Circular loop around Lacs de Roue and Lacs de Souliers from Arvieux

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A large circular loop with a 1,000m elevation gain connecting two beautiful mountain lakes from "Les Maisons" near Arvieux.

Details

n°1066093
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.33 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 981 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 982 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,491 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,674 m
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Photos

Lac de Souliers

Description of the walk

Park at the Maisons car park, south of Arvieux.

(S/E) Head south-east and cross the hamlet following theGR®5.

(1) About 250m after the end of the hamlet, take a winding path on the left. Continue to follow theGR®5to Lac de Roue.

(2) Leave theGR® via a path on the left.

(3) In the dip of a right-hand bend, take the Sentier du Canal trail on the right. Follow this trail north for about 2 km, staying roughly on the contour line.

(4) When you reach Bergerie de Souliers, leave the Col du Tronchet trail on your left and head back up into the valley, heading north. The trail curves to the left and reaches Lac de Souliers.

(5) Leave the lake on your right and descend south into Le Vallon, then southwest.

(6) At the first crossroads, take the path on the left that leads to Les Aiguillettes and Col du Tronchet.

(7) Leave the pass trail and descend to the right (south).

(8) Join theGR®58and follow it south.

(9) After about ten minutes, leave theGR® and turn left. The path plunges into the forest and then descends in hairpin bends.

(10) Leave the path coming from Les Aiguillettes on your right and descend south-west.

(11) Turn left to join the stream that descends to La Chalp. Follow it to the right (west).

(12) Cross Le Chalp, turning left to the south-east, and at the entrance to Le Truil, leave the road and take a path on the left that climbs up and passes above Arvieux (GR®5). This will take you to the Maisons car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,683 m - Les Maisons - Arvieux
  2. 1 : km 0.42 - alt. 1,724 m - Intersection
  3. 2 : km 1.62 - alt. 1,848 m - Lac de Roue
  4. 3 : km 1.9 - alt. 1,866 m - Canal Trail
  5. 4 : km 5.84 - alt. 2,062 m - Souliers sheepfold
  6. 5 : km 7.85 - alt. 2,490 m - Lac de Soulier
  7. 6 : km 8.91 - alt. 2,332 m - Crossroads
  8. 7 : km 9.33 - alt. 2,303 m - Fork
  9. 8 : km 9.52 - alt. 2,289 m - GR on the right
  10. 9 : km 9.82 - alt. 2,221 m - Fork in the road
  11. 10 : km 11.21 - alt. 1,953 m - Intersection
  12. 11 : km 11.78 - alt. 1,838 m - Turn left.
  13. 12 : km 12.95 - alt. 1,687 m - La Chalp
  14. S/E : km 15.33 - alt. 1,682 m - Car park

Notes

Water points. Shelter at La Chalp. Good footwear and a map are recommended.
The trails are all marked (GR® or Yellow) and there are often signposts.

Worth a visit

The pretty village of Arvieu and, higher up, the Col de l'Izoard.

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

4.9 / 5
Based on 8 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Victor Dulac
Victor Dulac

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It's a bit of a long walk to reach Lake Roue, but it's a beautiful balcony path.

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Didier P.
Didier P.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful but challenging hike just before Lake Soulier, with some snow still around the lake. It took us 7½ hours, taking our time.

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daubram05
daubram05

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A daytime version of a moonlight hike taken in January 2018, this is a pleasant walk that doesn't require much effort if you stop at Souliers, but is a real treat for the eyes. In the current cold weather, facing south, it quickly gets warm there.
Unobstructed views, gentle slopes, panoramic vistas and, for once, no sandwiches but the dish of the day at the Grand Rochebrune lodge in Souliers. Pure bliss.
And you'll learn all about the toys of Queyras and how the fairies transformed the former floating marsh.
See here:
https://youtu.be/apRaUUXWHDM

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Mutmut76
Mutmut76

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful hike, well signposted. The climb from Arvieux to Lac de Roue and then along the canal is gentle and shaded. However, it becomes challenging for the last few kilometres before Lac Souliers. A pretty lake, but very busy as it is easily accessible from a car park not too far away. A short detour to the Tronchet ridge is worthwhile and safe.

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Lederhose
Lederhose

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Great hike, thank you!
Please note: the GR trail is still closed between Les Maisons and La Chalp due to rock falls. We set off from La Chalp and, on the way back, there are two options:
- return via Arvieux and a short stretch of road to La Chalp (which is what we did so we could buy some blueberry tarts)
- return via the forest road between points 2 and 12 (IGN map).

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hikingalong
hikingalong

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hike completed on 18/7
A beautiful hike. We enjoyed the coolness along the old Arvieux canal trail. If you have time, the view over the lake from the Crête du Tronchet ridge is worth the climb!
My GPS recorded 21 km, not 15.5. Furthermore, the GR 5 is currently closed between La Chalp and Les Maisons
(due to construction work).
Thanks to whoever posted this very reliable route.

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JODIDO
JODIDO
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful, fairly wild and uncrowded hike (at least at this time of year).
I set off from the hamlet of Les Maisons above Arvieux (1,693 metres) shortly before 6 a.m., having slept in my car in the car park there.
The weather was magnificent: sunshine, blue skies, very few clouds.
A gentle climb to Lake Roue. I couldn't find the Canal trail, and I wasn't sure which direction to go as there were GR markings along the forest track. I relied on my understanding of the terrain and decided to go to the hamlet of Souliers.
When I arrived at the little chapel of Les Souliers, I saw a sign pointing to the Bergerie des Souliers.
The climb up to Lac des Souliers (2,492 m) is quite steep but is rewarded by the beauty of the place when you arrive.
At the crossroads indicating the direction of the Col du Tronchet, a sign indicates that it is 20 minutes to "La Casse Déserte". I hesitated to go there, but I'll save it for next time. The descent to La Chalp is very well signposted, so there's no way you can get lost!
You have to cross La Chalp and walk a little on the tarmac before taking a small path back to the hamlet of "Les Maisons".
In the end, it was nearly six hours of walking with a few short breaks. The hike was not particularly difficult or exhausting, especially since I had done the Pelvoux refuge the day before.

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DanielFR
DanielFR

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It's a great idea to suggest this hike. I know the area well and have already completed sections of the route over the last few years.
It's a really beautiful route, taking in several stunning sites in this valley!
However, it's true that there is a significant elevation gain!

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Other walks in the area

Walking Loop around Lac de Roue and the hamlet of Souliers

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Easy hike. Little elevation gain, which is very gradual, except for a slightly steep 300m trail at the start and 500m at the end. Mostly in the forest, with superb viewpoints over the Guil Valley, then the Souliers Valley and finally Arvieux. 50/50 forest track and trails.

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This is a short, easy circular that starts by following the Canal d'Arvieux and returns via a forest track.

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A lovely walk to Lac de Roue, mainly through woodland on tracks and forest paths. The return journey from the lake to Fort Queyras follows partly the access track to the lake and partly the unshaded tarmac road leading to Souliers. A picnic by the lake is possible, and the walk can be combined with a visit to the fort.

Walking Lac de Souliers from Brunissard

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↔10.77 km ↗+730 m ↘-731 m ◔5h 10 ▲Moderate
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This is a pleasantly varied circular hike thanks to a climb mainly through forest, the lake and its surroundings, the rocky atmosphere of the Casse Déserte and the unusual return route along the bed of the Torrent de l'Izoard. This lake is very popular in July and August because it is easily accessible from the Col d'Izoard road, but this route allows you to enjoy most of the hike in peace and quiet.

Walking The Col Tronchet route

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↔6.46 km ↗+612 m ↘-610 m ◔3h 35 ▲Moderate
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Walking Chateau Queyras - Montbardon

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This is the first stage of the tour and is an adaptation as the route is not on theGR®58, but it allows you to visit the castle that dominates the Guil pass. (Please note) The Montbardon stopover lodge (Le Cadran Solaire) has been closed since 2018, so the best option from Château Queyras is to go directly to Ceillac via the Col Fromage. (Important note): See this website mentioning the reopening of this lodge for summer 2023.

Walking Tour du Queyras

Visorando member
Tour du Queyras
↔90.66 km ↗+7,003 m ↘-6,881 m ◔7 days ▲Moderate
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The Tour du Queyras, labelledGR®58, is adaptable. The route described, starting from Château Queyras and completed in a group in September 2008, will take you through this natural park, skirting and climbing some 3,000 metres. You will discover the beautiful villages of this park with their well-known names: Ceillac, Saint Véran, Abriés... What's more, in summer the weather is almost always fine. The bright blue sky the next day will quickly make you forget the storm of the previous evening.

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