Lac Bleu near Arolla Val d’Hérens

By car, from Les Haudères in the Val d’Hérens, head towards Arolla. Pass the avalanche barrier and continue to the hamlet of La Gouille, which is on the right-hand side of the road. There’s a large, clearly visible sign: ‘Lac Bleu 40 mins’. There’s a free car park on the left, and another on the right-hand side of the road, though the latter tends to fill up during the day.

By PostBus from Les Haudères, get off at La Gouille.

(S/E) Walk up through the hamlet towards Lac Bleu, then turn right.

(1) After the last house, look out for the fork in the road. The yellow signposting may be obscured by vegetation. Ignore the marked path that branches off to the left. Take the path that climbs straight up through the grass. In the next hamlet, continue straight on. At the end of the hamlet, by the small pond, ignore the path that branches off to the right. Follow the yellow signposting. After that, the markings are usually large white-red-white symbols.

(2) Take the path on the left at the junction, and continue due south.

(3) At the Fork in the road, there is a white-red-white marker. The marked path branches off to the left (you can follow it). Alternatively, take the path on the right. This takes you to the lake, overlooking it.

(4) At the junction, follow the path on the right which leads to the lake. The path runs between the two arms of the lake. Then head towards the chalets with slate roofs. Just before these chalets, follow the path which climbs to the left up the hill. At the top, you’ll find a picnic table in the shade and, a little further on, a table in the sun, next to the large cross. This spot is less busy than the path around the lake. From the cross, head down the path diagonally to reach the houses.

(5) To the right of the houses, follow the path signposted ‘La Gouille’, which passes beneath the refreshment kiosk and, after a good kilometre, leads to La Gouille.

(1) Continue to the right, then return to the starting point by following the route in reverse (S/E).

Alternative route: Instead of heading back down from Lac Bleu towards La Gouille, you can go to Arolla and take the PostBus back to La Gouille. 4 km – 200 m ascent and 300 m descent. Yellow-signposted trail from the start.

Below the lake, there’s a refreshment bar and snack bar serving delicious sweet tarts: Chez Léon. Not many seats, but a friendly welcome!

On the hillock above the refreshment kiosk, there are two picnic tables and some quiet spots nearby.

The lake: You can walk as far as the waterfall or follow the lakeshore on the other side. A few brave souls go for a swim… as long as it’s not forbidden.

At La Gouille, there’s a restaurant.

Along the path: Swiss stone pines and larch trees, some of which are quite imposing.

Next to the lake: the area’s typical cluster of old wooden chalets with slate roofs. Some of the roofs have seen better days!

The view of the mountain peaks.