Lacs Merlet

de fr

Starting from Pralin, the hike to the Merlet lakes takes you to a superb, peaceful site on the edge of the Vanoise National Park, dominated by the Aiguille du Fuit.
Markings are present but not everywhere.

Details

n°132126
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.25 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Average
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,792 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,785 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,150 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,643 ft
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Upper Lac Merlet
Upper Lac Merlet

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the Granges ski lift car park, climb up to the mountain pasture following the ski lift.
When you reach a track, turn left and continue climbing towards the Bel Air woods.

(1) After four bends, leave the track and take the path on the left that leads into the Bel Air woods. Stay on this winding path, cross the woods and you will come out onto a large open space above the cable car station and a restaurant (altitude 2,050 m).

(2) Head south into the valley, pass under the Signal chairlift, stay below the rocky outcrop on the left and arrive at the edge of an artificial reservoir.

(3) Go around the reservoir on the right and continue climbing, following a route roughly parallel to the Pyramide ski lift.

(4) Pass Col de la Platta and reach Parc de la Vanoise (wide green line on IGN map).

(5) Leave the path on the left that descends to the Refuge du Grand Plan and continue on the balcony path (unobstructed view of the Vanoise massif).

(6) Descend towards the Refuge des Lacs Merlet.

(7) Arrive at Lac Merlet inférieur, pass the lake and then start a short climb to the right towards Lac Merlet supérieur, which is ideal for a break.

(8) Descend towards the first lake and pass an intersection.

(9) Head opposite along a steep path towards the Refuge du Grand Plan.
As you approach the refuge, the path gradually widens to become a beautiful track. Pass the refuge.

(10) At a hairpin bend in the track, leave the Vanoise National Park behind you, turn left and pass close to the Grande Val chalets.
Descend the long slope into the valley, crossing the stream several times, and note the curious pile of rocks before Le Biol.

(11) Further on at Biol, leave a path on your right and continue.

(12) On a short climb, leave the path to the right towards Lac de la Rosière.

Stay on the main track to reach the chalets in the Pralin district, then the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,650 ft - Parking lot for the Granges ski lift
  2. 1 : mi 0.57 - alt. 6,014 ft - Leave the trail
  3. 2 : mi 1.3 - alt. 6,716 ft - Head south into the valley
  4. 3 : mi 1.99 - alt. 7,162 ft - Artificial lake
  5. 4 : mi 3.15 - alt. 7,953 ft - Vanoise National Park
  6. 5 : mi 3.23 - alt. 7,956 ft - Fork to the right
  7. 6 : mi 3.95 - alt. 7,936 ft - Refuge des lacs Merlet
  8. 7 : mi 4.09 - alt. 7,871 ft - Towards Lower Lake Merlet
  9. 8 : mi 4.6 - alt. 8,028 ft - Upper Lac Merlet
  10. 9 : mi 5.13 - alt. 7,867 ft - Intersection
  11. 10 : mi 6 - alt. 7,287 ft - Leave the park
  12. 11 : mi 7.71 - alt. 6,211 ft - Biol stack
  13. 12 : mi 8.87 - alt. 5,817 ft - At the intersection, turn left
  14. S/E : mi 10.25 - alt. 5,650 ft - Parking lot for the Granges ski lift

Notes

Summer 2015:
Merlet Lakes Refuge open.
Grand Plan Refuge closed.

Worth a visit

Marmots are everywhere.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 19 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
bidiman
bidiman

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, suitable for any experienced walker

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yannfuster
yannfuster
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk (3–4 lakes), with no real difficulty.

Contrary to the suggested route, it’s better to park at the Col de la Platta (2,406 m), which avoids a tedious climb up through the ski runs.

1) From the Col de la Platta, head towards the Lower Merlet Lakes (next to the refuge, approx. 30 mins) and the Upper Merlet Lakes (which requires a 30-minute round trip and a 100 m ascent). The Upper Merlet Lake is more enclosed.

2) From Lower Merlet Lake, we followed the path to the Col de Chanrouge (approx. 1h30 and 270 m elevation gain). This section is wilder and less frequented. Along the way, you can see Lake Pêtre below. From the Col de Chanrouge (2,529 m), there’s a lovely view of the lake of the same name.

3) From the Col de Chanrouge, we retraced part of the route we’d taken on the ascent, then turned off towards Lac du Pêtre and continued on to the Grand-Plan mountain hut (almost flat). About 1 hour 10 minutes.
If we’d had more time, it would have seemed more interesting to do a circular route via the Col du Rateau and Lac du Rateau to the Grand-Plan refuge (the ascent and descent of the pass are described as quite steep). This section is 6.2 km long with an elevation gain of 340 m and an estimated duration of 2 hours 15 minutes.

4) From the Grand Plan refuge, an ascent (of little interest) towards the Col de la Platta. Approx. 50 mins / 180 m elevation gain

Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours’ walk
Elevation gain: 570 m
Elevation loss: 620 m

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mfcahlego
mfcahlego

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

The climb to the refuge from Courchevel was very disappointing because there are roads everywhere and the last car park is very close to the almost flat balcony path that leads to the lake
The return trip downhill, although long, was very pleasant because it was wild, with no lifts and no roads
The refuge is small and the keeper very welcoming. There was an unexpected storm and he managed to take care of all the tourists, who were a little distraught

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bebert38
bebert38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route wasn't too obvious at first, but after that it was a very pleasant walk with beautiful views and pretty lakes. A very beautiful hike with the added bonus of marmots that weren't too wild, magnificent landscapes with views of Mont Blanc and the Vanoise glaciers. Highly recommended

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fnicoud
fnicoud

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in reverse. Started in the Avals Valley. Saw marmots after the Grand Plan refuge when we left the trail to climb a slightly rocky path.
The lakes are magnificent, with a preference for the upper lake
A little less interesting on the descent between the Col de la Platta and Mont Bel-Air. Road and chairlifts. The area was prettier before the work (hike done in 2010!). Fortunately, the walk through the woods after Mont Bel-Air is pleasant

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Andrée A.
Andrée A.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2023
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 marmots as an added bonus. We stopped at the first lake because it was impossible to follow the submerged path.

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jeanmi54
jeanmi54

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

great

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keith martel
keith martel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route wasn't very clear at first, but after that it was a very pleasant walk with beautiful views and pretty lakes. Highly recommended!

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Kase74
Kase74

Hello,
No, there are no difficult passages for people prone to vertigo, which I am

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Kase74
Kase74

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed on 2 and 3 July 2022
We followed the route in reverse with a detour to see Lake Pêtre and Lake Chanrouge. We went in reverse to avoid the visual pollution of the ski lifts on the way back (I find that you see them less on the way down than on the way up).
No particular difficulties, just a slightly rough descent at the end of our route, but it wasn't very long.
We spent the night at the Grand Plan refuge. We received a very warm welcome, with a collection of slippers provided to make us feel at home. We ate very well and slept very well in very comfortable beds. Thank you to our hosts, who were very welcoming.
There were lots of marmots along the route, impossible to miss them!

We enjoyed the climb (point D->12->11->10), and this route is a beautiful hike, but if I do this hike again, I will park the car at the top of the Pyramide ski lift (near point 4 on the map) to reach the refuge and set off on all the passes that are accessible from there. This would allow us to enjoy the landscapes and sublime views of the surrounding glaciers even more and avoid the ascent and descent, which are not particularly interesting.
Enjoy the hike!

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caro074
caro074

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The "loop" means you have to walk back along the ski slopes, which is a little less enjoyable than the outward journey, but the view is still incredible! The best thing about this route is that we saw more marmots than hikers along the way! Please note that at this time of year, the Merlet Lakes refuge is closed if you want to stop for a drink (however, it is of course open to hikers who decide to spend the night there)

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zenesia-bijoux-aixlesbains
zenesia-bijoux-aixlesbains

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

one of my favourite hikes! Magnificent scenery, a bit long and difficult for intermediate hikers like me, but the challenge is worth it and the reward at the end... Stop for a Mont Blanc beer at the little refuge near the first lake, then continue on to the second lake, which is truly magnificent, with superb colours and remnants of ice on the surface
You'll see lots of marmots!
GOOD SHOES AND WALKING STICKS RECOMMENDED

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anatompepito
anatompepito

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, we slept at the Lac du Merlet refuge and extended the loop by going via Lac du Pêtre, which adds just under an hour, but it's well worth it!

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Emmanuelle Fontaine
Emmanuelle Fontaine

Hello,
I would like to know if there are any exposed passages as I suffer from vertigo.
Thank you

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nono74960
nono74960

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The description of the route is very useful for the first part on the ski slopes, as you need to keep track of the ski lifts (there are many intersecting roads suitable for vehicles)
A magnificent hike with views of Mont Blanc and the Vanoise glaciers. You absolutely must visit the upper lake. A truly beautiful site. The return via the Grand Plan refuge and the Vallée des Avals is quite long but allows you to complete a loop

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