Lac de la Portette

Thanks for the feedback. There have indeed been some roadworks and changes to the signposting since I mapped out this route 15 years ago. I'll have to find the time to go back and update it...

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful loop that I have already done twice. There are a few changes to take into account with regard to the route.
In the forest, there is a sign indicating that the path has collapsed. It is indeed better to go around it via the track.
The climb to the lake from the Mont Rosset chalet is after the fork that leads to the Col du Mont Rosset, taking the path that runs along the stream on the left as you climb (not on the right as shown on the map). Just follow the clearly visible mountain/lake logo.
To reach the pass, avoid going off-trail. It's not very pleasant. There is now a very beautiful balcony trail, still marked with the same mountain/lake logo. You can reach it by leaving the lake and staying to the left of the stream as you descend. The rest of the tour is very beautiful and easy. Stops at the lake, stop at the refuge... magnificent..

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike on a sunny Saturday morning with lunch at the Balme refuge and return to the car park early enough to enjoy the last day of August.
It is recommended to do this hike in the suggested direction, as otherwise the climb to the Balme refuge on the track would be a bit tedious, whereas the path below Mont Rosset is very pleasant.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, a really beautiful hike. We did it in the fog in the morning, with a sea of clouds all the way to the lake, then it cleared up completely with a big blue sky at the lake. There are lots of marmots and cows in the mountains at the moment, and you are accompanied all the way by the tinkling of bells. The lake is very clean, with clear, pure water, a real treat, with a beautiful view of the Vanoise National Park mountains.
The hike isn't too difficult, except for a little bit at the beginning. It's relatively accessible. Don't hesitate to stop for a drink at La Balme, the staff are very welcoming.
A hike to be repeated

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

I did the hike in the opposite direction, but the section in front of the refuge (8) was still snow-covered, so the climb was quite difficult. I skipped the detour to the lake because I couldn't find a safe path, I was already quite exhausted, and in any case, there probably wasn't a lake . I think it would have been easier in the other direction since the snow on that side only started halfway between 3 and 4 (so less climbing in the snow and descending in the snow is easier).

Machine-translated

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

Hike completed on 21 September.
The route was straightforward, except from the lake to the pass. We went straight ahead, encountering quite a few bumps and tricky descents that we could have avoided.
Very pretty scenery.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike in the opposite direction to the suggested route and didn't regret it, as the climb is more gradual this way. What a surprise when we arrived at the lake: there was a herd of beautiful cows, 197 in total! We're more used to seeing ibex or chamois when we arrive!
I highly recommend it because the view of Mont Pourri facing the lake is magnificent, as is the entire valley.
On the way down (in reverse), we also saw some marmots racing each other.
The descent through the woods (about an hour) was very enjoyable given the heat of the afternoon.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We took a few liberties with the itinerary. At the start, we went straight up into the forest along a steep path. Then we took a path on the left for the final climb to the lake (marked with symbols representing a mountain and a lake, less steep than the path in the itinerary). Finally, we didn't cross over to the Rosset Pass but took the trail on the itinerary to reach point 4 and then climbed up to the pass.
A very beautiful hike, but it can get crowded, so it's best to leave early to enjoy the lake in peace.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

nice hike. Quite a steep climb to reach the lake. From the lake, the route to Col Mont Rosset is not very clear. After the Balme refuge, the 4x4 track is not very interesting.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb walk through magnificent countryside.
Quite steep to reach the pass.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike is beautiful, starting with a slightly steep forest crossing, followed by beautiful landscapes all the way to Lake Portette.
The descent is pleasant until you reach the Balme refuge. After that, it's a little less enjoyable on the 4x4 track. But overall
it's very good.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

With snow still very much present at this time of year, we didn't dare venture beyond certain trails and so we made a round trip to the lake. It was certainly frustrating not to be able to complete the entire loop! However, the hike was still magnificent, with spectacular scenery. I would definitely recommend it

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A little-used trail with varied landscapes, starting with an uphill climb through the forest, then alpine pastures and wilder landscapes after the lake, continuing on to the Col de Charbonnière: a beautiful area with small lakes. However, the descent through the scree is not well marked and somewhat slippery
the return on the 4x4 track from the Balme refuge is long and not very pleasant.
In summary, a very beautiful start but an uninteresting end

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike!!!
Worth noting (because it's very rare), this hike is beautiful from start to finish and the trails are pleasant to walk on (there's a short climb up to the lake and a fairly steep descent after the pass). To leave the lake, it's easy to find the small path that joins the GR without having to go back down the way you came up.
Very beautiful flora, magnificent mineral landscapes, no wildlife.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Although it's not the southern motorway, the route isn't deserted. You still need a bit of stamina to finish the loop without being exhausted, but the beauty of the landscapes attracts people...

Machine-translated