The tour of Lac du Mont Charvin

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This hike will introduce you to the flora and fauna of the Alps. Depending on the time of year, you can meet the inhabitants of these mountains and taste their delicious cheeses.

Technical sheet

n°18
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.81 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 913 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 913 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,088 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,175 m
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Photos

descent view of the valley
view of Charvin and Goenne on the left
lake and Mont Charvin
view of the étale

Description of the walk

This hike starts at the car park after "La Charmette" when coming from Manigod. This car park is at the end of the road and at the start of a track used to climb up to the alpine farms.

(S/E) Take this track, which first climbs through the forest and then emerges to cross the mountain pastures.

(1) You will reach a small stream, the Fer, which you will need to ford. Continue with the stream on your right and move away from it before reaching another ford.

(2) Follow the Ruisseau Le Fer stream again, then cross it and turn north-east, then east to reach the Aulp de Fier d'en haut mountain farm.

(3) The trail climbs behind the farm and turns south, taking you to the Lac du Mont Charvin via some rocks and a small slab.

(4) Go around the lake, keeping it on your left, and climb up to the pass at 2,085 metres.

(5) Then, still skirting the lake, return to the path you took on the way up.

(4) Take the same route back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,175 m - Car park after "la charmette", coming from Manigod
  2. 1 : km 0.8 - alt. 1,301 m - Fording - Fier (rivière)
  3. 2 : km 2.08 - alt. 1,542 m - Ford
  4. 3 : km 3.24 - alt. 1,764 m - Aulp de Fier mountain farm from above.
  5. 4 : km 4.76 - alt. 2,018 m - Lac du Mont Charvin
  6. 5 : km 5.26 - alt. 2,088 m - Pass
  7. S/E : km 10.81 - alt. 1,175 m - Car park after "la charmette", coming from Manigod

Practical information

The Aulp de Fier farm sells cheese.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 38 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Mariclor
Mariclor

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very beautiful hike. Don't hesitate to go to the pass for a picnic with a great view on both sides.

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User 13421223

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Nice hike, too bad it wasn't very warm at the lake the day we went, but oh well...
It was very good

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User 14379804

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Magnificent hike with superb views

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Circomane
Circomane

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful hike with a splendid view of the Mont Blanc range as the highlight after the lake.
The final approach to the lake is not particularly difficult, but there are several possible routes, some of which are more challenging. It is best to stick to the path furthest to your LEFT. Enjoy your walk!

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thisimon
thisimon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

👍

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Mugnier Paul
Mugnier Paul

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

this loop has been extended by climbing up to Le Freu (a tricky section), Les Fontanettes and the Col des Porthets, length 14 km, 1,200 metres of elevation gain. You need to be well trained and in good physical condition.

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eclaude
eclaude

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

This hike was a wonderful discovery, even though it is very popular. The description should be updated because the fords have probably been reworked, as they are now almost non-existent. We got a little lost just before reaching the lake. The path is no longer very clear and many people are making their own tracks. Be careful.

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jfgortva
jfgortva

Easy route, the climb up to Charvin is steep and long with rocky sections at the end, but the rest of the route is straightforward with no tricky sections
Recommended

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smashdc
smashdc

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A few images of Mont Blanc at the end of the video, since I wasn't far away ;-)
🚀 The full discovery is here ✔️ https://youtu.be/tYjjFBRtKVI
🌈 This hike is part of an epic 204 km & 13,312 m D+/D- journey over 19 days 🥾🥾
.
As I found the final descent back through the woods quite long, the climb at the start will remain quite long with gradients of 12% to 17%, but the terrain is very rideable.
Small mountain roads if you arrive via the Col des Aravis Alt. 1,498 m #aravis.
A great view from the back and a superb panorama that can be seen during the climb.
There are a few snowy sections at the end of May, which is just a matter of getting used to, as the tracks left behind don't provide a flat path in some places, so you need to be careful, even if the risk is minor.
In the end, I still go to the pass, which makes the effort longer but gives you a superb 360° panorama!
The Golet de la Trouye, opposite the pass, is a little more difficult to reach, especially from the other side.
.
⛰ 11.7 km 1,100 m elevation gain/loss
⚡️ Highlights of the hike:
- Altitude 1,307 m - Ford - Fier (river)
- Altitude 1,765 m - Alpine farm at Aulp de Fier
- Altitude 2,012 m - Lac du Mont Charvin
- Altitude: 2,074 m - Col du Mont Charvin
- Tête de l'Aulp
.
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jfgortva
jfgortva

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very beautiful route

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Bidou61
Bidou61

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

A very long climb up the trail, fortunately made more enjoyable by magnificent scenery. The lake itself, which is very enclosed, is not particularly interesting. It is therefore essential to climb up to the ridge to enjoy the view of the Mont Blanc range.

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Blin
Blin
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Description matches the route and beautiful views of the Mont Blanc massif, Beaufortain, Belledonne, etc. on the ridge linking La Goenne to the Pas de l'Ours. Beautiful marmots near the lake.
I recommend doing this route during the week as it is a little too busy at weekends.
From the Charmettes car park to the lake = 2 hours 10 minutes' walk. Thanks to the author.

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marcelB
marcelB

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Accurate description, overcast with a few sunny spells, busy. Return from the lake via the path under the goénne. Thanks to the author.

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zbh0170
zbh0170

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Today's hike was very pleasant; the weather was good, but there were a few clouds hanging over the peaks. After Lake Charvin, we continued on to the summit of Mont Charvin.
We encountered a few hikers along the way.

Note: at the point (1), the stream is crossed via a bridge and not by fording.

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Robusto974
Robusto974

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Well-marked hike on a wide forest road, but beware of a very steep climb with a significant elevation gain. It takes a good hour to get out of the forest before reaching the mountain pasture. The farm is much further away than described. Too much snow to reach the lake, which is a shame because otherwise it's beautiful and we were alone in the world

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