The Eygaux route from the Iscles lake

On the D994 road between Veynes and Aspres-sur-Buëch, turn off towards the leisure centre. On the path leading to the lake, turn right towards Les Iscles. Park in the large car park by the lake, near the reception of the Rives du Lac campsite. It is also possible to park at the far end of the lake if you wish to avoid walking all the way round it.

(S/E) Walk round the lake on the right-hand side, then, near the spillway, go down the wooden steps.

(1) Turn right to cross the footbridge and follow the well-marked path northwards to reach the D994 road. Walk alongside it for 50 m, heading east, then cross it carefully (it’s a very busy road) to reach the underpass beneath the railway line and go through it. Follow the track to the right until you reach a junction with a path: signposted ‘Les Eygaux’.

(2) Turn left onto the path, heading west, and follow the winding track up the hill until you reach the flat, wooded Eygaux plateau.

(3) Turn left towards the fitness trail, heading south-west. Enjoy the view over the Val d’Oze (benches), then work your way through the series of fitness stations, following the information boards. Continue along the ridge, then turn right onto the path, heading north. At the junction, ignore the fitness trail on the right and carry on straight ahead to the next junction.

(4) Turn right towards Veynes, heading north-east.

(5) Carry on straight ahead along the main path.

(6) Turn slightly left, still on the main path, to reach the central car park on the Plateau des Eygaux and its large information board.

(7) Set off again along the track on the left, heading north-west. The track then turns south-west before reaching a junction.

(8) Carry on to the right along the main path, heading west, until you reach a hairpin bend.

(9) Turn right onto the main track, heading north-west, ignoring the path branching off to the left. The descent becomes stony until you reach the junction with a track suitable for vehicles.

(10) Carry on straight ahead along this track linking the farms of Aiguebelle to Saint-Marcellin, heading east. Reach the Aiguebelle ravine and then Lac des Eygaux, where you’ll find yourself at the foot of the mountain. Leave the road on your right that climbs up to the Eygaux plateau car park, and continue along this track, which is now tarmac. On the descent, you’ll reach a junction with two dirt tracks on the right.

(11) Take the second track, almost directly opposite and heading east, which descends towards Saint-Marcellin. After 100 m, turn right onto the main path and follow it for 50 m until you reach a junction with a metal post.

(12) Take the Sentier des Crêtes on the right, which narrows and climbs along a ridge out to the plateau, heading south then south-west. The path is dotted with benches where you can enjoy the view over the Val d’Oze. The vegetation is typically Mediterranean: thyme, Montpellier aphyllanthes, Provençal blue thistles and even true lavender. You’ll come out onto the Chemin de Crête Serre, shortly after the radio masts.

(13) Turn left to continue along the ridge, heading south-west, until you reach the next junction.

(14) Carry straight on, following the wooden signpost towards the fitness trail on the descent. The ridge, now easy to follow, descends slightly before climbing again. You’ll reach the junction with the path you took on the way up (start of the fitness trail).

(3) Head down to the left, following the wooden sign for “Plan d’eau”. Wind your way down the path in the opposite direction to the way up, until you reach the bottom of the hill.

(2) Turn left to walk alongside the railway line. Cross the road carefully, and return to the leisure centre via the footbridge.

(1) Go up the stairs, then turn right to walk along the other side of the lake and return to the car park (S/E).

(1) Picnic tables, public toilets and barbecues around the lake (free parking).

In summer, it is advisable to set off early in the morning to avoid the heat, and above all to be able to enjoy the lake on the way back to cool off!
Avoid this hike after a thunderstorm as the passage under the railway line acts as a rainwater drain.

(2) There is an underpass to cross the D994 road (very busy) at the entrance to the lake (1 km north-east).

On the plateau, the routes may vary as there are several marked fitness trails.
Shorter alternatives: you can avoid the central car park on the Plateau des Eygaux by connecting directly between points (5) and (8), or by joining the descent trail (3) from the central car park (7).

The Iscles lake in Veynes was created in 1985 to offer a wide range of summer activities: swimming, relaxing, picnicking, fishing, water sports and forest activities, etc. Around twenty activities are available at this vast 9-hectare site, situated next to the Petit Buëch riverbed. The lake is fed by three springs and is shallow. This means the water temperature remains fairly mild in summer (reaching up to 24–25°C), which is very rare in the Hautes-Alpes. The lake is divided into three areas: unrestricted swimming, supervised swimming and fishing. Swimming is supervised in July and August. Access is free and open to all year-round, but pets are not allowed!

The Eygau de Véras site features several viewing points offering stunning views of the valley, the lake, Veynes, the Oule mountain and the Aurouze massif. The Eygaux plateau is also accessible by road, heading towards Grenoble, past the village of Saint Marcelin. In addition to family walks, a fitness trail and a sports trail will appeal to casual walkers for their pleasant, natural and fun setting, or to occasional sports enthusiasts for their progressive challenges. Mountain bike trails are marked and signposted with difficulty levels ranging from easy to difficult, covering distances from 4 km for ‘La verte des Eygaux’ to the 18 km ‘Tous Eygaux’ route.