Lac le Lauzon

de fr

A short walk leads to a peaceful lake where, in good weather, the neighbouring peaks are reflected.
Moderator's warning on 12/10/2020: Caution! The two small bridges over the Torrent du Lauzon have been washed away. See the notice by Lnltrn dated 12/10/2020

Details

n°130291
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.97 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 371 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 370 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,011 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,639 m
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Photos

Blue Lake
Lake Lauzon in the clouds (July 2014)
The Voile de la Mariée waterfall (July 2014)
View from the Gioberney chalet (July 2014)

Description of the walk

Departure from the Refuge-Hôtel du Gioberney car park. A sign shows the map.

(S) Head north on the path that also leads to the Refuge du Pigeonnier.

(1) Leave this path and turn left onto the path that climbs towards Lac Lauzon.

(2) Shortly afterwards, it changes direction completely and heads left towards the west and then south. The slope is steady and steep.

(3) You will reach a second hairpin bend and climb northwards. You will pass close to the Torrent du Lauzon and reach a flat area. On the left, take a short detour to admire a waterfall.

(4) Continue north on the trail and you will arrive at Lac Lauzon, which you can easily walk around.

(5) Descend via the same route (for an alternative route, see practical information) to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,640 m - Chalet-Hôtel du Giobernay
  2. 1 : km 0.11 - alt. 1,644 m - Fork in the road to the left
  3. 2 : km 0.31 - alt. 1,665 m - Fork in the road to the left
  4. 3 : km 1.57 - alt. 1,873 m - Hairpin bend
  5. 4 : km 2.7 - alt. 2,009 m - Waterfall
  6. 5 : km 2.91 - alt. 2,008 m - Lac du Lauzon
  7. S/E : km 5.97 - alt. 1,641 m - Chalet-Hôtel du Giobernay

Notes

Alternative descent. You can make a loop by taking the path that leaves the lake (5) towards the north to rejoin the Refuge du Pigeonnier path, which you then take to return to the start. This alternative is a little steeper than the path you took on the way up.

You are hiking in the heart of the Ecrins National Park.

The Écrins massif is an exceptional area, open to all, with a rare natural, cultural and landscape heritage. To protect these treasures, the heart of the park is marked by blue, white and red flags, where regulations must be observed. Please read them when preparing your hike to help preserve this shared heritage at https://www.ecrins-parcnational.fr.

Worth a visit

Don't forget to visit the "Voile de la Mariée" waterfall next to the refuge.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 22 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
FrancoisAnnie30
FrancoisAnnie30

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A little extra effort to go to the blue lake allows you to leave the world behind and enjoy a beautiful view of the cirque

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LEGIER Alain
LEGIER Alain

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

A lovely hike starting from Gioberney. On a Sunday in August, it's bound to be busy, but parking is limited. A beautiful climb up from the south with some shade, the lake is stunning and green, and the trail back north offers a loop with beautiful views of the glacial cirque.

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GARCIA4
GARCIA4

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

VERY NICE TRAIL WITH A FEW SLIGHTLY MORE DIFFICULT PASSAGES. THE ARRIVAL AT THE LAKE IS SUPERB. WE MADE A LOOP ON THE WAY DOWN TO THE INTERSECTION OF THE REFUGE DU PIGEONNIER, A LONG DESCENT WITH switchbacks BUT EASIER THAN GOING BACK DOWN THE SAME TRAIL

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isadepertuis
isadepertuis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful route with views of the magnificent Gioberney cirque and the north face of the Sirac.
Please note that there is no shade along the route.
Very busy path.

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User 21108127

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent scenery. Fairly popular hike. No major difficulties apart from a slightly steeper climb towards the end. For the return journey, continue along the path after the lake until you reach the junction with the trail to the Pigeonnier refuge. This allows you to complete a loop rather than a return trip from the lake.

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MAT 26
MAT 26
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike with no difficult sections, very pleasant on this particular day sheltered from the north wind. Magnificent scenery with snow from the night before covering the surrounding area despite some fog. A fairly short hike and a little "technical" for old legs!!! But we loved it. Relatively easy for young people, as we saw some very young children happily overtaking us, so well done to these future hikers.
The refreshing waterfalls of the Lauzon torrent were a magnificent sight and very welcome at this time of year, when the plains are very dry.

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loulou le cigalon
loulou le cigalon

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Completed on 19 July 2022, full loop via the northern trail, which is partly shared with the trail to the Pigeonnier refuge, and descent via the southern trail.
A pleasant hike in a beautiful mountain setting.
families with children were present, so suitable for most people with normal physical fitness

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EagerHiker
EagerHiker

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Perfect and pleasant approach walk to a bivouac spot by the lake.
varied terrain and stunning glacier views.

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PeP38
PeP38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike in September with very few people.
Stunning scenery. An interesting hike with a return loop via the refuge trail.

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cho13
cho13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful walk with three highlights: the views of the valley, the waterfall and the lake.
The trail is well marked and once you start, it's easy to find your way to the lake
There are lots of people at the lake.

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luluschnaps
luluschnaps

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Starting from the chalet in Gioberney
short family loop with little sun exposure
the view is magnificent from the trail
at the lake: the mountains are reflected in the lake, a magnificent view!
don't hesitate to take a detour along a small path to the blue lake (we saw tadpoles there! )

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frederique.motel
frederique.motel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike for botanists to do in July.

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Aurelindo
Aurelindo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done today and looped back down via the Chemin du Refuge du Pigeonnier. There was a small bridge to cross a small stream. We were able to climb up to the lake. Snowfields at the top of the plain at lake level but passable with hiking boots and poles.
Magnificent views of the mountain amphitheatre and the Sirac. Superb!

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Lnltrn
Lnltrn

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

WARNING! The two small bridges crossing the Lauzon Torrent have been washed away.
The one near the lake can be crossed, depending on the water level, upstream of the destroyed bridge through the meanders of the torrent.
The lower bridge is much more difficult to cross for anyone who is unsteady on their feet or not wearing suitable footwear. If the water level rises (later in autumn or in spring), the stream will be impassable at this point.

Otherwise, it is a really beautiful hike. At the beginning of October, we encountered fewer than 10 people. The snow on the surrounding mountains provides a magnificent spectacle.

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perlelune
perlelune
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike 10 years ago and we plan to return before our legs give out. A parish specific to Brittany hike that is still quite wild
Best regards, PERLELUNE
RE CC Unfortunately, given the current situation, we were unable to go in May. We're planning to go in 2021, at least I hope so
Best regards, PERLELUNE

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