow, winding road on the left.

The route to Lac du Clou is fairly straightforward. However, the rest of the route to the Verdet Lakes requires a little more attention.

Worth a visit

Le Monal: listed village.

The other hamlets are also quite nice.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5

Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5

Route interest
4.6 / 5

Zafonk

16 Aug 2023 at 17:45 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, climbing steadily up to Lac du Clou but without any difficulty (we didn't go any further: 13km and 730m elevation gain). We preferred to descend via the village of Monal to enjoy some more cheese :-) The other side suggested for the descent is sunnier: choose according to the weather. The view of Lac du Clou is not exceptional but very peaceful, and the view of the valley and glaciers on the way down is superb.

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M.Pompon

24 Aug 2022 at 11:20 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike to Lac du Clou completed without any problems thanks to the quality of the description, return via the path above Monal.
To return to the Chenal car park, note that you must take the path that branches off to the left after the old refuge (currently under repair) and passes near the small lake. There were about a dozen hikers on the route that day.

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Craftyman750

17 Jul 2021 at 23:55 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please note that after Lac du Clou, there is no longer a proper trail. There are no markings on IGN maps, and it is easy to get lost if you do not use a mobile phone with GPS tracking.
In summary, be aware that this is an off-trail section with no signposts.

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David025

06 Sep 2020 at 23:48 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, the Clou valley is magnificent with the Balme glaciers in the background and the trail runs along a balcony from Lake Clou to the Verdets lakes. The return trip via Le Monal allows you to discover this listed hamlet.

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bea73

06 Jul 2020 at 13:44 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We had no trouble finding our way, but we stopped at Lac du Clou.
A very beautiful hike under a generous sun, lots of flowers, a few marmots... We were able to admire the hamlet of Le Monal and buy some goat's cheese.
We had a wonderful day in a beautiful setting!
Best regards

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ledouxc

21 Sep 2019 at 09:14 7200

Plot on the map: I walk with a 1:50,000 or 1:25,000 map; I don't have a GPS
but marker 6 is too big and hides the route just above Lac du Clou, where it is most difficult to find your bearings!

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henri57

20 Sep 2019 at 19:04 7200

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to give your opinion.

By "route on map", we mean assessing how accurately the route shown on the map corresponds to the actual terrain.

Did the route cause any problems?
Did you follow the route using a GPS or a GPS application?
Was there any discrepancy between the route and the actual hike?

Kind regards

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ledouxc

16 Sep 2019 at 11:38 7200

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The climb after Lac du Clou is off-trail and steep in the grass. It is important to stay to the right of the lake and below the rocky outcrop to find the horizontal path towards the Verdet lakes.
Note the presence of unfriendly sheepdogs. I had to turn back and take a complete detour off the trail towards the left towards Croix de Foglietta (2,800 m): beautiful view, easy orientation and circular route to the lake.

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Leachaps

11 Aug 2019 at 11:09 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, with varied flora and fauna throughout. We enjoyed the different viewpoints, especially those from the lakes.

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flechon

24 Jul 2019 at 13:46 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike! And what a view from above near the lakes!

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Author

Bisserain73
238 Walks

Visorando member

District: Chambéry (73000)

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