Lac de Foréant via Col Vieux

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Nestled at the foot of the Crête de la Taillante and overlooked by the Pain de Sucre, Lac Foréant is located in a very protected environment. Indeed, many animal and plant species have made it their home (marmots, ibex, marsh plants, cottony cotton grass, etc.).

Details

n°2306015
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.34 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 370 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 369 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,809 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,618 m
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Photos

Foreant Lake
The lake from the outlet stream
Lake Foreant
Lac du Foreant below the trail

Description of the walk

Car park (2620m) above the Agnel refuge.

(S/E) Take the path that climbs to the left in front of the information point.

(1) At the intersection, take the main path on the right, which climbs up to Col Vieux.

(2) From Col Vieux, you can already see Lac Foréant on the left. Take the path heading north-north-west down to the lake.

(3) Head to the north of the lake (2618m), where it turns into a stream and cascades down to Lac Egorgéou

(4) From this point, you can continue to Lacs Egorgéou and Baricle or turn back and return to the car park (S/E) via the same route, as shown on the map.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 2,624 m - Car park (2620m) above the Agnel refuge
  2. 1 : km 0.4 - alt. 2,676 m - Intersection
  3. 2 : km 1.24 - alt. 2,797 m - Col Vieux
  4. 3 : km 2.33 - alt. 2,625 m - Lac Foréant
  5. 4 : km 2.67 - alt. 2,618 m - From Lake Egorgéou, view of the &gt - Lac Foréant
  6. S/E : km 5.34 - alt. 2,624 m - Car park (2620m) above the Agnel refuge

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 13 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
fredovyf
fredovyf

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It's always just as beautiful when you reach the old pass and discover the lake

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MLndr
MLndr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The lake can be seen from above when you reach the Col Vieux. The view is magnificent!
The trail to Lake Egorgeou is worth the effort, even if it is a bit challenging. Be careful, as it can be a little slippery when it rains.
A very beautiful hike!

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Bibelot30
Bibelot30

A very beautiful hike that starts at the bottom of a pass at 1,800 metres with an easy climb. You can see the lake, then you have to descend 400 metres and climb back up again
This lake is well worth a visit. It's beautiful, peaceful and not very crowded

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YannickV
YannickV

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent.
However, it's a real hikers' trail. You can follow the conversation of the group in front of you and the one behind at the same time
If you push on to Lake Egorgeou, it's even more beautiful, but beware of the two tough climbs on the way back

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Bibelot30
Bibelot30

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike, the route at the beginning of the itinerary is not the same, just follow the signs, the app tells you at the beginning that you are nearby
The climb to the pass is easy, with the route limited on either side by barriers to protect the local flora
Once you reach the pass, you can see a beautiful lake. There are few people at the beginning of August, as you have to remember to climb back up to the pass, which is the only difficulty. The descent is worth the trip

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whitehorse
whitehorse

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Easy hike with a steady climb, beautiful views at the pass.

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Thierry et Isabelle
Thierry et Isabelle
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy hike, allowing the more adventurous and those less prone to vertigo to continue on to Pain de Sucre once they reach Col Vieux. Others, like us, can head to Lake Foreant, nestled in a stunning setting with views of the next lake (Egorgéou, which can be reached in an additional 40-minute walk).

If you don't want to climb Pain de Sucre (:p), for the view of Mont Viso, head to the nearby Col Agnel by car or, better still, take the very pleasant hike (3 hours there and back at a leisurely pace) from the Grand Belvédère du Mont Viso, starting from L'Echalp (4 km after Ristolas), in the neighbouring valley. as well as enjoying the beauty of this valley, be careful after 6pm not to step on the marmots crossing the path!
You can see them all along the way

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HBFAM
HBFAM
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful lake, easy walk. The route is no longer the correct one, but it is well signposted.

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LESNE Marie-Paule
LESNE Marie-Paule

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike. When you reach the end of the lake, you can see the next lake, "l'Egorgéou". There are some explanations about the lake's surroundings, explaining that it is a rock glacier, a mixture of stones and ice. There are more than a hundred glaciers of this type in Queyras. Beautiful climb back up to the old pass.

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Leonidas13
Leonidas13

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Available with various options.

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ferrierfsal
ferrierfsal

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike. The explanations are very clear.

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glaciers
glaciers

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike.
We set off in the mist, but it gradually cleared.
Lunch at point 4 with a view of Lake Egorgéou.
On the way back to Col Vieux, rain, but a magnificent rainbow over Lake Foréant.
Thanks to the author for sharing.

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mandan
mandan

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike accessible to all.

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TVMARBOEUF
TVMARBOEUF

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

An easy hike for the whole family. We had a lovely time.

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