Refine your search for walks in Lac Noir (Mercantour)
Lac Noir (Mercantour) walks
Circular of Valmasque and Fontanalbe
Visorando Member
13.60 mi
+3,586 ft
-3,586 ft
9h 25
Difficult
Departure from Tende (Alpes-Maritimes)
This magnificent circular takes you through the Valmasque and Fontanalbe valleys, with no fewer than five lakes and picture-postcard landscapes. It is a long but gradual hike with very few difficult sections.
Circular: Lac de l'Agnel - small pass de la Charnassère - Lac Noir - Valmasque
10.36 mi
+3,753 ft
-3,740 ft
8h 00
Difficult
Departure from Tende (Alpes-Maritimes)
A beautiful circular hike that takes you from Lac de l'Agnel to the Lac Noir and Lac Vert de Valmasque.
Caution: tricky sections at (4) and (5).
Refuge des Merveilles – Castérino
8.31 mi
+2,703 ft
-4,058 ft
8 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Tende (Alpes-Maritimes)
This final stage will take you back to Castérino via the ascent of Mont Bégo. From the summit, you’ll look out over the Vallée des Merveilles. You’ll catch sight of the neighbouring peak opposite, the Grand Capelet. You’ll enjoy a 360° panorama stretching from the Argentera to the Mediterranean.
You’ll need to be careful on the first part of the descent towards the Baisse de Valmasque (rated T3).
From the Baisse de Valmasque, the return journey follows the classic route that runs alongside the Lacs du Basto, Noir and Vert.
Circular route in the Mercantour starting from Castérino
34.52 mi
+16,145 ft
-16,165 ft
5 days
Difficult
Departure from Tende (Alpes-Maritimes)
This challenging route will take you from the Roya Valley in the east to the Gordolasque Valley in the west. Over the course of these five days, you’ll have the chance to pass close to the highest peak in the Alpes-Maritimes, the Gélas. You’ll climb a legendary summit, Mont Bégo. You’ll make your way from valley to valley, crossing a series of mountain passes: the Pas de Pagari, the Pas du Mont Colomb, the Pas du Trem and the Baisse de Valmasque. Every day, chamois, ibex and marmots will keep you company.
Cime Viglino from Castérino
10.73 mi
+4,049 ft
-4,068 ft
7 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Tende (Alpes-Maritimes)
Cime Viglino enjoys a privileged location. At an altitude of 2,910 metres, it cannot compete with the nearby Mont Clapier (3,051 metres), which offers its most beautiful façade and an impressive view of its glacier. The view to the west is obscured by this superb neighbour, but there is still a breathtaking panorama to the north as far as Mont Viso and to the south as far as the sea. From this promontory, you can dream and meditate on the hikes to be made in the valleys below.
Mont Sainte-Marie
11.32 mi
+3,504 ft
-3,474 ft
8h 15
Difficult
Departure from Tende (Alpes-Maritimes)
Mont Sainte-Marie overlooks the three large lakes of the Valmasque valley: Lac du Basto, Lac Noir and Lac Vert.From the summit, to the north, the view stretches from the Grand Capelet to the peak of Chanineye. To the west, the view is just as spectacular: from Mont Bégo to the Grand Capelet, including the Baisses de Fontanalbe and Valmasque.
Le Grand Capelet
14.01 mi
+4,370 ft
-4,390 ft
8 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Tende (Alpes-Maritimes)
Le Grand Capelet enjoys a privileged position, offering panoramic views over the Roya and Vésubie valleys.The hike is quite challenging, but once you reach your destination, you will be rewarded with a superb panorama.
From Valmasque to Lac des Mesches via Mont Bégo
13.66 mi
+4,006 ft
-5,118 ft
10 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Tende (Alpes-Maritimes)
This long one-way hike (two vehicles required) will take you up the pretty Valmasque Valley and its three beautiful lakes to the pass above the Vallée des Merveilles, before climbing to the summit of Mont Bégo via a sometimes steep and slightly vertiginous path, in an area where you may encounter magnificent ibex.
Finally, there is a very long descent to the lakes around the Refuge des Merveilles, then through the Vallon de la Minière to Lac des Mesches.
Around Mont Clapier in 3 days
20.36 mi
+9,232 ft
-9,249 ft
3 days
Very difficult
Departure from Tende (Alpes-Maritimes)
This route, deliberately named “Around Mont Clapier”, will take you to discover this magnificent peak, rising to 3,045 m. Situated in the north of the Alpes-Maritimes, on the French-Italian border, it offers a magnificent panorama of the main peaks of the Mercantour and Argentera ranges. Over the course of these three days, you’ll be able to admire it from various angles. You’ll also have the opportunity to climb it.
Before setting off, please see the ‘Practical information’ section .