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:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.15 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 860 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 843 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,374 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,577 ft
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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 : mi 0 - alt. 5,082 ft - Parking at the Réallon ski resort
  2. 1 : mi 1.69 - alt. 5,374 ft - Turn left onto the GR 50. Near the - Cabanne de Joubelle (1640m)
  3. 2 : mi 2.28 - alt. 4,806 ft - Lac de Saint-Apollinaire
  4. 3 : mi 2.68 - alt. 4,577 ft - GR crossroads - View of the - Lac de Serre-Ponçon
  5. 4 : mi 4.47 - alt. 4,888 ft - D609 crossroads
  6. 5 : mi 4.81 - alt. 5,062 ft - Place known as Le Courtier
  7. S/E : mi 5.15 - alt. 5,082 ft - 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 75 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Visocaussinph
Visocaussinph

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, varied walk, with a stop at Lake Saint Appolinaire, where it’s easy and pleasant to have a picnic.

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mancusoagnes
mancusoagnes

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, shaded route with a beautiful descent to a stunning lake, which is very busy. You can walk all the way round it and have a drink at the bar. The return journey takes you back along the road for a bit, followed by a sunnier climb, and you’re right out in the sun by the time you reach the resort. A lovely route

.

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Alan Phelbs
Alan Phelbs

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 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 with a 5-year-old.

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Rossi c
Rossi c
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, very easy walk up to the very, very steep slope leading to the lake, but it was well worth it – the lake is stunning, there are loads of fish, and it’s perfectly set up for a picnic!!!!

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Rossi c
Rossi c
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, very easy walk up to the very, very steep slope leading to the lake, but it was well worth it – the lake is stunning, there are plenty of fish, and it’s well equipped for picnics

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chespeel
chespeel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I took the GR 50 variant to get to the lake; the path is wide and stony, and do take care on the descent past the picnic tables by the lake. The return path is very pleasant, with lovely views of Lake Serre-Ponçon.

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gracus
gracus

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We really enjoyed this hike; the route is superb, though if you want to go right up to the base of the waterfall, the end is a bit steep.

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User 19473147

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A regional classic!
Never disappoints!

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gillesplasse
gillesplasse

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this route in April; it was very quiet. We climbed up to the Serre du Mouton and on to the Joubelle hut, but stopped at 2,000 metres as we weren’t equipped for snow.
The view of the lake and the Aiguilles de Chabrières was splendid. We descended to Lake Saint Apollinaire, which was very pretty but very crowded…

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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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