Le Lac du Retour

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike in a wild valley that opens onto a magnificent lake with remarkable panoramic views. No particular difficulty.

The route marked on the app is not very clear. At the sign for Lac du Retour written in yellow with an arrow on a large rock, don't hesitate to go to the right, crossing the small streams to find a fairly obvious path. Continue slightly uphill and you will find the path coming from the sheepfolds at a damaged signpost.

In general, follow the yellow markings and red dots, which are fairly easy to see along the way.

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Date of your route : Aug 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, stunning view upon arrival at the lake. Follow the route marked on the trails, red markings and also yellow markings with R (for lake return)

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I have just resumed hiking, taking your advice into account and setting the route on the trails visible on the satellite image.

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Thank you for your comment. I was aware that there had been some changes to the trails in the valley in recent years, and I will need to take the time to go there and update the information.

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Date of your route : Jun 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The path isn't easy to find... Despite the signs, we got lost and climbed up the rocks, which was extremely difficult (and dangerous). Fortunately, on the way back, we found the main path, which wasn't particularly difficult (apart from the elevation). In fact, we should have gone to the right (away from the rockfall).
The view from the top is incredible and you quickly forget all your efforts!

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Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The view from the lake is really worth it... you can even take the time to go for a swim.
The path up the hill isn't obvious: there are too many possible routes.
Whichever path you take, you'll get to the top, but the difficulty will vary. We took the wrong path and followed the straight line to the left of the stream, climbing up through the rocks. It was quite challenging.
The right path is the one indicated on the trail.
To find it, it all comes down to when you reach a rock with "Lac du Retour" painted in yellow with an arrow that seems to indicate the path straight ahead. In fact, you have to turn right and follow the route indicated on Visorando.

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Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike but confusing trail
We had to adapt several times

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Date of your route : Jul 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike starting from the Pierre Giret car park, with a magnificent lake, which can be combined with the Louie Blanche trail
(a round trip of about 1 hour offering a route past small lakes and a view of the Italian side of Mont Blanc).
Do not take the route that climbs steeply up the rocky outcrops of the Lac du Retour torrent, but continue towards the Louie Blanche pass and turn left at the junction of the two routes (signposted).
The end of the trail is poorly marked (problematic in foggy conditions) and the walking times indicated are far too short for hikers who are not trail runners (as is the case for all trails in this area, particularly the Col de Tachuy): add at least a third to the time indicated for both the ascent and descent.

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Date of your route : Oct 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, we did this hike in mid-October in beautiful sunshine.
The climb up the rocks is fairly moderate in our opinion; there are more difficult climbs. As indicated in the description, the route is not always easy to find as there are few trails. The view of the lake is magnificent. For the more daring climbers, it is possible to go around the lakes, as there are several small pools all around in front, where there is a view of Mont Pork.
The descent is very long and impractical, especially as the path is poorly marked and we got lost. The instructions say to follow the yellow markings, but there aren't any. However, there are red markings everywhere, which is confusing.
Personally, I don't think it's necessary to go back to the chapel, as it's long and there's nothing to see.
Enjoy your hike, everyone!

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Date of your route : Jul 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike. Arrival at this beautiful lake, partly frozen. The climb is a little steep but the beauty of the site is really worth it.

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Date of your route : Sep 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A challenging but very beautiful hike with magnificent landscapes and, as a bonus, Mont Pourri reflected in the lake.

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Date of your route : Sep 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Crossing from Louie Blanche

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Date of your route : Aug 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike in the wild valley of the Louïe Blanche. Magnificent view of Mont Pourri.

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Date of your route : Oct 25, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb hike, the lake is magnificent, beautiful reflections, lovely autumn colours.

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Date of your route : Aug 17, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We did this hike starting from La Rosière, passing through Putétruit and Plan Pigeux. The slope is also quite steep but can be managed without any problems. We arrived via the return route a few moments later and there was the lake, simply magnificent. The weather was beautiful, with no wind, so we took the opportunity to sit down for a while.
We returned via the Louïe Blanche pass, which offered beautiful scenery along the way. We came across many small lakes and the trail was well marked. It was very beautiful. However, when we arrived at the Louïe Blanche pass to descend to La Rosière, the slope was very steep and on the side of the mountain, so you have to be very careful. I would advise against this descent with children or people who are afraid of heights.

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