The Bottomless Lake

de fr

A magnificent hike starting from the Hospice du Petit Saint-Bernard to reach a high-altitude lake at the foot of the Lancebranlette summit.

Details

n°3695313
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.49 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 335 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 340 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,465 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,121 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area: Alps
  • ⚐ District: Séez (73700)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 45.67177° / E 6.87597°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3531ET, 3531ETR, 3532ET, 3532ETR
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Photos

lower descent
start of descent
Higher climb
Ascent

Description of the walk

The walk starts from the Hospice du Petit Saint-Bernard. You can park your car there.

(S/E) Take the marked trail towards Lac sans Fond and Lancebranlette, which starts behind the Hospice du Petit Saint-Bernard.

(1) Cross the Torrent du Reclus and then climb up the winding path through the mountain pasture. Stay on the path, ignoring the paths on the left, until you reach the junction of the Lac Sans Fond and Lancebranlette paths.

(2) Leave the path on the right and turn left towards Lac sans Fond. The path becomes almost flat. Continue until you reach the eastern shore of Lac sans Fond.

(3) Start walking around the lake in an anti-clockwise direction to admire it from all angles. When you reach the south-western corner of the lake, turn right (westwards) and descend via the marked trail.

(4) At the next fork, take the left-hand path towards the Hospice du Petit Saint-Bernard. Descend gently, then follow the winding path to the next intersection.

(5) Then turn left, still heading towards the Hospice du Petit Saint-Bernard.

(6) Cross the Teppi stream and continue downhill on the same path.

(7) You will arrive near the road. Stay on the left and do not cross the stream immediately; wait a few metres. Walk along the stream, then turn right to return to your car. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 2,154 m - Hospice du Petit Saint-Bernard
  2. 1 : km 0.22 - alt. 2,148 m - Torrent du Reclus (cours d'eau)
  3. 2 : km 1.44 - alt. 2,421 m - Lac sans Fond / Lancebranlette intersection
  4. 3 : km 2.41 - alt. 2,459 m - Lac sans Fond
  5. 4 : km 3.52 - alt. 2,385 m - Fork
  6. 5 : km 4.78 - alt. 2,235 m - Intersection
  7. 6 : km 5.17 - alt. 2,197 m - Ruisseau de Teppi
  8. 7 : km 6.12 - alt. 2,122 m - Intersection near the D1090
  9. S/E : km 6.49 - alt. 2,154 m - Hospice du Petit Saint-Bernard

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 16 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Pégourié
Pégourié

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A lovely little hike under a clear blue sky.
Strangely, at the junction with the Lancebranlette trail, the signpost has been dismantled and taped up!
It's important to go around the lake as indicated and head towards the bottom for some beautiful photos.

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sylviebouchet74
sylviebouchet74

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A very pleasant route, slightly steep for the first kilometre, arriving at the lake with a herd of cows reflected in it. A magnificent, easy descent among the cows
A very beautiful hike

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sosobm
sosobm

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A beautiful way to explore the lake, the route is easy to follow and, although the start is a bit steep, it is very easy going.

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PAT 07 AMARIE
PAT 07 AMARIE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Hike completed on 18 July
A bit steep at first but perfect path. The lake is magnificent with its snowfields. We had a picnic by the lake and took some beautiful photos

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Alain04
Alain04

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful route despite a fairly steep start. The loop required crossing a few snowfields that had not yet melted, so we descended via the same route as on the way up. Quite busy for a Sunday 22 June outside the school holidays.

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Xtophe
Xtophe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant parish-specific hike that is well worth the effort . The start is quite steep, but after that the views are really lovely and so is the walk around the lake! You can even dip your feet in the water in summer. The return journey is a gentle stroll that avoids retracing your steps and allows you to enjoy the views (particularly of the Aiguille Rouge)

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gwendolinedemin
gwendolinedemin

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

The first 45 minutes were tough! ... especially with young children..
But so beautiful! We're glad we did it

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dougere
dougere

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike. The climb is quite steep at the beginning, but with numerous breaks to admire the scenery, it's easy to reach the top. There's a lovely lake and a descent through wonderful mountain pastures. It's impossible to take the wrong route.

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sisco07
sisco07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed several times. Pleasant for the view, both on the way up to the lake and once you arrive at the lake. This year, when we did the hike (mid-July), there was more snow than in other years and the descent required crossing snowfields.
The start is quite steep. Take your time climbing up to the mountain pastures.

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BARET André
BARET André
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We set off from the car park at the customs hutbefore the last two hairpin bends below the statue, which is less busy than the hospice car park and avoids a climb on the way back. we walked along the small lake above the car park and then followed a good black dotted path on IGN, which followed and then crossed the small stream via a good footbridge and joined the Col de la Traversette path before descending slightly towards the hospice. We crossed the road and joined the route described in the guidebook. S/E. On the descent at point 7 on the map, turn right onto the road and walk a few metres downhill to the car park.
Set off early to avoid the crowds.
A superb walk with a lake still surrounded by snowfields, reflecting the surrounding peaks.

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victor38140
victor38140

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike done in early September, yet still very crowded.
Lots of marmots and beautiful cows.

And unfortunately, still just as many inconsiderate people who let their dogs run around off the leash

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Patav
Patav

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike suitable for the whole family; the slope is steep at the start but not technically difficult.
Very beautiful scenery. Easy route to follow.
Pleasant descent through mountain pastures among cows and marmots.
The lakeside is ideal for a picnic stop, but you won't be alone in summer.

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AlyssPhantom
AlyssPhantom

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike with views of Mont Pourri and the Italian border. An easy trail to follow from the Petit Saint-Bernard hospice, with small streams along the way. No physical difficulties, with fairly steep slopes at times but over very short distances.
Be careful when passing through a field of curious cows who wanted to play and followed our dog (the lake is their watering hole).
You can join several other trails throughout the hike.

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stephan_lefebvre
stephan_lefebvre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy route that does not require any physical effort.
The lake is beautiful with its snowfields.
Numerous marmots, which are not shy, and ibex on the Lancebranlette

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Francis.Ahr
Francis.Ahr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A fairly easy walk, with a fairly steep climb shortly after setting off, followed by a long, gently sloping section. Magnificent scenery.

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