Lac Fourchu

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A beautiful hike at the foot of the Taillefer, easily accessible and offering breathtaking views!
This hike crosses a Natura 2000 site and is subject to specific regulations. Please respect these regulations (see practical information).

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.29 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,398 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,388 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,926 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,564 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Areas: Alps, Taillefer, Dauphiné
  • ⚐ City: Ornon (38520)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 45.055117° / E 5.974151°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3335ET, 3335ETR, 3335OT, 3335OTR, 3336ET, 3336ETR, 3336OT, 3336OTR
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Photos

Lake Fourchu partly frozen
Lake Fourchu
Ruisseau de l'Echaillon
Lake Fourchu

Description of the walk

Parking at the exit of La Grenonière.

(S/E) Head north and, after a few metres, take the track on the left (signpost for L'Airette, altitude 1,483 m).

(1) Return to the track and follow it to the left for about 150 m.

(2) Leave the track and take a yellow-marked path on the right towards the Plateau des Lacs, sometimes climbing, sometimes following the contour line.

(3) At Basse Montagne (altitude 1,665 m), turn right and follow theGR® (white and red) towards the Refuge du Taillefer.

(4) After about 200 metres, leave theGR® and take the yellow-marked trail on the left. Climb up the switchbacks. Then cross over to the west.

(5) At the intersection, turn left (southwest). Leave Lac de la Vèche on your left, then Lac Noir. Reach Lac Fourchu (beautiful view of the glaciers, La Meïje, the Aiguilles d'Arves, among others).

(6) Follow theGR®50to the right and walk along the lake on your right. There are many places around the lake where you can sit down and even swim (be careful!).

(7) At the northern end of the lake, continue to follow theGR® (red and white markings), which turns slightly to the right (south-east). Continue climbing up the mountain pasture (numerous viewpoints over the Vercors and Chartreuse). Head east-north-east and reach the Pas de l'Envious.

(8) Continue straight ahead (east-northeast) on theGR®50to the Refuge du Taillefer.

(9) Begin the descent, still following the GR®.

(10) Leave the path leading to the communal chalet on your left and continue straight ahead (east). From here you can see Lac du Verney and, in the distance, between Belledonne and Les-Rousses, Mont Blanc. Descend into the mountain pasture and head towards the ruins, then La Buffe (altitude 1,788m).

(11) Turn right (south). The descent becomes steeper with a few hairpin bends before rejoining the main track you crossed on the way up.

(1) Follow the wide track to the left and return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,564 ft - La Grenonière
  2. 1 : mi 0.39 - alt. 4,846 ft - Trail
  3. 2 : mi 0.49 - alt. 4,895 ft - Trail start
  4. 3 : mi 1.23 - alt. 5,479 ft - Low Mountains
  5. 4 : mi 1.3 - alt. 5,568 ft - PR - GR fork
  6. 5 : mi 2.26 - alt. 6,575 ft - Intersection
  7. 6 : mi 3.14 - alt. 6,742 ft - Lac Fourche (Oisans)
  8. 7 : mi 3.58 - alt. 6,736 ft - North Point of the - Lac Fourche (Oisans)
  9. 8 : mi 4.32 - alt. 6,778 ft - Pas de l'Envious
  10. 9 : mi 5.02 - alt. 6,706 ft - Refuge du Taillefer
  11. 10 : mi 5.46 - alt. 6,490 ft - Crossroads
  12. 11 : mi 6.1 - alt. 5,876 ft - La Buffe
  13. S/E : mi 7.29 - alt. 4,564 ft

Notes

Rules to be observed on Natura 2000 sites:
- swimming prohibited,
- camping and bivouacking prohibited (except in designated areas),
- no fires,
- no littering,
- dogs must be kept on a leash.

To get to the start, follow the D526, pass the villages of Ornon La Palud and then Ornon La Palud-du-Raux and, just before the Pont-des-Oulles, turn right onto the D210e. Please note: there is a hairpin bend between two houses.

For the peace and quiet of local residents, please do not park in the village car park in Ornon, but drive past La Grenonière and park in the designated car park after the three hairpin bends.

Refreshments and supplies are available at the Taillefer refuge, which has 30 beds.

Worth a visit

Marmots, vultures...

Fly fishing in lakes or streams.

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

4.8 / 5
Based on 60 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
grefrog
grefrog

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The climb is challenging without being endless, alternating between rocky sections, waterfalls and flatter stretches where you can catch your breath. Then, almost without warning, the landscape opens out onto a vast plateau where the lakes seem to have been placed right in the middle of the meadows. You quickly forget the effort it took to get up there.

Each lake has its own unique atmosphere, and you only need to stray a few hundred metres from the main path to find a surprising sense of tranquillity. With marmots whistling and the peaks reflected in the water, the setting is exceptional.

A few stony sections also require you to stay alert, especially on the descent.
The final part of the descent is physically demanding.
I was familiar with the route via Lac du Poursollet, which is a little less demanding.

All in all, it’s a hike I’d recommend without hesitation. It offers an excellent balance between physical exertion and visual rewards, and is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful routes we can easily tackle in Oisans. Thank you!!!!

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Aur0re
Aur0re

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike on a weekday, the day after a heavy storm… The climb was magnificent, with no one else around. Except that when I reached the top, the thick fog that inevitably follows a storm was certainly there, and I couldn’t see the lake.
I’ll be back!

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User 27812829

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Rémy.A
Rémy.A

Nothing to report

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DANIELFAURE
DANIELFAURE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike and magnificent views, exceptional colours at this time of year.

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Im
Im

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful, accessible hike. Beautiful lakes on the plateau

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User 12203733

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike!
It's advisable to arrive early in the morning if you want to have a chance of finding a space in the small car park, as it's a popular route!
The descent is tricky, but I preferred to do the loop in this direction, as I didn't want to start with a very steep and rocky slope.

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User 17872552

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

As is often the case around lakes, there are many paths, and it is easy to get lost. This is particularly true at Pas de l'Envious, especially if you take it in the wrong direction.

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Mariclor
Mariclor

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike, done for the second time.
It's always a pleasure to arrive at these beautiful lakes. And it wasn't too crowded on Sunday 13 July.

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User 1207542

Hello,

don't start from Lake Poursollet, unless you're under 70 or you like to prove that you're still in good shape.
A very long climb over rocks, sharp bends... in short, everything you need to arrive at a beautiful meadow!

And the descent...

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patrice.navarro38
patrice.navarro38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk, the arrival at the lake is superb and during the week there weren't too many people around the lake, unlike at the weekend ;-)
The return trip via the Taillefer refuge and then down the steep slopes was sunny, with little shade.

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User 1207542

Hello,

In the end, the person who accompanied me chose "their itinerary,"

longer and more difficult one!!!

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corinnepatrick
corinnepatrick

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike with stunning views.

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chipolata
chipolata

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely hike, superb plateau with numerous lakes and beautiful marmots. Do it again and again, it will always be a delight.

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napa
napa

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice hike! We saw marmots and met the shepherd and his flock. You can stop off at the Taillefer refuge to extend your tour.

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