Lacs de Prals via Baisse de Férisson and Cime de la Valette de Prals

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The Lacs de Prals or "Cinq Lacs" route takes you into the heart of the Mercantour, along pleasant, easy trails that are suitable for all walkers.
This route will allow you to discover the Tête de la Lave, the Cime de la Valette de Prals (2,496 m) with its panoramic view of the upper Vésubie and the great snow-capped peaks of the Oisans, before reaching the Lacs de Prals site.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.11 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 800 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 791 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,493 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,804 m
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Photos

The Prals Lakes
Towards the Baisse de Férisson

Description of the walk

Head back up the Var valley from Nice via the RD6202. Then head towards Saint-Martin-Vésubie via the RD2565. As you leave the village, don't miss the small road (RD94) that branches off to the right and leads, after 12 km, to the Madone de Fenestre sanctuary. Park in the car park near the Madone cattle shed on the right just before the small bridge under the sanctuary.

(S/E) Walk back down the RD94 for 130 metres to marker 361.

(1) Take the path on your left.

(2) After crossing the Torrent du Vallon de Prals, turn right at marker 362 towards Baisse de Férisson.

(3) At the next intersection (marker 354), continue on your left. The wide path takes us through the forest, suddenly emerging on the ridge at Baisse de Férisson (2,255m - marker 297).

(4) Take the path on your left that heads east, just below the ridge. Take the path on the right around Tête de Cinant (2,314m) and then Tête de la Lave (2,375m), or visit the summit and then continue on your way to pass under Cime du Pertus (2,437m).

(5) Leave the flat path and take the one that climbs to Cime de la Valette de Prals (yellow markings). Marker 299 quickly becomes visible on the ridge below the summit.

(6) From Cime de la Valette de Prals (2,496 m), descend quickly to Baisse de Prals (2,339 m), where marker 365 invites you to descend to the left towards Plan de Prals.

(7) On the descent, at a bend marked by a small cairn, take the path on your right which crosses a scree slope to reach the Lacs de Prals. Continue towards the Baisse des Cinq Lacs (marker 366).

(8) Descend towards Madone de Fenestre via Vallon du Ponset.

(9) At marker 367, leave theGR® trail on your right and continue on your left towards the Madone cattle farm, then head to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,843 m - Car park at the Madone cattle farm - on the edge of the - Vésubie (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 1,819 m - Marker 361, on the left
  3. 2 : km 0.96 - alt. 1,821 m - Marker 362, on the right
  4. 3 : km 1.3 - alt. 1,868 m - Marker 354, on the left
  5. 4 : km 3.28 - alt. 2,240 m - Marker 297, on the left - Baisse de Férisson (2255m)
  6. 5 : km 6.35 - alt. 2,379 m - Towards the Cime de la Valette
  7. 6 : km 7.13 - alt. 2,489 m - Cime de la Vallette de Prals (2496m)
  8. 7 : km 8.65 - alt. 2,263 m - Cairn towards the Prals lakes, on the right after the - Baisse de Prals
  9. 8 : km 10.37 - alt. 2,312 m - Marker 366, Baisse des Cinq Lacs
  10. 9 : km 12.57 - alt. 1,884 m - Marker 367, on the left
  11. S/E : km 13.11 - alt. 1,843 m - Madone cattle farm car park

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.

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Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
albo06
albo06

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike for experienced walkers, it's always a pleasure to revisit these beautiful lakes. The superb views make you want to go on other hikes in the area.

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odemer
odemer

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant climb in the shade of the undergrowth
Superb panoramic views between Baisse de Férisson and Baisse de Prals
Numerous chamois, not shy (protected by the Mercantour National Park?)
The descent after Baisse des Cinq Lacs was a bit hard on my knees.

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pierro000
pierro000
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, beautiful panorama at the summit, with views of the sea to the south and the mountains to the north.
Goats, cows, a few marmot whistles, and few people on this route.
At this time of year, climbing in this direction means you're in the shade for most of the effort, which didn't stop us from getting a bit sunburnt afterwards😂😂😂
A fun descent at full speed with my two sons, we had a great time!
Lots of people swim in the lakes, the water is cool but not cold.
The Madone des Fenestre site is magnificent.
Worth doing again, but several accessible peaks should be added, extending the duration a little but also the pleasure😉

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Mimi Gwouni
Mimi Gwouni

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2020
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 with superb views from the peaks. The weather was favourable, and we could see the Mediterranean Sea (the bays of Antibes and Cannes). We saw lots of chamois (more than forty during the circular hike, most of them in the late afternoon around the lakes). Herds of cows and horses, and a few marmots, rounded off the experience. It wasn't physically demanding, as the ridge walk was relatively flat. And each group of chamois was an excuse for us to take a long break! Don't hesitate to buy some cheese at the Madone dairy, it's delicious and the welcome is charming!

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Legall Yves
Legall Yves

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike through lush greenery, with stunning lakes...

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cambeg
cambeg

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful day hike, with varied landscapes that change from one side to the other with each summit! We saw two groups of chamois (and dozens of cows, right from the access road: lol. The autumn colours were magnificent.
I preferred to do it in the opposite direction to the suggested route so that I could take the shorter circular from the lakes in case of fatigue or bad weather... And also to favour a less steep descent. The result was fantastic: I also feel that I enjoyed the sun much more in this direction, as I was constantly out of the shade throughout the day! This was useful at this time of year (even though we were very lucky with the weather: bright sunshine).
Please note that this was the weekend when the various lodges were closed (mid-October) and even the dairy had just sold its last piece of cheese just before we returned from our hike
To start the hike, park in the dairy farm car park as indicated: there's no need to drive up to the chapel where there are lots of people, as this will unnecessarily lengthen your walk as you'll have to climb back up at the end.

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Bruno P1.
Bruno P1.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike. Once you've climbed up to the Férisson pass, you walk along the peaks with superb views on both sides (when the clouds lift). You finish at the Prals lakes and the chamois.

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Other walks in the area

Walking The Prals Lakes loop

Visorando member
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A charming circular hike that can be done at the start of the season (June) when there is still snow. Chamois are often seen (early in the morning). The lake area is very pleasant and offers many options and views for picnics.

Walking Cime de la Valette and Lake Prals

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This hike in the Vallon de la Madone de Fenestre will take you to the wild lakes of Balaour, a little-visited spot at the foot of the Cime du Gélas, the highest point in the Mercantour. These lakes are fed by the famous Vésubie river, which rises some 300 metres higher up at Lac Blanc.

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This route, which is closer to simple mountaineering than standard hiking, provides access to the highest peak in the Mercantour. From the summit, there is an exceptional panorama of the surrounding mountains and a view of the sea, stretching as far as Corsica on a clear day. The proposed ascent is via the small pass Saint-Robert and the west-southwest ridge, descending via the northeast ridge and the Balcon du Gélas.

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Walking Refuge de Nice - Refuge de la Madone de Fenestre

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This route, which runs parallel to the border, is dominated throughout by the large peak of Gélas, the highest summit in the area.

Walking Cirque de Férisson and Cime de la Valette de Prals

Visorando member
Cirque de Férisson et Cime de la Valette de Prals
↔8.91 km ↗+806 m ↘-814 m ◔4h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Belvédère (Alpes-Maritimes)
A circular hike starting from the Férisson cattle shed and passing through all the ridges around the Férisson cirque. Superb views all along the way, with the sea on one side and the Mercantour peaks on the other. As the end of the route is off-trail and unmarked, a good sense of direction and route-finding skills are essential.

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