The little Lac du Montaulever seen from Val Thorens

Once you reach the village of Val Thorens, take the Grande Rue (which continues from the approach road) and follow it as it turns left, passing under the archway between the Skiset Goitschel shop and the Carrefour Montagne mini-market.
Park in the open-air car park between the Grande Rue and the Rue de la Boucle, opposite the P1 car park (covered car park).

(S/E) Cross Rue de la Boucle and turn left onto the footpath, which soon runs alongside the Club Méditerranée via a covered walkway. Walk past the blocks of flats.

(1) Once past the blocks of flats, head straight on along the track, which climbs gently westwards to a Fork in the road.

(2) Stay on this track (the track branching off to the left below will be the one you take on the way back). After crossing two streams that run under the track through culverts, you’ll soon reach a junction.

(3) The track continues straight on towards Lac des Échauds and then Les Ménuires. On the left is a path to take on the return journey. Follow the track that climbs to the right, towards Lac du Montaulever.

(4) At a left-hand bend, leave the track which continues towards a ski lift and take the path climbing to the right. This path soon crosses rocky areas, even scree in places, and climbs – sometimes winding its way – towards a small pass, beyond which Lac du Montaulever comes into view on the right, set against a moraine backdrop.

(5) Ignore the path climbing straight ahead towards the Col de la Chambre, and take the path on the right which descends towards the lake. Walk round the lake on the right-hand side and, on your return, cut across the Col de la Chambre path to take a path descending from the right which joins a track further down.

(6) Take this track on the left. It winds its way round in hairpin bends and passes in front of the restaurant ‘L’Alpage’ and its large terrace, which is clearly closed in summer. Continue along the track, which soon crosses the Montaulever ski lift.

(7) Turn left onto the path that follows the route of the ski lift and continue along it until you rejoin the track you took on the way up.

(4) Join the track on the right until you reach the main track suitable for vehicles.

(3) Cross the main track and take the path opposite, which winds down to the track below, running parallel to the main track.

(2) Join the track and follow it back in the opposite direction

(1). Follow the original route back in the opposite direction, passing near Club Méditerranée.
Cross Rue de la Boucle and return to the car park (S/E).

This walk is short and easy. The sections amongst the moraine boulders during the ascent do, however, mean you should wear suitable footwear and perhaps even take your walking poles. The return journey, mainly along tracks, is a breeze.

This somewhat short walk is well worth it for a visit to the little Lac du Montaulever, with its moraine setting, aquatic vegetation and, above all, the population of Alpine newts it is home to. An information board by the lake is dedicated to them. Despite our best efforts, we weren’t lucky enough to spot any: perhaps the tourist office hadn’t warned them of our visit.

The more adventurous may press on to Lac de la Chambre, which is very different as it lies in an entirely rocky landscape, at the modest cost of an extra 3 km each way and an additional 300 m in elevation gain.

Instead of heading back down via the ski runs, you can take the Combe du Pluviomètre, which you reach by continuing eastwards along the path skirting the lake.