Country:
District:
Park at the Col du Pré Long car park, which can be reached via the village of Saint-Mury-Monteymond when coming from Grenoble on the D280. At the entrance to Saint-Mury-Monteymond, follow the Col de Pré Long road to the right after the sign.
(S/E) From the car park, take the path on the left which heads eastwards uphill into the woods. A sign indicates Lac Blanc at 7.9 km. The path climbs through the forest before joining the forest track leading to La Souillé. At the intersection, take this track to the left, continuing uphill.
(1) When you reach the Souillé car park, take the wide path (GR®549A) that goes straight ahead, closed by a barrier in the summer season. A wooden sign indicates the direction of the Refuge Jean Small Pass. Please note that this is a forestry operation, so you may encounter machinery.
Continue on theGR® 549 A. You will come to two intersections, but the direction of Lac Blanc is always indicated on wooden signs. You will walk for a long time in the forest, on a constant slope, on a path that becomes increasingly stony. You will cross two passages, one equipped with cables and the other with chains. Gradually leave the woods to arrive at the Passerelle du Mousset footbridge.
(2) Cross the Passerelle du Mousset footbridge. Here, do not follow the direction of Lac Blanc indicated by the sign. This path passes by the Refuge Jean Small Pass; this will be our return route. Turn right onto the small path that runs along the Ravin des Excellences. This path is marked by a few cairns and yellow dots. It climbs sometimes on a dirt path, sometimes on scree. Stay alert. During the climb, if you turn around, you can see the Habert du Mousset and, to the south, the Vorz waterfalls.
(3) You will soon reach the junction with the path coming from the Jean Small Pass refuge, at a rock with a yellow mark indicating to turn left. To reach Lac Blanc, turn right towards the south and continue climbing. You will reach theGR® trail, which is marked with red and white stripes and sometimes yellow stripes. Follow these markings. Shortly afterwards, cross a stream at a waterfall, taking care as the rocks can be slippery. The trail continues to climb in a fairly rocky environment, with quite a lot of scree and pebbles.
The slope levels out towards the end
(4) You will then arrive at the Lac Blanc plateau with its wonderful turquoise colour. The path continues along the lake on the left. You can continue and go around it to the opposite point from where you arrived to reach a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the entire lake.
(5) Then retrace your steps.
(4) Descend to the western shore of the lake. The more adventurous can take a dip, or you can simply lie down on the shore. There are plenty of rocks to sit on and grassy areas where you can spread out a blanket for a picnic!
Then retrace your steps
(3) From there, continue straight ahead, ignoring the path you came on, on the left.
The path climbs back up towards the Jean Small Pass Refuge. You will cross two more sections of scree. Below the refuge, you will see the Boulon Waterfalls.
(6) Reach the intersection (marked "small pass Jean Collet"). Take the path on the left heading west, which descends quite steeply. (If you turn right onto theGR® 549, you can reach the Col de la Mine de Fer. Straight ahead, 100 m away, is the Refuge Jean Collet. You can stop there to admire the beautiful view from the terrace.)
Then descend via the fairly steep path that takes you back to the Passerelle du Mousset.
(2) Then follow the route you took on the way up in reverse to the Col de Pré Long (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Difficult 
