Presset lake and refuge via the Combe de la Neuva.

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb hike yesterday in the sunshine. The landscape was breathtaking! Although it's a round trip, the scenery is beautiful on both the way there and back.
The hike starts with a very easy warm-up, then the climb begins at the stream. It's fairly easy at first, but the last few kilometres are more difficult, with scree.
That said, when you reach the Col du Presset, you could almost forget the effort... almost. The view of the lake and the Presset refuge, as well as the Piera Menta, is also fabulous!

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

Very beautiful landscapes.
I didn't go all the way to the refuge as it was a bit too long for me, so I stopped at the Col du Grand Fond with a view of the refuge.
The view is magnificent.
The walk is quite busy.

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

Great hike with a magnificent view from the Grand Fond pass. Did it with my border collie, no problems.
The return trip seemed a bit long.

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Date of your route : Aug 22, 2023
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 quite a few people. The landscapes are splendid and varied. It's impossible to get lost if you pay close attention to the markings in the scree (which I didn't do, forcing me to backtrack slightly on the climb to the Col du Grand Fond). I'm very sensitive to vertigo, but I had no problems on this hike. Thanks to the author. Remember to bring cash if you want to have a beer at the refuge, as they don't accept cards.

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

The route was completed in very foggy weather and with the Grand Fond Pass heavily snow-covered this year. The ascent in the fog, with no markings on the ground covered in snow or on rocks more than 5 metres away, was made much easier by the GPS.
The lack of visitors was largely due to the unsettled weather at the beginning of July, as this is not usually the case.

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Date of your route : Aug 18, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, but be aware of its length. Magnificent views from the Col du Grand Fond over Mont Blanc on one side and Lake Presset on the other. Encounter marmots and ibex. A hike worth repeating.

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Date of your route : Jul 28, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

All the information was correct.
La Combe is beautiful at this time of year, with plants beginning to green the ground, streams singing, marmots scurrying away... Magnificent view of Mont Blanc, then Pierra Menta.
We were able to reach the Refuge de Presset despite the last snowfield, which is still quite significant at the top of the pass.

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Date of your route : Jul 06, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Superb hike, but a little crowded. Too much snow remaining at this time of year and, due to a lack of equipment, we were unable to climb to the pass.
So, to be done again.

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