Lake Cédéra via Méollion and return via Serre Borel

Head towards Orcières on the D944. At the Corbière bridge, turn left onto the D944A (Route des Borels), towards Les Borels - Vallée de Champoléon. Stop at the hamlet of Les Borels and park in the car park on the left, next to the Drac Blanc.

(S/E) Cross the D944A with caution and take the street opposite leading to the town hall. Cross the hamlet to the cemetery, where the street continues along a wide path that you follow for 400 metres. This pleasant track alternates between undergrowth and meadows. You will reach a large information board at the crossroads of two paths.

(1) Follow the path on the left towards Méollion, heading east, until you reach the crossroads 150 m further on.

(2) Leave the Champets trail on your left, which you will take on the way back, and continue along the edge of the stream. The trail enters the gorge on the right bank and then climbs steadily through the forest to Le Forest. Pass the Champet and Forest streams, before some remarkable geological formations. The path becomes steeper and gains altitude. Follow a series of tight hairpin bends to reach the Champets path on a flatter section.

(3) Continue straight on towards the hamlet of Méollion. The path continues along the hillside and gradually leaves the forest before reaching a high point and then descending into the Méollion valley to the waterfall. Ford the stream and arrive at the old hamlet of Méollion.

(4) Cross the ruins of the hamlet, heading east: there are no more visible markings after this point.

(5) Take the path that climbs up the hillside, leaving the one on the right. Follow the Méollion stream before crossing it to continue on the left bank.

(6) Leave the Alibrandes path on your right (IGN map is incorrect at this point). Continue straight ahead, heading northeast. Climb gradually up the scree at the bottom of the valley. Cross several streams (often dry) and you will reach the junction with the path leading to the Col de Méollion.

(7) Turn left. Begin a long final ascent, first walking along the stream, then following the cairns, which quickly allow you to bypass this passage. The path is poorly marked on the grassy slopes and in the valley. The climb then becomes steeper, winding, and seems endless. Continue through increasingly rocky terrain until you reach Lac de Cédéra (altitude 2658).

(8) Descend via the same path, heading east at the lake's spillway. Follow the same path to the hamlet of Méollion and its welcome fountain.

(4) At Méollion, the trail heads north at the exit of the hamlet to cross the Méollion valley again, then follows the torrent along a balcony.

(3) At the "Haut du Poas" sign, take the path on the hillside that climbs gently towards Les Champets. Cross the Torrent du Forest and then a rocky passage with a sloping slab (not technically difficult as it has been fitted with iron bars fixed into the rock). Carefully cross the Champet stream and pass the ruins. Descend Serre Borel in switchbacks through the forest. The steep descent of Serre Borel is truly beautiful.

(2) Turn right.

(1) Turn right a second time to descend to the village and then to the car park (S/E).

Fountain and picnic tables in the hamlet of Méollion.

Mèfi! Information dated 23 September 2025: following a landslide, a municipal decree prohibits access via the "traditional" path taken on the way there (between points (2) and (3). It is therefore preferable to take the path leading up to Le Champet. The two paths meet at Hauts des Poas. Please note that there are signs posted in two places (at the start of the hike and at the Hauts des Poas crossroads).

For the return via "Les Champets" (3), a "tricky" section justifies the "difficult trail" warning on the signs. This "tricky" section is about a 15-minute walk away, which means that if you are unable to cross it, you can retrace your steps and descend via the route you took on the way up. It is a sloping rock slab a few metres high, with steps carved into it to make it easier to cross.

Shorter alternative (one-way return): to avoid passing through Serre Borel on the way back, do not climb to the right at the point (3), but continue straight ahead to take the opposite route to the one you took on the way there (elevation gain 1450 m, total time 9h30).

Longer variant: once you reach the lake (8), you can climb the slopes towards the Aiguille de Cédéra until you reach the ridge closest to the peak (caution: the peak itself cannot be reached without special equipment, as the rock is rotten and the access is exposed). It is also possible to head right towards the 2886 m peak. In both cases, the view is exceptional.

(4) The hamlet of Méollion, perched at 1,666 m, had twelve families at the beginning of the 19th century, a school and a chapel (Notre-Dame des Neiges) with a resident priest. But the very difficult life conditions drove many inhabitants to emigrate to the United States. Between the Great War, deadly avalanches and floods washing away pasture land, the last inhabitants abandoned their village in 1921.

(S/E) La Maison du Berger (Les Borels): interpretation and research centre on Alpine pastoral cultures. This cultural centre and visitor attraction offers exhibitions, educational activities, a library and a shop.