The Lac Vert and Lac de Pormenaz loop from Plaine Joux

Start at the Plaine Joux tourist office (large car park).

(S/E) Head east-southeast on a paved road and pass under the ski lift lines. After a few hairpin bends, you will reach an intersection just before Lac Vert.

(1) Leave the paved road via a forest road that climbs to the left and follow the lake on your right.

(2) At the crossroads on the other side of the lake, continue climbing eastwards until you reach the Refuge du Châtelet.

(3) Turn left onto a forest road and leave the refuge on your right (ignore the sign for the lake straight ahead, which is the way back).

(4) When the road turns left in a hairpin bend, leave it and take a path on the right. Climb up several hairpin bends.

(5) Rejoin the forest road at the exit of the hamlet of Ayères des Rocs and follow it to the right. Cross the hamlet of Ayères des Pierrières and turn right with the road.

(6) At the triangular intersection, turn left onto the forest road that climbs uphill. If you wish, you can take the more rugged trail that runs parallel to the road on the right. Continue climbing for a long time, heading generally northeast.

(7) At a fork, take the right-hand path (the two paths rejoin further up), which is more direct than the forest road.

(8) At another fork, you have two options:
- To shorten the route, follow a marked trail to the right (east) and rejoin the main route at (12).
- As shown on the map, follow the GRP® marked in red and yellow to the left (northeast).

(9) Join the GR®5 (red and white markings) and follow it to the right to quickly reach another intersection.

(10) Turn right, south-southwest, and pass the Refuge de Moëde Anterne (where you can get something to eat).

(11) At the fork that appears shortly after, keep right (south-southwest; leave the GR®5 trail on your left). Reach a crossroads near Laouchet (small lake).

(12) Continue straight ahead, leaving the lake on your left, and descend gently. Keep heading south, then south-east and finally south to reach Lac de Pormenaz

(13) Follow the lake on your left until you reach its western tip.

(14) Head west-southwest and begin a steep descent. Caution: there are several tricky sections with cables and ladders. You will arrive at the edge of a torrent.

(15) Turn left to find a footbridge further south that will take you across the stream. Continue on the other side and cross another stream. Then turn left to reach the Chalets du Souay.

(16) Return to a forest road and follow it downhill. Stay on the forest road and ignore any side roads. Cross the hamlet of Les Ayères du Milieu and reach the hamlet of Le Gouet.

(17) Stay on the forest road on the right and ignore a path on the left. You will reach the Refuge du Châtelet, which you passed on the way there.

(3) Leave the refuge on your right and, at the fork that appears immediately, turn left onto the same forest road as on the way there.

(2) Stay west-southwest on the forest road to go around Lac Vert on the left. Pass a restaurant on your left, then another road.

(1) Continue straight ahead on the forest road until you reach the car park where you started (S/E).

At the start of the route, during high season, a free shuttle bus runs to Lac Vert. Departures every 15 minutes.

The route is shaded in its first and last quarters. The path is very stony but easily passable even after rain. Can easily be done in the opposite direction.

There are numerous water points and places to eat.

There is a long tricky section which is impassable with a dog and probably difficult with young children. It seems to be possible to avoid this by retracing your steps at (14) (not tested).

You cannot swim in the lakes, but they offer magnificent colours.