The Saint-Apollinaire Lake circuit

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This circuit, created as part of the Fête de la Randonnée organised by the Hautes-Alpes Departmental Committee, is a pleasant route suitable for all ages. It offers breathtaking views of its large neighbour, the Serre-Ponçon Lake.

Details

n°131611
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.28 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 262 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 257 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,638 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,395 m
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Photos

View of the lake
Lake Saint-Apollinaire
Savine and the Ponçon greenhouse lake
Marmot rock and the Morgon peak

Description of the walk

Park in the large car park at the Réallon ski resort snow stadium
(S/E) Opposite, join the wide Joubelle forest track and continue along it, following the yellow markings, initially heading south-east. Ignore the path that leads off to the right into the Réserve forest. Shortly afterwards, head due west and you will reach the crossroads before the Cabane de Joubelle.

(1) Take the red and white marked trail on the left: this is theGR®50. Follow a fairly steep descent to reach Lac de Saint-Apollinaire.

(2) Follow theGR® eastwards then south-east to reach the lake car park. Continue on the RD509T and you will reach another crossroads.

(3) Turn left onto the wide red and white marked trail parallel to the Joubelle trail but 150m lower down. Cross the forest, then through the mountain pasture to reach the RD609 leading to the ski resort.

(4) Stay on this road for 200 metres and, at the next crossroads, leave it and take the road opposite. Cross Pra Prunier and reach a large meadow on the left at a place called Le Courtier.

(5) Leave theGR® by taking the path on the left that cuts across the meadow and you will easily reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,549 m - Parking at the Réallon ski resort
  2. 1 : km 2.72 - alt. 1,638 m - Turn left onto the GR 50. Near the - Cabanne de Joubelle (1640m)
  3. 2 : km 3.67 - alt. 1,465 m - Lac de Saint-Apollinaire
  4. 3 : km 4.31 - alt. 1,395 m - GR crossroads - View of the - Lac de Serre-Ponçon
  5. 4 : km 7.19 - alt. 1,490 m - D609 crossroads
  6. 5 : km 7.74 - alt. 1,543 m - Place known as Le Courtier
  7. S/E : km 8.28 - alt. 1,549 m - Parking at the Réallon ski resort

Notes

Hiking equipment.
Drinking water and picnic tables at the lake.

Worth a visit

The hilltop villages on the right bank of the Serre-Ponçon dam.
Embrun.
Hiking at the Aiguilles de Chabrières. Chabrieres

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

4.6 / 5
Based on 66 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 27587100

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike!

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POIROUX
POIROUX

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

As my wife has a knee problem, we were interested in this route because it is relatively flat and offers the possibility of walking on side balconies. However, we decided to do it in reverse. The advantage was that we started with the most boring part (the road at the beginning). As a result, the lower balcony was virtually deserted and the view was unobstructed due to the low vegetation, and we also benefited from the morning light. We also preferred to tackle the climb by being a little crafty. From the lake, the map clearly shows a yellow-marked path that allows you to avoid the first part of the climb, which is too steep. The path has also started to be developed at the top of this first third. At the exit, the yellow markings are clearly visible, while the GR markings advise against it. However, we could see the slope we had avoided, marked in red for mountain bikes (a triangle and two circles). The rest of the climb was easy and the return along the forest track quickly brought us back to our starting point (as it was inevitably shorter)

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Alain13
Alain13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk with a picnic by the lake.

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User 26809838

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route for beginners.
We did it in 2 hours and 15 minutes with our family and three teenagers. The first part up to the lake is quite busy, but not too much. The second part was completely deserted with beautiful views.
A lovely walk!
Thank you

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User 22511888

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route with a few difficult sections, but manageable if you take it slowly

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manapani51
manapani51

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk in the spring sunshine, with very few people.
A very pleasant route, with no difficulties and, above all, a magnificent view of the lake and the mountains on the Queyras and Ubaye sides.

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Gil30
Gil30

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb views of Lake Serre-Ponçon. The descent to Lac St Apollinaire is a little steep, so take care. Lac St Apollinaire is a pleasant place to take a short break. Few hikers in October with a magnificent autumn landscape. Dogs are not allowed on the first part of the route, even on a lead (Parc des Ecrins).

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Randosylvie
Randosylvie

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk with fine views over Lake Serre Ponçon.

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Lafalla
Lafalla

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice walk, not too difficult except for the descent to the lake, which is a little steep and rocky. Very nice trail with a view of the serre ponçon lake. At the St Appollinaire lake we didn't take the route indicated on Visiorando but followed the yellow GR signs to stay on the paths and found the road a little further on. We did the walk with a 9-year-old child. We recommend it for its magnificent views.

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pbizet
pbizet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's a lovely walk, with a lovely lake and some beautiful views along the way.

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luberon84440
luberon84440

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

difficult descent to the lake, not signposted. it would be better to do it the other way round.

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Christel Mmzz
Christel Mmzz

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did the route in reverse, starting on the GR 50, arriving at the lake, then returning to Reallon along the forest track! This avoided the steep descents, which had to be climbed in this direction!

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patcool
patcool

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk, the only difficulty being the descent to Lake Saint Apollinaire.
We had lunch there.
Lovely views, particularly of the Serre Ponton lake.

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Louis REVENU
Louis REVENU

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short, easy and pleasant walk for occasional walkers. Very beautiful scenery.

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gégérando
gégérando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice walk. Well signposted, with superb views of Lake Serre Ponçon.
Take care on the descent to Lake St Apollinaire.

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