Lac de Puy Vachier and the viewpoint as seen from the Glaciers cable car

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To spare your calves, the hike begins with a cable car ride up from La Grave. At the midway station (the end of the first section), the majestic Meije and its glaciers come into view!
Then, for a bit of a walk, the path will take you to Lac de Puy Vachier with its midnight-blue waters, the Évariste Chancel mountain hut and a viewing platform from which the view takes in the upper Romanche valley, stretching from the Grandes-Rousses in the west to the Galibier and La Meije in the east.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.58 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,257 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,270 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,287 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 7,592 ft
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Photos

Return to La Grave
Her Majesty La Meije
Gentians
Lac de Puy Vachier

Description of the walk

In the village of La Grave, take the Téléphérique des Glaciers cable car and go up to the Peyrou d’Amont station at 2,414 metres.

(S/E) Upon exiting the cable car, take the east-facing path which begins with a descent. After passing under the cable car cables, ignore the first path on the right and continue straight ahead. A little further on, do the same: ignore the path on the right (normally reserved for mountain bikes) and continue on to Lac de Puy Vachier.

(1) Walk round the lake on the right-hand side, ignore the path on the right once again and start the climb towards the Évariste Chancel refuge, which can be seen on its promontory.

(2) After perhaps having a snack at the refuge, return to the main path and take it to the right.
At the next junction a few metres further on, continue to the right and follow this path to the viewing platform.

Admire the view over the Romanche Valley and the Grandes-Rousses mountains as far as the Galibier, then turn back.
Return to the cable car station (S/E) via the same route and head back down to La Grave.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 7,920 ft - Intermediate station of the Téléphérique des Glaciers
  2. 1 : mi 1 - alt. 7,802 ft - Lac de Puy Vachier
  3. 2 : mi 1.45 - alt. 8,255 ft - Refuge Everiste Chancel
  4. 3 : mi 1.79 - alt. 8,153 ft - Viewpoint
  5. S/E : mi 3.58 - alt. 7,920 ft - Intermediate station of the Téléphérique des Glaciers cable car

Notes

Before setting off, check the timetables and fares for the ascent and, above all, the last descent on the Glaciers de la Meije cable car.

The same applies to the opening dates and catering arrangements (and possibly accommodation) at the Évariste Chancel refuge.

There are toilets and washbasins at the cable car stations.
There may be a water point at the refuge.

Signage and signposts are sometimes in poor condition and can also be a bit ‘unusual’ (two blue chevrons on a white or red background between the refuge and the viewpoint!).

At the end of June 2020, the path crossed three snowfields without any particular difficulty before reaching Lac de Puy Vachier.

The final hundred metres before the viewpoint are quite exposed. Nothing impossible, but caution is advised, and this section may not be suitable for those who are very prone to vertigo or have a severe fear of heights!

Worth a visit

As for the cable car, don’t hesitate to buy a ticket that also includes the second section to take you up to 3,205 metres (Col des Ruillans) so you can explore the Girose Glacier. Depending on the weather, it might be best to do this before the hike, whilst the peaks (Meije and Râteau) are still not shrouded in cloud.

The village of La Grave is well worth a visit, particularly its church, typical of the region, surrounded by its small cemetery.
Next, the various hamlets in the commune are also well worth a look: Ventelon, Les Hières, Les Terrasses and Le Chazelet with its viewpoint overlooking the Meije!

And, of course, there are plenty of other possible hikes for all levels starting from La Grave, particularly towards Lac du Goléon or the Emparis plateau.

Reviews and comments

3.9 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
cck.stasser
cck.stasser

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

There are plenty of people between the cable car and the lake, where there is a very popular mountain hut a little further up. You can enjoy a meal or a drink there with some very friendly people. It is possible to walk back to Grave from the mountain hut. Please take care at the start of the descent, as some sections require a bit of caution and vigilance. Please do not walk down with young children, whether from the mountain hut or the cable car. It’s a long walk that took us three hours, even though we’re experienced adults! We came across people in sandals with children who had fallen and had to be carried down by the rescue services! The route ends on a path crossing pastures, then leads to a bridge on a very dusty track where children end up breathing in the dust kicked up by the many walkers and cyclists in the area. There’s a lot of debate about who is and isn’t allowed to use the path, even though it’s quite clearly signposted. Do be careful, though. Thank you for the walk and the starting points. If you’re looking to walk down, you can get information from the tourist office near the cable car.

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Echarnay01
Echarnay01

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Although you recommend not mentioning the signposting (which is important), I’d like to point out that the signposting along the route is virtually non-existent. That’s hardly surprising, given that we’re in the Hautes-Alpes! (Nothing like the Isère region, where they’re experts at signposting.) We tried to head back down to La Grave via the path: it was an absolute nightmare! The path was very steep and stony, and the final section was on an unstable, sandy track: it’s easy to see why mudslides occur during heavy storms!
The lake is stunning...

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Claire Branciard
Claire Branciard

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A lovely walk
A stony but easy path
Superb views of the surrounding mountains
A lake with a beautiful colour
And beautiful flowers in full bloom all along the way in mid-July

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paloux
paloux

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A fairly easy walk without too much of an elevation gain
The surrounding landscape is nevertheless remarkable
There are lakes far more beautiful than Puyvachier
Well worth doing, ideally combined with the climb to the 3,200-metre summit

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Cath Khal
Cath Khal

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy, short walk if you take the cable car (40 minutes to reach the lake).
Stunning views, and you can carry on past the lake to other walks starting from the Chancel refuge above the lake (15 to 20 minutes past the lake).

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Other walks in the area

Walking Belvedere at the Évariste Chancel refuge

Visorando Member
Belvédère du Refuge Évariste Chancel
↔7.67 mi ↗+4,157 ft ↘-4,186 ft ◔7h 10 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from La Grave (Hautes-Alpes)
This outing, starting from La Grave, offers remarkable views of the Romanche valley. These views will be the bonus of the day after passing Lac de Puy Vachier and the Évariste Chancel refuge.

Walking La Grave - Alpe de Villar-d'Arêne mountain hut

Visorando Member
La Grave - Refuge de l'Alpe de Villar-d'Arêne
↔6.87 mi ↗+2,618 ft ↘-669 ft ◔5h 25 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from La Grave (Hautes-Alpes)
After a rest day in La Grave, set off on this8th stage, which presents no technical difficulties and involves no significant elevation gain. A route that circles La Meije, initially following the Romanche torrent. You will pass close to Villar d'Arène. Thesecond section, starting from Pont d'Arsine, is slightly more challenging and much wilder, taking in the Pas d'Anna Falque and the Plan d'Alpe before reaching the Refuge de l'Alpe de Villar-d'Arêne, which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.

Walking Le Signal de la Grave

Visorando Member
Le Signal de la Grave
↔5.25 mi ↗+2,182 ft ↘-2,165 ft ◔4h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from La Grave (Hautes-Alpes)
Hike to a first-class viewpoint of La Meije.

Walking Emparis Plateau, Lac Lérié and Lac Noir

Visorando Member
Plateau d'Emparis, Lac Lérié et Lac Noir
↔10.44 mi ↗+3,271 ft ↘-3,297 ft ◔7h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from La Grave (Hautes-Alpes)
A somewhat long but magnificent hike with the Meije glaciers in the background. Message from the moderator: You are in a Sensitive Natural Area (Natura 2000) which is subject to specific regulations (see practical information).

Walking La Baraque de la Buffe at the start of Le Chazelet

Visorando Member
La Baraque de la Buffe au départ du Chazelet
↔8.59 mi ↗+1,329 ft ↘-1,352 ft ◔5h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from La Grave (Hautes-Alpes)
This is an easy walk, mainly on paved or unpaved tracks (some are necessary), which nevertheless offers constant views of the Meije massif, wide open spaces around you, and a bright route rich in discoveries. What's more, this route is ideal for Nordic walking.

Walking The lakes of the Emparis plateau

Visorando Member
Les Lacs du Plateau d'Emparis
↔8.37 mi ↗+2,539 ft ↘-2,539 ft ◔6h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from La Grave (Hautes-Alpes)
Hike facing the majestic panorama offered by La Meije, one of the queens of the Ecrins. Message from the moderator: You are in a Sensitive Natural Area (Natura 2000) which is subject to specific regulations (see practical information).

Walking Le Gros Têt: another viewpoint overlooking La Meije above the Emparis plateau

Visorando Member
Le Gros Têt : un autre balcon sur la Meije au-dessus du plateau d'Emparis
↔10.80 mi ↗+3,205 ft ↘-3,209 ft ◔7h 45 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from La Grave (Hautes-Alpes)
A hike offering superb views of the Meije glaciers as well as the Emparis plateau. Whilst the Emparis plateau is renowned for its views of the Meije, it is naturally very busy. This hike allows you to enjoy the same views whilst walking in a wilder setting. Message from the moderators: You are in a Sensitive Natural Area (Natura 2000), which is subject to specific regulations (see practical information).

Walking Circular route on the Emparis Plateau

Visorando Member
↔13.95 mi ↗+3,156 ft ↘-3,169 ft ◔9h 10 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from La Grave (Hautes-Alpes)
This is the classic route to the Emparis plateau, extended to form a circular route with varied landscapes. Moderator’s note: You are in a Sensitive Natural Area (Natura 2000) which is subject to specific regulations (see practical information). 30/09/2024: Route modified between sections 4 and 6 to follow the markings.

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