Lac du Plan Vallon

A pleasant walk through the larch forest overlooking the mountain pasture hamlet of Mélézin, ending in the Plan Vallon cirque where, normally, the lake acts as a mirror for the surrounding peaks. Unfortunately, this lake dries up by mid-July, which is a bit of a shame.

Details

n°3829062

Creation:
15 Aug 2020

Last update:
30 Aug 2020

Last review:
12 Aug 2024

Activity: Walking
Distance: 6.50 km
Average duration: 3h 10
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 447 m
Descent: - 447 m
Highest point: 2,325 m
Lowest point: 1,877 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Queyras, Dauphiné
City: Villar-Saint-Pancrace (05100)
Start/End: N 44.858005° / E 6.641931°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3536OT, 3536OTR
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Description of the walk

Park on the forest road in the hamlet of Le Mélézin.

(S/E) Stay on the road and look for the wooden sign pointing to Le Mélézin. A track branches off from this sign, leading to two chalets. Take this track, pass two half-buried green cisterns and continue along this track, known as the Sentier du Canal du Mélézin. Start with a steep climb that gradually levels out. Stay in the forest, reach its edge and enter the mountain pasture.

(1) Continue along a virtually flat path until you reach a new climb in a wide, flat area.

(2) Continue along the well-marked path until you reach the Plan du Vallon signpost. Carry on, skirting a small hillock, to reach Lac du Plan Vallon.

(3) Follow the same route back to return at a leisurely pace to the car park on the road in the hamlet of Mélézin (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,878 m - Car park on the road at Le Mélézin
1 : km 1.87 - alt. 2,122 m - Edge of the woods
2 : km 2.54 - alt. 2,200 m - Flat expanse
3 : km 3.3 - alt. 2,325 m - Lac du Plan Vallon
S/E : km 6.49 - alt. 1,878 m - Car park on the road at Le Mélézin

Notes

(S/E) Water fountains in the hamlet of Mélézin.

Worth a visit

Depending on the season, you may have the pleasure of encountering local cows that come to spend the summer here on this mountain pasture. The tinkling of their bells will contrast with the tranquillity of the spot, though those with a musical ear may take their time to check whether the bells are in tune or not.

(3) You can extend the walk by turning left at the lake to reach the unnamed pass separating the Coste Rousse ridge to the north and the Fontfroide ridge to the south-east.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5

Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5

Route interest
4.5 / 5

Jean marie 54

12 Aug 2024 at 19:27 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A fairly easy hike, but with quite a steep climb at the start and end. Please note that since summer 2024, it is no longer possible to drive up to the place known as Le Melezin; you must leave your car down at Les Ayes, which makes the hike considerably longer. We drove up anyway (at least 20 minutes), so you can imagine what it’s like on foot! You should also be aware that the lake is often dry at this time of year (early August), and that was the case, so we were a bit disappointed! 😞. The same applies to the hike to Lac de l’Orcellette (you have to leave your car at Les Ayes, but the climb is quicker there and the lake never dries up!).

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Lionel Cornaz

21 Aug 2023 at 09:45 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Much of this gentle walk is in the shade of the larch trees, which is very welcome in August.
The meltwater lake is dry at this time of year, but there are cows grazing a little further down.
We made our way down from the lake via the scree slope on the left (looking down), which was easily passable.
We hardly met anyone.

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henri Girod

28 Jun 2021 at 15:47 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you, we had a lovely day

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Britanicus100

03 Apr 2021 at 10:47 7200 • Edited: 14 Jan 2022 at 13:15 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I’ve made a video guide, which you can find here; it shows the key points along the route
and, in particular, the extension suggested by the author up to the ridge.
You can find the guide to the Crête de Coste Rousse on the website.

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