Graveirette Lake

This small natural lake is little known to hikers. Surrounded by greenery, it is very pleasant and peaceful.

Details

136536
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.68 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 604 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 605 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,252 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,669 m

Photos

Description of the walk

To access this hike, pass Saint-Martin de Vésubie towards Boréron on the D89, then after Lake Boréon, turn left towards Mollières and La Vacherie de Salèse.
Parking is available at the park entrance.

(1) Start at marker 434.
Follow the path on the left bank of theGR®52torrent, marked with red and white signs, and pass in front of La Vacherie de Salèse.

(2) About 50 minutes after the start, the path joins the Mollières track, which you follow for 10 metres before taking the path on the left. Continue along this path, which runs alongside the Mollières track.

(3). Take the track to reach the Col de Salèze, marker 436.

(4) Continue for about 250 metres, still on the track. When you reach a hairpin bend that turns to the left at marker 268, leave the track and take the path that climbs to the right, marked in yellow. Follow the gently sloping path.

(5) Marker 269. Leave theGR®52, which branches off to the right towards Lac Nègre, and turn onto the path that branches off to the left (no markings). Pass the ruins on the left of the path and cross the small stream that flows down from Lac de Graveirette twice. Continue until you reach a crossroads.

Do not take the path on the right that comes from Camp Soubran and Lac Nègre; instead, take the path on the left. After about 10 minutes, you will reach a plateau bordered on the left by a forest and arrive at the lake.

(6) The path goes around the lake, allowing you to find a place to have lunch. Be careful on the left of the path when you reach the lake, as the ground is marshy.

Return via the same route to the starting point (E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,670 m - Start of the hike. Car park at the park entrance
  2. 1 : km 2.15 - alt. 1,945 m - Take the track for 10 metres
  3. 2 : km 2.69 - alt. 2,005 m - Take the track to marker 268
  4. 3 : km 2.98 - alt. 2,026 m - Col de Salèse
  5. 4 : km 4.09 - alt. 2,052 m - Marker 269 Take the left-hand path
  6. 5 : km 5.58 - alt. 2,208 m - Take the left-hand path
  7. 6 : km 6.04 - alt. 2,242 m - Lac Graveirette
  8. S/E : km 12.68 - alt. 1,669 m - End of the hike. Car park at the park entrance

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

 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.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 36 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
dunlop
dunlop

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, a beautiful lake, partially frozen when we arrived, creating beautiful ice formations and reflections, in an open space ideal for camping. There are signs reminding visitors of the rules, so it was surprising not to find any directional signs mentioning it, but perhaps that protects it from the crowds...

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Pascale snoop
Pascale snoop

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful lake, unfortunately, the app crashed and we got a little lost. There aren't many signs with the marker numbers anymore. Superb hike in autumn, the colours are magnificent.

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User 3872252

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A very beautiful hike, the route is easy to follow and well marked, with magnificent autumn landscapes. However, it does require a good average level of fitness.

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User 19107567

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike, the route passes by Lake Nègre and then descends to Lake Graveirette, offering simply sublime views. This section is off-trail (a few cairns), but easily manageable and clear, requiring caution when climbing up the rocks and then a gentle descent.
Cross the two footbridges as soon as you leave the car park to avoid heading towards Les Adus!
The Visorando map is an excellent resource as there are many crossroads and sometimes a lack of signposts.
The duration is well estimated for an average walker. Allow an extra hour for families or those who are less fit.

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yvesmunier
yvesmunier

A beautiful hike that is not too difficult for families

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Tom_Doudou
Tom_Doudou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike and very beautiful lake. Not many people even in the middle of August.
The trail is not marked on site (which is why it's important to follow this map).
The bridge near the car park that was destroyed after Storm Alex has been repaired.
It's not a very difficult hike (even people who aren't very athletic managed to do it).

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randonneurintrépide
randonneurintrépide

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful landscapes

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Marie-Colette
Marie-Colette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike, varied and green landscape, superb lake. It is possible to reach Lake Nègre by walking north-east from the northern end of the lake. A little crowded at this time of year.

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bebeghislaine
bebeghislaine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, magnificent lake. For the return trip, we took a small path that leads to marker 270 after the second lake at Camp Soubran. Take the small path on the right. It's a magnificent alternative that I highly recommend.

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ninimouans
ninimouans

That's why there aren't many people there! When we went, we were the only ones there: it was bliss

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yvesmunier
yvesmunier

Beautiful hike with 600 metres of elevation gain. Please note that there are no signs after the climb to get to Lac Negre

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LaGauth
LaGauth

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike!
Breathtaking.

I highly recommend continuing on to Lac Nègre, which is right next door. It's a glacial lake that's still frozen at this time of year.
In my opinion, the easiest way is to retrace your steps after Lac de la Graveirette until you reach the fork where there is a sign for Lac Nègre.
The quickest way is to cut across the field, but be careful, the terrain is uneven and there is no path.

Please note: the start of the route is blocked off, although it is actually passable.

Thank you for this wonderful route! 👍

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Laurence du Béal
Laurence du Béal

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

This is a very pretty lake that is much less crowded than Lake Nègre. To avoid having to walk all the way back, we stayed in the direction of Lake Nègre until marker 270 at a place called Camp Soubran and took the unmarked path on the left to rejoin the planned route at point 5.
Please note: the trail is still closed between the car park and the Col de Salèse.

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Miquel Mathieu
Miquel Mathieu

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, with the option of continuing on to Lake Negre.

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Gofy
Gofy

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike

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