Pic de l’Aigle and the Lookout Points on the Lakes

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Very nice and easy walk above the lakes of the Jura, Maclu and Illay.

Important note regarding parking: this site is particularly busy and has three car parks numbered P1, P2 and P3. We strongly recommend parking in car park P1, which can be accessed via this link.

Details

n°121993
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.87 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 199 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 191 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 994 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 894 m
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Photos

Belvedere
The Pic de l'Aigle and the viewpoints on the lakes
The lakes
Village of la Chaux du Dombief

Description of the walk

Park in a car park of the Pic de l’Aigle (signs) north of the town of La Chaux-du-Dombief.

(S/E) Head on the Yellow-marked path to the north that winds through the forest. It quickly leads to stairs and just as quickly ends at the top of Pic de l’Aigle (1).

Continue to the north-east on this good path, and along a bumpy not too challenging path. Reach the first lookout point of the three lakes (2), namely the two Maclu Lakes (Grand Maclu and Petit Maclu) and the Lac de la Motte or the Lac d’Illay.

Continue in the same direction to quickly reach the second viewpoint with views of 4 lakes, the previous 3 and Lac de Narlay to the north-east (3).

Then return to the car park on the outbound path (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 894 m - Car park - Pic de l'aigle 994m
  2. 1 : km 0.61 - alt. 967 m - Pic de l'Aigle
  3. 2 : km 1.98 - alt. 928 m - First viewpoint
  4. 3 : km 2.43 - alt. 906 m - Bélvédère des Quatre Lacs
  5. S/E : km 4.87 - alt. 896 m - Pic de l'Aigle car park

Notes

No water or shelter but benches for a nice break to admire these bodies of water.
Note on the route: the route of this trail was mapped on a smartphone with the Visorando application, it differs somewhat from the route on the map; this is due to the sometimes imprecise reception because the trees sometimes block the signal, but it is still very close.
Note on markings: Initially the signs indicate the Yellow markings (Pic de l'Aigle and Viewpoints) and the route is also marked in the Red-White of the GR®559A contrary to the map’s indications where this GR® follows the lakes’ shores.

Worth a visit

The walk along the Hérisson waterfalls are approximately 2 km from the start at the waterfall car park in the village of Illay. Find the description here.

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.

Downloads
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Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 93 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
pathy
pathy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I did this hike with a 4-year-old who walks well. It's a lovely outing with some beautiful views. The only downside was that the trail was extremely muddy, with slippery stones, branches and puddles... which made the route particularly difficult.

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User 27303149

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent view of the lakes. Several viewpoints. The return journey along the lakes can sometimes be monotonous. I recommend this hike in good weather for the view of the lakes. That said, it is a very beautiful hike.

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User 19435818

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful views of the lakes and Mont Blanc, clear under the evening sun

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User 27193577
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike, beautiful view
Allow a good two hours for the round trip

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User 20857564

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike, but you need good shoes as it is quite steep and rocky.

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User 8594521

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike that is quite steep but well worth the effort, with magnificent views.

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Phil.Cormier
Phil.Cormier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely hike, beware of markets and roots, circuit a little muddy. Beautiful views from the belvedere, the gradations of colour on the lakes are superb.

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Jerome54
Jerome54
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent views from the top of the Pic de l'Aigle, although the climb is steep and sporty. On the other hand, to get to the belvederes (views of the lakes), the route includes some fairly rough sections of path, which is why I wouldn't classify this hike as easy. I wouldn't recommend it for those who have difficulty walking.

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poetpouet
poetpouet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice circuit, but the climb up the stairs before the lookout is steep. The rest of the route is easy and in the shade. Very pleasant, great views of the lakes

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marcheursmulatière
marcheursmulatière

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Circuit a little difficult for the access to the peak of the wing, easier afterwards.

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Panfamily
Panfamily

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We couldn't find out which car park it was for the start, so we took a guess. There was a lot of difference in altitude, so I don't know if we were on the right path.

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ABISA
ABISA

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice walk

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Kinet
Kinet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very rainy weather on the day of the hike and very muddy path ....
We'll be back....

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Cyrille58&Andrée56
Cyrille58&Andrée56

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice walk, not very easy; magnificent viewpoint

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Tauffe
Tauffe

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Last 500 metres of the walk dangerous, risk of falling (cliff) We took the road right next to it for this part of the walk

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