The Achard and Robert Lakes around Chamrousse

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A hike in the heart of nature on the outskirts of Grenoble. The trail takes you through woods to Lac Archard, where you can enjoy a leisurely stroll. Then, in a more open area, the path climbs up to the Robert Lakes.

Details

n°158948
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.81 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 423 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 418 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,162 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,780 m
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Photos

Nice view
Achard Lake
Lac Achard seen from above
Artistic Kern

Description of the walk

Park at the top of Roche-Béranger in Chamrousse, Route de la Croisette.

(S/E) Take the unpaved road until you reach a snack bar in the middle of the slopes (or cut across the ski slopes).

(1) Follow the road until the first hairpin bend, then take the path on the right (there are numerous signposts to Lac Achard).

(2) Continue along the path, following the yellow markings to Lac Achard.

(3) It is best to go around it on the left. After enjoying the lake, head towards the end of the lake where a trail starts, and reach the Col de l'Infernet.

(4) Continue along this same trail to reach the Col de la Botte.

(5) Descend and reach the Col des Lessines overlooking the Robert Lakes.

(6) Continue on to reach the Robert Lakes.

(7) Then head left of the lakes to pass through the Robert Sud breach (red and whiteGR® markings).

(8) Follow the red and whiteGR® markings on the left, which lead off to the left through the rocks. This rocky passage is quite tricky and poorly marked, but fortunately the markings are clearly visible.

(9) Pass a nameless lake and follow theGR® until you return to the Chamrousse slopes. From there, descend the slopes and head for Lac des Vallons, which is an artificial water reserve.

(10: Follow the signs for "Roche-Béranger" to return to the car park) S/E::.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,783 m - Parking at the top of Roche-Béranger in Chamrousse
  2. 1 : km 0.18 - alt. 1,798 m - Snack bar
  3. 2 : km 0.5 - alt. 1,834 m - Path on the right
  4. 3 : km 2.14 - alt. 1,918 m - Lac Achard (Belledonne)
  5. 4 : km 2.85 - alt. 1,994 m - Col de l'Infernet (1994m)
  6. 5 : km 4.24 - alt. 2,161 m - Col de la Botte (2166m)
  7. 6 : km 4.98 - alt. 2,100 m - Col des Lessines (2100m)
  8. 7 : km 5.49 - alt. 2,002 m - Lacs Robert
  9. 8 : km 5.94 - alt. 2,015 m - GR trail
  10. 9 : km 7.32 - alt. 1,925 m - Unnamed lake
  11. 10 : km 8.37 - alt. 1,801 m - Lac des Vallons
  12. S/E : km 9.81 - alt. 1,782 m - Car park at the start

Notes

There are no water points along the route.
The descent to the lakes can be slippery. The start of the descent passes through large rocks, so a good pair of shoes is required. It is because of this 200-metre section that I have rated the hike as "difficult".

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

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

4.6 / 5
Based on 50 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 333849

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

The markings on the large boulders for the return to Roche Béranger from the Robert Lakes are no longer red and white but yellow.
The red and white markings are for the new GR 738 trail, which you should not take.

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User 26019161

Overall rating : 3 / 5

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

The hike started well thanks to the signposts along the route, until there were no more...
We never found the GR trail mentioned in the description and ended up much lower than the starting point.
We had to hitchhike back up the departmental road to reach the Chamrousse resort.

As for the reliability of the information on the website, it's a big fat zero.

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Glubs69
Glubs69

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I completed most of this hike on 12 July 2025. I set off from Le Recoin (Chamrousse 1650), then reached Roche Beranger (1750) via the path (partly on a GR) that runs parallel to the road and starts from the Le Vernon residence, then Lake Achard, the Infernet, Botte and Lessines passes, the Robert lakes, and returned to Le Recoin via the southern breach and the Col de la Balme. A beautiful hike with a picnic at the Robert lakes.

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Samoildos
Samoildos

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful walk, but a very busy route with a large section near Chamrousse resort and the accompanying scenery.

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erythro
erythro

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with stunning scenery.
No difficulty finding the way. Yellow markings throughout the hike.
However, the section leading down to Roberts Lakes is very slippery and not always easy.
And the rocky section after Roberts Lakes is quite difficult and unpleasant.
If I do this hike again, I would do a round trip from Roche Béranger to Achard Lake, Roberts Lakes, Achard Lake and back to Roche Béranger.

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Laurent54
Laurent54

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful route with excellent details.
Great up to the Robert Lakes.
The return trip through the scree (not easy) and then across the ski slopes is really not interesting.

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mariedudu
mariedudu

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route with lovely vegetation before reaching an altitude of 1,800 metres. Moderate difficulty

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Gusgusse
Gusgusse

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I did it in reverse, and I'm glad I did. The entire section from the Robert Lakes to Roche Bérangère is rocky, quite technical and difficult. I preferred to do it first rather than at the very end.
it took me 3 hours and 40 minutes, including breaks at the various lakes

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jfac
jfac

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike in the sunshine. Be careful with the signposts on the way back to the Robert Sud breach.

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bpaolo92
bpaolo92
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

there are yellow markings along much of the route, particularly in the section after the Robert breach, where a large, faded GR sign indicates the path. there, over 200 metres, there are a few boulders to get past, good yellow markings, not difficult (Sunday after a storm but good weather and dry rocks), I saw a few children there and my little dog got through fine too; on the descent to the Roberts lakes, the rocks were wet, so be careful. i parked at Roche Béranger but not at the top; I walked 13.3 km.

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eric.gascard
eric.gascard
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike with difficult sections:
- the descent to Roberts Lakes: just before reaching Roberts Lakes, you pass through a rocky section that is always wet and very slippery, so take care
- part of the return trip after Roberts Lakes is very difficult: rocky passages, scree: take your time to avoid falling: this is the part where it can be difficult to follow the route

this is not a hike to do with children because of the descent to the Roberts Lakes and the part of the return trip after the Roberts Lakes

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LouiseM
LouiseM

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, following the directions, taking 5 hours and 10 minutes at a normal pace but with lots of breaks (for photos!). We set off in the rain but arrived at the lakes in glorious sunshine!
The start is a little tricky because when you reach the ski slopes, the hiking trails are very easy to follow.
A challenging hike, but a medium rating would be more appropriate. The rocky section requires the use of your hands (a bit of climbing) and the markings are clearly visible. You need to take your time, but it's nothing too difficult!

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Sylvie lili
Sylvie lili

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike: breathtaking scenery, beautiful weather.
The trails were dry for the time of year. Classified as difficult, I think an average rating would be more appropriate.
The rocky section in the breach is nice and makes for a very varied route.
On the way back, I didn't see the red and white signs, so I followed the yellow ones!
A real must-do and easily accessible!

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Danstlo69
Danstlo69

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

:great(great)great:
A beautiful route with magnificent and varied landscapes.

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laurenbtn
laurenbtn

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This is a very popular hike during this time of year, so I was glad I left at 7 a.m. I had the place to myself until 9:30 a.m.!
I took a short detour to the Roberts Lakes and a different route on the way back (Lac des Pourettes and the GR738), which made a total of 13 km and 800 m of elevation gain
The view is splendid all along the way. I really enjoyed this hike, and the elevation gain is reasonable throughout the route

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