The Lac de la Plagne

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Lac de la Plagne is a classic day hike in the Peisey Valley. It takes you right into the heart of the Vanoise National Park in a very mountainous setting.

The normal route can be done without a map, as it is entirely on theGR®5, which is why I am suggesting a wilder route here, but also more challenging due to numerous stream crossings and some off-trail sections.

Details

n°36
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.26 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 668 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 662 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,200 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,552 m
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Photos

Source of the Ponturin
Le Ponturin
Panoramic view of Lac de la Plagne
Lac de la Plagne

Description of the walk

Parking: Chalet-Refuge de Rosuel car park.

(S/E) From the car park, leave theGR®5and take the track that leads to the hamlet of La Gurraz, which was once a "montagnette": a transitional mountain pasture used in spring and autumn.

(1) Just after, follow a path that crosses the Ponturin stream and then climbs towards the large waterfall of the Nant Putor. The climb is steep, but the break at the foot of the waterfall is worth it!

You can cross a little above the EDF water intake, and the trail continues across the valley. It then crosses several other streams. Be careful, just after a stream, the trail splits in two. Do not take the steep one, but stay on the one that continues across the mountainside. It then crosses a small thicket of arcosses (green alders) before arriving near the Varchet chalet.

(2) The trail disappears here.
- You can cross the Ponturin via the footbridge (only in summer when the heifers are in the mountain pastures) and thus rejoin the GR®.
- The more adventurous can continue off-trail and climb the rock formation overlooking the Ponturin, following your nose.
Sooner or later you will find a trail again, because after a scree slope, theGR®5joins the trail descending from the Refuge du Mont Pourri.

(3) The trail now crosses a long flat section (the Plan de la Plagne, where the Chalets de la Plagne are located and the Ponturin meanders). In summer, you may be able to refill your water bottles at the sheepfolds. You will then come within sight of Lac de la Plagne.

(4) Leave the trail (which heads towards the Col du Palet and then Tignes) and descend through the fields towards the lake. With a bit of luck, you may see marmots.

(5) Follow the lake on the left and head towards the Refuge Entre le Lac.

(6) Cross the Ponturin.
- If the water level is low, you can cross at the lake outlet.
- Otherwise, you can also go around it and stop for refreshments at the Refuge Entre le Lac.
Descend along the left side of the lake, stay on the left bank of the Ponturin and join theGR®5.

(7) Follow it to the left, downhill to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,552 m - Rosuel car park
  2. 1 : km 1.3 - alt. 1,635 m - Crossing the - Ponturin (torrent)
  3. 2 : km 3.35 - alt. 2,041 m - Chalet du Varchet
  4. 3 : km 5.04 - alt. 2,118 m - Chalets de la Plagne
  5. 4 : km 5.82 - alt. 2,200 m - At the fork, turn right. Leave the GR5
  6. 5 : km 6.13 - alt. 2,148 m - Lac de La Plagne
  7. 6 : km 7.08 - alt. 2,153 m - Refuge-Entre-le-Lac (2146m)
  8. 7 : km 10.08 - alt. 2,054 m - GR5, on the left
  9. S/E : km 13.26 - alt. 1,553 m - Rosuel car park

Notes

Set off early, as by late morning the streams are swollen by glacial melt and some become very difficult to cross.

It is not always possible to replenish water supplies at the sheepfolds at Plan de la Plagne, but during the season there is plenty of water at the Entre le Lac refuge.

Worth a visit

During the hike, don't hesitate to look up from time to time: a pair of bearded vultures nest in a cliff above the hamlet of La Gurraz, and you may have the chance to see this large bird (with a wingspan of 2.8 metres!) gliding above your head!
Above theGR®5, just 500 m after the Rosuel Chalet-Refuge, there is an interesting discovery trail where you can explore the valley's natural environment.

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 51 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 15706491

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A splendid, varied and easy hike. Can be done as a circular loop via the waterfalls.

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MARIE 1
MARIE 1

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in beautiful weather. We lost the trail at Glaciers Creek, so we crossed the Ponturin River using the footbridge there. After walking 500 metres, we crossed back over the next footbridge and easily found the trail again, which led us to the lake. The large plateau with the winding Ponturin River is magnificent (there are lots of trout!)

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User 5327938

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with sections that occasionally stray from the more well-trodden paths

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vgasquet
vgasquet

Thank you for this historical information! Very interesting!

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Pierrot
Pierrot ★

Yes, the views from the other side of Mont Pourri are very beautiful. As for its name, there are no reliable sources on its origin. It appeared on maps of the First Empire during France's first occupation of Savoy. Before that, it was called Mont Turia. Some toponymists believe it is a translation error linked to the Prêtre glacier ("prire" in local dialect) on the Peisey side

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vgasquet
vgasquet

Oh, really! Well, even more "bravo" and thank you for sharing this! The next day, I went on another hike, on the other side of Mont Pourri, towards Sainte Foy (Davie's chalet), with breathtaking views of the glaciers. Well, there are some incredible waterfalls on that side too! Mont Pourri is truly magnificent and doesn't deserve its name!

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Pierrot
Pierrot ★

Thank you for your comment. The trail is indeed not very clear near point 2. When I marked it 15 years ago, there was no path there.

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vgasquet
vgasquet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike, not to be missed. No difficulty. In hot weather, I recommend doing it in reverse to be a little more sheltered from the sun on the way up. Be careful in the area around point 2 to stay on the path, as the trail may have been disrupted. I got a little lost when I climbed too high! It was a little busy in August but ultimately quite peaceful at the lake.
Thanks for this hike

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granpatr
granpatr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

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la baujue
la baujue

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Moderately busy route: early start, we managed to get off the beaten track quite a bit on the way there by taking unmarked paths, but stuck to the GR on the way back (donkey trail)

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D Raulin
D Raulin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent walk, with no real difficulties, except perhaps the length at times!

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gbg
gbg

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Do the same in reverse. No particular difficulty. Be careful not to fall before reaching the waterfalls. It's steep below. A beautiful, very popular hike

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Lili69
Lili69

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

This is a fairly long hike, which is what makes it challenging. However, the effort is well worth it, with stunning scenery, waterfalls, snow-capped peaks, and colourful rocks.

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FLEURPATOU
FLEURPATOU

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful hike with stunning scenery. The only difficulty is its length

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ecollain
ecollain
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2023
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 climb up the Nant Putors waterfall is interesting and less crowded. We followed the advice and took a break at the foot of the waterfall. The unmarked section is easy (there are traces of a path) and winds its way between raspberry bushes, rocks and blueberry bushes.
The lake is very busy, so I recommend going early in the morning.

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