Lac Noir via the Ambin Refuge

de fr

Less well-known than its neighbour, Lac d’Ambin or Lac Bleu, Lac Noir, nestled at the foot of the summit of Petit Vallon, is well worth a visit to this peaceful and very pleasant spot.

Details

n°3130553
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.53 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 961 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 961 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,817 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,856 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Description of the walk

Park in the car park just before the Chalets de Plan de la Vie.

(S/E) Continue along the wide track, reaching its end and the car park for the Ambin Refuge.

(1) Continue along the path that follows. The climb is easy through the Vallon d'Ambin and leads to the Ambin Refuge.

(2) Keep heading due south along the path to reach the junction where several streams converge; the main stream flows down from Lac d'Ambin, joined on its right bank by the Ruisseau de Côte Chaude and on its left bank by the Ruisseau des Lacs Blancs.

(3) Turn right and tackle a steeper climb. Approach a rock face, go round it and, via a wide right-hand bend, reach Lac Noir shortly afterwards.

(4) Follow the outward route back to the car park at the Chalets de Plan de la Vie (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,856 m - Car park at the Chalets de Plan de la Vie - Ruisseau d'Ambin (ruisseau) - Affluent de l'Arc
  2. 1 : km 1.93 - alt. 1,981 m - End car park
  3. 2 : km 4.63 - alt. 2,268 m - Refuge d'Ambin
  4. 3 : km 5.83 - alt. 2,345 m - Crossroads where the streams converge
  5. 4 : km 8.77 - alt. 2,805 m - Lac Noir (Vallée de la Maurienne)
  6. S/E : km 17.53 - alt. 1,856 m - Car park at the Chalets de Plan de la Vie

Notes

Water source at the Ambin Refuge.
Water is available from the streams, but it is advisable to purify it.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
JICE46
JICE46

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The walk up the Ambin valley is superb and the route is easy, with a very gradual ascent, apart from the short climb mentioned in point 3. It is worth noting that the scenery changes dramatically from the top of this climb to Lac Noir, compared to the setting of the Ambin valley.
A highly recommended hike

Machine-translated

gypsie38
gypsie38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please note that the usual car park is no longer available due to falling rocks and boulders

Machine-translated

Thierryb26
Thierryb26
karlarach
karlarach

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I didn’t go up to Lac Noir but to Lac d’Ambin. The route is very well signposted all the way. I didn’t go up to the pass as I was hiking in fog and cold weather.

Machine-translated

Eimeon
Eimeon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We set off from the Maroqua car park, which is situated higher up than the car park indicated on the map, allowing us to start the hike directly on the path and thus avoid the track.
A very lovely hike – make sure you bring something to keep you warm, as the end of the route is surrounded by snowfields that get quite chilly ;-)

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Lac de Savine - Col du Clapier

Visorando member
Lac de Savine - Col du Clapier
↔14.68 km ↗+443 m ↘-442 m ◔5h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Bramans (Savoie)
Route following the hypothetical passage of Hannibal and his elephants across the Alps. At the end of the wild and long valley lies the superb and large Lake Savine, at the foot of the Dents D'Ambin. A little further on, the Clapier border pass offers a magnificent view. On the way back, take a short detour to the Perrin Lakes.

Walking The Refuge de Bramanette

Association / Club / Walk leader
Le Refuge de Bramanette
↔3.61 km ↗+480 m ↘-42 m ◔2h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Bramans (Savoie)
This short hike is the starting point for a magnificent three-day trek between Haute Maurienne and Val de Suze (Italy), with beautiful lakes and numerous small glaciers.But the setting and the welcome at the Refuge de Bramanette are such that they alone justify spending the night there and descending back down to the valley the next day!

Walking From the Bramanette Refuge to the Ambin Refuge

Association / Club / Walk leader
Du Refuge de Bramanette au Refuge d'Ambin
↔13.67 km ↗+1,276 m ↘-1,117 m ◔7h 35 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Bramans (Savoie)
A beautiful route, sometimes off the beaten track or on poorly marked paths. From the top of the passes, you can see both the peaks of the Vanoise (the Dent Parachée) and the Barre des Ecrins.This hike follows on from the "Le refuge de Bramanette" route.

Walking Fort de la Turra and Pas de la Beccia circular route

Visorando member
↔11.14 km ↗+731 m ↘-735 m ◔5h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis (Savoie)
This circular route, which is mostly above 2,000 m, takes you to both French and Italian military heritage sites. It also offers beautiful views, particularly of the Vanoise and Lac du Mont Cenis. Marked by directional signs but also by numerous paint marks of all shapes and colours. However, look out for the blue stars on a white background. From (3) to (6), the route is not very busy.

Walking The Pas de la Beccia from the Col du Mont-Cenis

Visorando member
Le Pas de la Beccia depuis le Col du Mont-Cenis
↔14.61 km ↗+837 m ↘-837 m ◔6h 35 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis (Savoie)
This is a circular hike passing by the Old Fort of La Turra before crossing the Pas de la Beccia at 2,717 m and descending with a beautiful view of Lake Mont-Cenis and its dam.

Walking From Lake Mont-Cenis to Lake Clair via the Ronce stream

Visorando member
Du Lac du Mont-Cenis au Lac Clair par le Ruisseau de Ronce
↔7.41 km ↗+703 m ↘-697 m ◔4h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis (Savoie)
A lovely hike from Lake Mont Cenis to the small clear lake. The route offers beautiful views of Lac de Mont-Cenis (although it was cloudy the day we did it). A fairly family-friendly hike.

Walking From Lac du Mont-Cenis to Lac Clair

Visorando member
Du Lac du Mont-Cenis au Lac Clair
↔6.98 km ↗+685 m ↘-685 m ◔3h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis (Savoie)
An easy hike above 2,000 metres. It starts near the Col du Mont-Cenis, a pass known since ancient times for crossing the Alps. Starting from the superb Lac du Mont-Cenis, it leads to the modest Lac Clair at the foot of what remains of the Lamet Glacier.

Walking Landry's Treasure

Visorando member
Le Trésor de Landry
↔4.83 km ↗+166 m ↘-174 m ◔1h 50 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Lanslevillard (Savoie)
A short circuit accessible to children. You cross streams where they can play. The part in the forest is very pleasant, especially when it's hot. What's more, they can find wild strawberries and raspberries. The route is dotted with information panels about village life.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.