The Crupillouse Lakes

de fr

In July, head for the Crupillouse lakes: small high-altitude lakes that are still frozen, alternating between earth and stone. The trail crosses three streams and snowfields and sometimes climbs in tight switchbacks from 1,400 to 2,600 metres.
Watched over by chamois, the arrival at the lakes is a reward for the fairly long climb.
The thawed sections were magnificent colours.

Technical sheet

n°36696
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.64 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 1,312 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 1,312 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,654 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,342 m
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Photos

The upper waterfalls
The descent
On the way down
From the Crête des Lacs (cairn)

Description of the walk

Departure from Baumes at 1,350 metres (please note that the sign for the village is marked "Beaumes").
The car park is located just after the village

(S/E). Retrace your steps, take the road uphill to the signpost for the hiking trails.
Turn right onto the path marked with a sign for the Crupillouse lakes and follow it to the end.
The trail climbs quickly to reach a first flat area.

(1) At the end of this area, a long series of switchbacks begins, leading to a second flat area. Waterfalls will be visible on the right during the ascent.

(2) At the end of the second plateau, you will need to cross a stream. This may be a little difficult depending on the flow.
Once you have crossed it, a new series of switchbacks will take you over the large waterfalls seen at the beginning.
Then there are two more easier stream crossings and rocky sections interspersed with a few grassy areas.
You will reach a hairpin bend.

(3) Continue northwards and after a final climb you will reach the first lake.

(4) Return via the same route to reach the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,342 m - Parking after the village of Les Baumes
  2. 1 : km 1.94 - alt. 1,655 m - Flat area near the Amblard waterfall
  3. 2 : km 3.25 - alt. 1,913 m - New flat area
  4. 3 : km 5.74 - alt. 2,456 m - Hairpin bend
  5. 4 : km 6.88 - alt. 2,654 m - First lake of Crupillouse
  6. S/E : km 13.64 - alt. 1,342 m - Parking after the village of Les Baumes

Practical information

As with any mountain hike, the weather and temperatures can change very quickly, so take water, food and protection (from the sun, wind, rain and even the cold).

You are hiking in the heart of the Ecrins National Park.

The Écrins massif is an exceptional area, open to all, with a rare natural, cultural and landscape heritage. To protect these treasures, the heart of the park is marked by blue, white and red flags, where regulations must be observed. Please read these rules when preparing for your hike to help preserve this shared heritage at https://www.ecrins-parcnational.fr.

In the nearby area

The other trail at the starting point leads to Val Estreche.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 36 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Vrecous
Vrecous
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very beautiful hike at the end of August. The trail is well marked and fairly consistent, with no difficult sections if you are used to hiking. You can take a short detour between the different parts of the lakes, which is very nice.
Quite busy but not overcrowded at this time of year.

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jerome83
jerome83
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A demanding hike but technically straightforward. The variety of landscapes makes the climb easier, which is almost non-stop. Only two flat sections. Six hours and 11 minutes there and back with a one-hour picnic break. The trail is not very busy, even in the middle of August. Plan to set off early if it's sunny. The eastern climb is in full sun and gets hot quickly

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cyril h
cyril h

To see the magnificent thawing of the lakes, but rather in the second half of June.
Before that, the last part will have too much snow and the lakes will be covered, unless there has been little snowfall during the previous year.

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jbclanet
jbclanet

Hello,
I'm having trouble understanding why anyone would want to go to Crupillouse in June. I even read May. Find out about the valley.
Champoléon is far from being flat country, after all!

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de Tellier Gilles
de Tellier Gilles

Yes,
It's still a bit early in the season... 😊
It's definitely wise to be cautious.
👍

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User 6232187

18/06/25
Hello everyone, The hike has been postponed due to excessive risks, with significant snowfall still expected at this time of year.
I called the Champoléon National Park to get some details before setting off on this lovely hike.
The message was clear: crampons, ice axe and rope required, risky climb for inexperienced hikers. So it's for another time;
Let's not take any unnecessary risks.
MJeanne

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JODIDO
JODIDO

Ah, indeed, there's still plenty of snow at this time of year! This hike is absolutely magnificent, and reserved for experienced walkers! I might go back this summer! And to Vieux Chaillol too!

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jbclanet
jbclanet

hello, in one of my posts I wrote that even in July the route is still snowy, so think about May, 1) you need to check in advance in the Champoléon valley, which is very difficult in May, 2) read up a bit, check the hiking dates and posts, and 3) crampons and ice axes (laugh) are not very useful in spring snowfields, "risk of slipping" well no, slipping is inevitable = they are snowfields!

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Bartozzi
Bartozzi

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

We couldn't make it to the lakes because there was still too much snow. We had high-altitude crampons, but no ice axes, and the snowy slopes were becoming too unstable, with a risk of slipping.

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Claryrose
Claryrose

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Very beautiful hike! There was still snow on the lakes. It was wonderful. I had already done this hike about ten years ago and there was no snow. The route is good, it's a round trip on the same trail.
However, you need to be very careful on the descent (risk of slipping)
There were only about ten of us up there and it was perfect!

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J?rôme
J?rôme

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Hi,
20 July 2024: two small snowfields to cross before reaching the lakes, but no difficulty, the lakes are still completely frozen
It's simply magnificent
We continued on to the Col du Veyre through snowfields, which didn't require much extra effort and allowed us to see the two lakes in their entirety
We wanted to try the Parières pass, but everything is covered in snow and the slope is very steep. We would have needed crampons and ice axes, so we'll save it for next time when there's less snow

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JODIDO
JODIDO

The weather can change very quickly in the mountains, as I found out the hard way a few years ago!
I had set off with a friend to climb the Col du Cendrié in the Champsaur.
It was a nice little hike, with an 800-metre elevation gain, nothing complicated.
It was mid-September and the weather was pleasant. We started the hike under sunny skies...
Shortly before reaching the pass, we were hit by a crazy storm with hailstones.
And we had forgotten to bring rain jackets! Total disaster!
I was scared stiff, I was soaked to the skin and completely frozen!
The storm ended after a good 45 minutes, and we were able to descend to Infournas Hauts to pick up the car and return to Saint-Bonnet-en-Champsaur!

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jbclanet
jbclanet

no snow on 19 August? But of course, I'm talking about 7 July

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rpastant
rpastant

Please note that in the mountains, the weather can change quickly and conditions can vary from one year or season to another. So be careful and sometimes know when to give up! At the beginning of October, we wanted to climb Col de Veyre and beyond, but it snowed the day before...We stayed at the Lac Inférieure de Crupillouse and made our way back down slowly. It's a magnificent hike! The most challenging sections, depending on the weather and conditions, are indicated on the guidebook and IGN map, but it's good that you reminded us...
René P.

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JODIDO
JODIDO
• Last modified:

There was no snow at the last waterfall when I did the hike on 19 August...
You had this problem in July, if I am correct about the date you gave for your hike...?

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