Lac Blanc via Altiport and the old mine from Alpe d'Huez

This is a beautiful walk that allows you to discover the beautiful chalets of Alpe d'Huez, followed by a gentle path to an old coal mine that closed in 1951, the Herpie mine. Then there is a steeper climb to Lac Blanc. The descent to Alpe d'Huez offers a beautiful view of the resort.

Details

n°709923

Creation:
06 Aug 2017

Last update:
18 May 2026

Last review:
13 Oct 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 8.53 mi
Average duration: 6h 20
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 2,785 ft
Descent: - 2,795 ft
Highest point: 8,514 ft
Lowest point: 5,853 ft

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Grandes Rousses, Dauphiné
City: Huez (38750)
Start/End: N 45.086409° / E 6.067892°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3335ET, 3335ETR
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Photos

The surroundings of the Combe Charbonnière

Description of the walk

Park in one of the car parks in the Éclose district.

(S/E) Start from L’Éclose and head to the roundabout near the Romains chairlift.

(1) Take the road that runs between the beautiful chalets and leads to the Altiport terminal.

(2) Continue heading due east, passing under the Chalvet chairlift. Keep heading in this direction to reach the foot of the mines.

(3) Begin the ascent along the path, which winds its way past the old Herpie mines. You will reach the old mine building.

(4) Then take the path that continues to climb into the Combe Charbonnière. Continue alongside the old mines. Reach a final hairpin bend.

(5) Continue northwards up the slope to pass beneath the Marmottes gondola lift. Then enter the flat area of Lac Blanc and head towards the lake.

(6) Cross the ford; a few metres further on, join the path running between the Rousses lakes (Lac du Milieu, Lac de la Fare). Cut across this path to head straight ahead. Pass under the Lièvre Blanc chairlift twice. After a large hairpin bend to the left, pass under this chairlift again. Reach the two hillside reservoirs.

(7) Head between them and continue the descent to reach the mid-station of the Grandes Rousses cable car.

(8) Then take the wide tracks that lead back to the resort and the roundabout junction.

(1) Turn right and follow the route you took on the way out to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,863 ft - Car park near L’Éclose
1 : mi 0.52 - alt. 5,922 ft - Roundabout
2 : mi 1.3 - alt. 6,142 ft - Altiport
3 : mi 2.26 - alt. 6,762 ft - Start of the mines
4 : mi 2.65 - alt. 7,231 ft - Former Herpie mine
5 : mi 3.45 - alt. 8,310 ft - End of the mines
6 : mi 4.28 - alt. 8,284 ft - Lac Blanc ford
7 : mi 5.29 - alt. 7,713 ft - Hill reservoirs
8 : mi 6.3 - alt. 6,877 ft - Grandes Rousses cable car station
S/E : mi 8.53 - alt. 5,853 ft - Car park near L'Éclose

Notes

You can set off from any part of Alpe d’Huez. You can park in the large Les Bergers car park.
There are streams along the climb between the lodge and Lac Blanc where you can get a drink. As the lodge is privately owned, it does not serve drinks but can help out if needed.

Worth a visit

(4) You will then reach a private building, “La mine de l’Herpie”, which operates as a guesthouse.
La Mine de l’Herpie: this is a must-see site. You can’t miss it as you pass through it on this hike. This coal mine, the highest in Europe (2,600 m), was closed in 1951 following an avalanche (12 fatalities).
A bit of living history
The descent towards Alpe d’Huez is certainly not the most scenic of trails, but it offers plenty of options for exploring the ski slopes.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5

Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5

Route interest
4.5 / 5

User 26681126

13 Oct 2025 at 10:40 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Route done in the opposite direction; once under the Grandes Rousses cable car, we found a blue-marked trail that took us a little further north up this first cliff via a path that was both wilder (than following the tracks) and dotted with a few information panels, arriving almost at Gare 2700 - very short sections equipped with a cable where it may be necessary to use your hands. The atmosphere was lovely, and once we had passed Lac Blanc, it was splendid.

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User 1381371

14 Aug 2025 at 17:24 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

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User 1381371

11 Aug 2025 at 16:33 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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User 25035972

11 Aug 2025 at 14:01 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route. Magnificent landscapes and well-marked trail

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tessor38

05 Nov 2024 at 11:25 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike on 5 November 2024 in glorious sunshine. The climb is quite steep.
For the descent, we did not always follow the trail as there are many ways to reach the resort, which is always in sight.
However, there was no wildlife to admire.

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izitrek

29 Sep 2024 at 16:49 7200 • Edited: 30 Sep 2024 at 07:50 7200

A very unreliable GPS track, even though there are plenty of possible routes (trails, tracks, roads, etc.) in the area. To see for yourself, download the GPX file and overlay it on a digital topographic map or aerial photo. Some sections are even virtually impossible to complete.
On the other hand, if you like tarmac, concrete resorts, downhill ski slopes, cable cars with cables and pylons – in short, an overdeveloped and overexploited mountain environment – then this route is for you.
The worst route I've ever followed thanks to Visorando.

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smashdc

21 Oct 2023 at 12:08 7200 • Edited: 30 Sep 2024 at 07:50 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I didn't expect it to be so beautiful
The full discovery is here
This hike is part of an epic 318 km & 19,496 m D+/D- journey over 24 days. It's very difficult and quite often
Pic du Lac Blanc is located in the Grandes Rousses massif.
At an altitude of 3,327 metres, it can be reached by cable car from Alpe-d'Huez. The climb offers views of Lac Blanc, lost amid the rocks, before reaching the summit.
I choose another option.
I make the ascent via the cable cars mentioned below from Oz Vaujany Station 1340 m.
At Grandes Rousses 2700, I first head downhill to admire Lac Blanc (in the middle).
Not quite acclimatised on the second day ;-o The descent is easy going.
You can either go back up the same way or head to the right to go back up, but it will take a little longer.
It is not possible to go around the lake. I go around the top after seeing the other lakes to get to the Déversoir.
It's a nice little descent and it would be worth going down a little further.
Then it's a direct climb to Pic Blanc!
From the 2700 station, it takes less than 6 minutes to climb to 3330 m!
I would have said more like that ;-) The sun is beating down on the peaks in the distance, making it a little too bright for photos, but it's magnificent!
So I'll go back there after visiting the lakes!
Mont Blanc is theoretically visible in the background of Pic Bayle, even though it has lost 2.22 metres in height!
At the cable car, there is a rotating platform that manages the ascents and descents.
For the other three lakes, there are beautiful little paths that are quite stony... but easy to walk on given the altitude. The initial climb is on a wide dirt track.
I stop at Lac de Balme Rousse. To get to the next lake, Lac de La Jasse (2,459 m), you have to descend 140 m, which you then have to climb back up for a 2 km walk.

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Tomapi

10 Jul 2023 at 09:04 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The section towards Lac Blanc is superb, with a very beautiful climb (bring water, a hat and sun cream), but the descent back down to the resort is not very pleasant, as there isn't really a path, just a road that is quite busy with lorries and construction vehicles.
I think that from Lac Blanc, you should head further north towards the three small lakes for a more pleasant but longer return journey.

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Franky59

15 Aug 2022 at 21:50 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, fairly easy, but no shade: bring caps and hats. Don't hesitate to take detours along the surrounding ridges, taking great care of course as they are very exposed.

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cchioso

10 Aug 2022 at 16:50 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, uncrowded hike, which we started from Les Bergers, with an elevation gain of about 1,000 metres for the circular route.
The route is very well marked, and the climb after the Herpie mines is superb, where you can encounter ibex and marmots.

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nadaecc

01 Aug 2021 at 20:35 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

The hike started at Lac Blanc after a cable car ride up, then descended in the opposite direction via the old mines. Contrary to what is said below, the path is marked, albeit a little close to the ravine at times, but it is completely beginner-friendly and, without hiking equipment, it seemed easy and safe to me. The route is clear and it is difficult to get lost. The descent into the Charbonnière valley is incredible, with marmots, lots of rocks, but superb light and the feeling of being in an American desert. Superb views between the mountains, the lake and the town below. A shepherd grazes his sheep towards the end of the route.
Split in half by the cable car ride, the hike becomes quite easy, as it is all downhill.
I recommend this almost deserted and very exotic route, which I think is one of the most beautiful for beginners.

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Microbe123

26 Jul 2020 at 12:10 7200

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

I found myself facing a very steep slope of scree with a narrow path like a balcony, interspersed with snowfields and without a single footprint. Shortly before, there was a pile of rocks that looked like they came from the old mine, which was where I was standing.
Not a very interesting walk! I turned back, afraid of slipping several metres!
Isn't there a more pleasant hike to Lac Blanc that starts from Lac Besson?
This hike deserves to be described as difficult, not average: I do average hikes all the time!

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