Lac Laramon - Lac du Serpent

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A classic of the upper Clarée Valley with a magnificent panorama of the Cerces and Ecrins massifs.

Details

n°143697
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.10 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 623 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 623 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,482 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,859 m
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Photos

Clarée Valley
SNAKE LAKE
SNAKE LAKE
view of lakes laramon and serpent

Description of the walk

Return to the car park opposite the Fontcouverte campsite, about 3.5 km after Névache.

(S/E) From the car park opposite the Fontcouverte campsite, take the road towards Névache, cross the Clarée and continue for 50 metres.

(1) Take the path on the left towards the Refuge de Ricou. Climb up to the Refuge du Ricou via the wide path.

(2) Once you have passed the refuge, take the path on the right that winds upwards. Join a path and walk a few steps to turn left to the first lake, Lac Laramon.

(3) Continue along the trail that passes to the left of the lake towards the Col du Grand Cros to reach the second lake, Lac du Serpent. Continue along the lake for a while to enjoy the views.

(4) Return by the same route.

On the way back, don't forget to stop at the small but charming Sainte-Marie Chapel, located on the side of the road near the Chalets de Foncouverte.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,859 m - Foncouverte car park - Clarée (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.19 - alt. 1,863 m - On the left after the bridge - Look on the right > - Cascade de Fontcouverte
  3. 2 : km 1.82 - alt. 2,113 m - Refuge du Ricou
  4. 3 : km 3.5 - alt. 2,359 m - Lac Laramon
  5. 4 : km 4.25 - alt. 2,453 m - Lac du Serpent
  6. S/E : km 9.1 - alt. 1,859 m - Foncouverte car park

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 62 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
morgensonne
morgensonne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Magnificent!

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BRUNO1
BRUNO1

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful landscapes, magnificent lakes.
A very popular hike in summer. It's almost like a boulevard along the lakeside.

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isabelle5891
isabelle5891

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I left before 8 a.m. to enjoy the quiet journey. These two lakes are worth the climb, and the view is magnificent.

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rabinovitch
rabinovitch

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful lake route. I recommend it.

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bergen38
bergen38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

beautiful lakes
shuttles a bit expensive

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Abg
Abg

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Very beautiful panoramic views. The downside in August: far too many people, making it less enjoyable on the trail and also at the lakeside due to the noise.

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User 13817607

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 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 that we followed to the letter without any difficulty. There were quite a few hikers out that day. On the way back, we stopped at the Ricou refuge to enjoy a delicious slice of blueberry tart.

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anneG
anneG

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful tour!
The flowers, the peaks
It's a real treat.

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gk
gk

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 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 route taken in mid-June amid flower-filled landscapes between the hamlet of Ricou and Lake Laramon. The start of the route to the Ricou refuge is the most challenging part of this trail, which is otherwise fairly easy to follow. Lake Laramon is magnificent, while Lake Serpent is more rugged. The break at the Ricou refuge on the way back is very pleasant. I recommend this hike, provided you arrive early at the car park, which ensures 1) a parking space and 2) arrival at the lakes before the crowds. In mid-June, the crowds are still acceptable.

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Rando Leo
Rando Leo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice, well-marked walk that takes in the Laramon and Serpent lakes.
Beautiful scenery and colours in early autumn. The stop at the Ricou refuge, where we were able to take out our picnics and taste their famous blueberry tart, is always appreciated (cool, damp weather in early autumn). The mountain welcome is as warm as ever. We were 28 hikers (including 4 leaders) divided into 2 groups of different levels.

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zawette
zawette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

magnificent hike with breathtaking scenery.
a bit steep for a 65 year old hiker but the finish at the 2 lakes is worth all the sweat in the world!!!!
A highlight of my 4-day holiday in Névache!
A must-do.....

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JOSETTE25
JOSETTE25

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike with 2 magnificent lakes. Lac du serpent was still partially frozen in some places, and the mountains were still covered in snow. Breathtaking flowers. Magnificent Fontcouverte waterfall.

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paccoud isabelle
paccoud isabelle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It's not very busy at this time of year and the road is open to cars as far as the refuge de Laval.
The hike was easy and accessible to all, but it was too early in the season and Serpent Lake was covered in snow!

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Christian Simons
Christian Simons

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Hello everyone,
I did this walk in October, so there weren't many people around at the time. It was a wonderful experience for me. Medium difficulty for a 65-year-old. But what marvel(s) all along the way, and the beauty of the lakes just took my breath away. I'd definitely recommend it! One of my favourites of the 5 days I spent in this magnificent valley. But how busy it must be in summer, poor thing ...

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello
Thank you for your comment, however: otherwise there is a charge for the shuttle bus to Foncouverte. It's true that this shuttle bus has existed since 2003 and is in operation in July and August, and it also serves the valley terminus, i.e. the Laval car park. Of course, this shuttle means that hikers have to leave their cars in the large car park at the entrance to Névache, but it does make it possible to follow linear routes, such as the Chemin de Ronde from Laval, stopping either at Fontcouverte or at the chapels.

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