The Gialorgues Lakes

After climbing up the pretty Vallon de Gialorgues to the refuge, you will make a small circular loop above it off the beaten track to discover the three lakes of Gialorgues, a wild and uncrowded area at the foot of Fort Carra.

You will encounter many marmots around the refuge, and with a little luck, you may spot chamois or ibex near the third lake.

Details

3437441
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.42 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 558 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 556 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,490 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,932 m

Photos

Description of the walk

For access to the starting point, see the Practical Information section.

Red-white and/or yellow markings

(S/E) Follow the track to the end, to a small bridge over the Vallon de Valloar. Turn left onto the track and continue to marker 73.

(1) At the marker, cross the small stream and climb up to the right towards the Refuge de Gialorgues (marked as 1 hour 30 minutes). The trail winds through the woods and climbs gradually between streams and larch trees.
Then, as you leave the forest, the trail approaches the stream, which you will follow to a marshy area called peatland.

Go around it on the right, and after a barrier (where many marmots live), you will reach the Gialorgues refuge, at marker 73a.

(2) Continue straight ahead towards the Col de Gialorgues. The trail climbs a small hill and when the slope levels out, look for a cairn on the right-hand side of the stream.

No markings

(3) This is where the off-trail section begins. At the cairn on your right, climb straight up the grassy slope to a flat area at a small rock barrier. A few cairns will show you the way.

Then, a small trail branches off to the right, running alongside this barrier. Follow it for a few metres, then climb up to the left, following the cairns that indicate the passage of a second rock barrier. Continue straight ahead to discover the first lake of Gialorgues.

(4) Go around the lake on the right and head for a large cairn on a rock. From here, you will see a few tracks going up to the left towards a small pass. Follow them and when you reach this flat area, turn slightly to the right to reach the second lake of Gialorgues.

(5) From the second lake, climb up the path on the left. The slope is quite steep, but you will quickly reach the third and last lake, which is the largest.

(6) Go around the lake on the left and walk all the way around it. When you reach the spillway, stay on the left bank and descend, following the cairns until you return to the second lake. Cross the stream (actually two streams, as there is also the spillway from the second lake) and continue descending straight ahead, following the cairns.

Then turn right to reach the bog near a sheepfold. Pass this area and descend towards the refuge, following the cairns to return to marker 73a.

Red-white markings

(2) Then turn left and follow the route in reverse to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,932 m - Track
  2. 1 : km 0.26 - alt. 1,965 m - Beacon 73
  3. 2 : km 2.94 - alt. 2,281 m - Beacon 73a - Refuge de Gialorgues
  4. 3 : km 3.19 - alt. 2,313 m - Cairn towards the Gialorgues Lakes
  5. 4 : km 3.43 - alt. 2,397 m - First lake - Lacs de Gialorgues
  6. 5 : km 3.83 - alt. 2,434 m - Second lake - Lacs de Gialorgues
  7. 6 : km 3.98 - alt. 2,482 m - Third lake - Lacs de Gialorgues
  8. S/E : km 8.42 - alt. 1,934 m - Track

Notes

Access to the starting point is via a 4 km track just after the village of Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage. This track is very stony and in poor condition in places. It is passable with a slightly raised car, provided you drive carefully. However, the last 200 metres are a little steep, so I advise you to park at the last bend.

If you do not wish to drive up, it will cost you an extra 8 km and 400 m of elevation gain (a little over 2 hours' walk there and back).

As for hiking, there is a fountain next to the Gialorgues refuge (2).
A good sense of direction, to find your way around the lakes, and the Visorando app will be very useful in this area where trails are few and far between.

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

Worth a visit

This is an interesting hike for exploring the Vallon de Gialorgues, these large, uncrowded lakes and the many marmots that can be found in the vicinity of the Gialorgues refuge.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
La Sand
La Sand
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

August 2025 and the trail is still not recommended for standard vehicles. This valley is magnificent and for experienced walkers, the start from the village of Saint-Dalmas-Le Servage (in mild weather) is a good warm-up. Shortly before the refuge, we had a chat with the shepherd, who was very friendly. There were no problems with the Patous and Anatolian Shepherds guarding the flock (I mention this in light of a recent incident in the area. In 20 years of regular hiking, I have never had a problem with herd dogs; there are simple rules to follow. Incidents are rare). Regarding the route, the shepherd cleverly pointed out that it is easier to climb directly to the lakes by turning off before the refuge (this is actually the return route after the lakes).
The area is still splendid, and not so crowded considering the season. Apart from the second lake, which is rather dry, the first and third are still full of water. These lakes and their setting of crenellated rocks are magical!

Machine-translated

Henri.lucchesini
Henri.lucchesini

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Part leading to the lakes. Very difficult, but very pleasant.

Machine-translated

Fouine Informatique
Fouine Informatique

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The 4 km of track before reaching the start of the hike can be covered by vehicle, but only if you have an SUV or 4x4. Mountain erosion has increased in recent years and the path has suffered, despite the local council's best efforts to repair it.
This hike is wonderful...
But it reminds us of global warming.
Only the last lake at the top has water, in a Wild West setting.
The rest of the lakes are gradually turning into bogs due to a lack of continuous water and rising temperatures...
But the setting remains magnificent.

Machine-translated

Bernard amann
Bernard amann

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The 4km track to reach the starting point is difficult and requires a car that is not too low. Pay close attention to the cairns after the refuge at the fork for the lakes, as the route is not marked. Above the last lake, the landscape is magnificent.

Machine-translated

Nath_F
Nath_F

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The 4 km road is indeed very difficult for a standard car. But walking it in the sun is not really appealing. The rocks above the lakes (Fort Carra, etc.) are magnificent!

Machine-translated

cyann
cyann

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful site, but it should be noted that the 4 km of track before the starting point are difficult, if not impossible, without a 4x4 or high-clearance SUV.

Machine-translated

ninimouans
ninimouans
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike. The first two lakes were dry, but the second one, although a little low, delighted us, and we also had the pleasure of seeing marmots on the way up. However, it should be noted that the trail is not very easy when you leave the GR at the refuge. I should also point out that the track from Saint Dalmas is barely passable with a car like our Clio.

Machine-translated

38Alex
38Alex

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent landscapes, very pleasant trails, I highly recommend it.
Very few hikers, which is also very pleasant because it's really peaceful.
However, the access road is difficult to navigate by car. We stopped after 1 km because the car was scraping...

Machine-translated

Chanchan06
Chanchan06

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, the off-trail section is a little more difficult and technical but it's definitely worth the detour. Magnificent view of the third lake.
A must-do.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.