The Green Lake

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This is a short walk to an easily accessible lake that is well worth a visit. At the foot of a huge scree slope, Lac Vert is a gem of exceptional colour.

Details

n°153341
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.96 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 103 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 97 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,847 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,754 m
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Photos

Green Lake
green lake
The Green Lake
The Green Lake

Description of the walk

Access: Shortly before Névache, turn right onto the D1t, Route du Col de l'Échelle, then descend to the road coming from Bardonècchia (Italy). Continue left on the small road that climbs up the Vallée Étroite to the hamlet of Les Granges, where you will find the car park.

(S) From the car park, continue along the road that leads to the hamlet of Les Granges de la Vallée Étroite, passing in front of the Refuge I Re Magi. Cross the road and continue along the track that leaves the hamlet heading north-west (GR®57). Follow this track until you reach a turn-off on the right (towards Lac Vert).

(2) Follow the track north-east to the footbridge over the Vallée Étroite stream, cross it and follow the path that climbs up to the left for a short distance, then descend behind it and arrive at the lake.

(3) Return via the same route to the car park (E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,755 m - Car park in the hamlet of Les Granges
  2. 1 : km 0.26 - alt. 1,761 m - Refuge I Re Magi
  3. 2 : km 1.48 - alt. 1,836 m - Take the track on the right
  4. 3 : km 1.98 - alt. 1,830 m - Lac Vert (Névache . Hautes-Alpes)
  5. S/E : km 3.96 - alt. 1,754 m - Car park in the hamlet of Les Granges

Notes

No water.

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 22 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Lafalla
Lafalla

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, short and easy walk. The lake is very wild with magnificent colours. Instead of going back the same way, we crossed to the other side of the stream and walked up to the car park, where a footbridge allowed us to cross back over and return to the car park. The narrow valley is truly superb and well worth seeing

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kibler georges
kibler georges

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

very nice walk. Stick to the left at the start in the woods. Poor signage at the end of the route

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User 26486891

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very easy to access, less than 5 km round trip from the paid car park in the hamlet of Les Granges. The path is quite steep, so it is best to wear good walking shoes. It is best to arrive early in the morning to avoid the crowds, but as soon as you see the lake through the trees, you will realise that the site is truly exceptional and you will not regret the drive to get here.

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gypaete
gypaete

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

After crossing the stream, several paths lead to the lake. In wet weather, they can become slippery, so caution is advised, but the lake, which is not yet visible, is not far away.
You can also walk around the lake, taking care where you put your feet.
The colours of the lake were magnificent. There were very few hikers at the start of the season. The lake is not very large and is located in a wooded basin with no panoramic view of the surrounding mountains.

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VCANET
VCANET

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful route with magnificent colours. Very busy on this All Saints' Day.
On the way there, at point 2, we continued along the forest track to the Pont de la Fonderie bridge and reached Lac Vert (point 3) by taking the footbridge under the bridge and following a small path marked in black on the map.
As other hikers have pointed out, it's worth going back down to the starting point by following a path on the left bank of the stream, which makes a nice loop. There's a footbridge below the car park.

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CRZ
CRZ

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very popular walk but with superb scenery.
Bring some cash to pay for parking in the hamlet of Les Granges and for a nice beer on your return.
You can vary the route on the way there (near the stream) and on the way back (by staying on the track that arrives at the hamlet from above (north) to avoid the crowds.

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Jean marie 54
Jean marie 54

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful, fairly easy hike to see the green lake, but be careful: to access the narrow valley, you now have to arrive before 10:30 a.m. to get to the car park and pay around €3 per car. Otherwise, after 10:30 a.m., you have to go a little further down towards Italy and take a shuttle bus (orange) which will take you there in about 20 minutes (price €5 per person).

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Legdom21
Legdom21

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

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Ecologilles13
Ecologilles13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The walk was exactly as described, both in terms of difficulty and tourist interest. Thank you.

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Matninou
Matninou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy hike.

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paccoud isabelle
paccoud isabelle
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely family walk, quick and easy. Please note that if you have children, they will need to take their shoes off at this time of year as the river is quite deep due to the snow melt.

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Romain L42
Romain L42

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little walk, very easy to follow.
The lake is definitely worth a look.
Return via the path along the river to complete the loop (4 km, 175 m elevation gain in total).

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syvette Gillibert
syvette Gillibert

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

We returned via the other side of the stream to complete the loop (less crowded)

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Christiane M
Christiane M

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful emerald colour, magnificent in the sunlight.

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gagou13
gagou13

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike. Crossed a small stream without getting your feet too wet. I recommend it for a half-day outing.

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