The Storm Lakes

A beautiful walk with several stream crossings. But beware of snow at the beginning of the season.

Details

120166
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.36 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 723 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 731 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,158 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,514 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the foot of the Lac de Saint-Guérin dam at the end of the D218D.

(S/E) From the car park, facing the lake, take the road on the right towards the dam: follow the yellow signs for Lacs de Tempête. Cross the dam and follow the lake to the end.
Leave a path that climbs uphill on your right, then a small trail opposite. Continue left on the main trail to arrive 50 m further on at a fork.

(1) Leave the path on the left that crosses La Louze and turn right towards "Les Lacs de la Tempête". Climb up the meadow. The path is clearly visible and crosses several streams before arriving at the Col de la Louze.

(2) Keep slightly to the right. It is a 20-minute walk to the first Lac de la Tempête.

(3) Go around the first lake on the right and return on the left along the small path that runs alongside it. Take the same route as on the way there, passing through the Col de la Louze.

(2) Continue across the meadow.

(1) At the bottom of the meadow, find the crossroads you took on the way there, turn right to cross the Louze and follow the lake for about 500 m.

(4) Turn left onto the Himalayan footbridge and cross it. When you reach a crossroads, turn left to follow the lake and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,581 m - Lac de Saint-Guérin
  2. 1 : km 1.35 - alt. 1,563 m - Common fork for the return trip
  3. 2 : km 4.05 - alt. 2,120 m - Turn right onto the trail. - Col de la Louze
  4. 3 : km 5.33 - alt. 2,138 m - Lac de la Tempête
  5. 4 : km 9.95 - alt. 1,567 m - Himalayan footbridge
  6. S/E : km 11.36 - alt. 1,581 m - Lac de Saint-Guérin

Notes

Caution! We did this on 13 May 2015 and there was still quite a lot of snow at the top of the Col de la Louze.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 82 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 26188166

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The hike is superb, it climbs well, but be careful: the signs at the top of the pass have been removed. To follow the storm lakes, do not take the path on the right. Follow the trail carefully. Hike completed on 15 October, there were still a lot of people.

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chantal42520
chantal42520

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

i have already given it, see above

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yann le metayer
yann le metayer

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
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 with magnificent panoramic views

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KDec
KDec

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with a variety of scenery. Magnificent views of the lake as you climb up to the pass, as well as the small lakes, which are not too crowded, even in the middle of August. Encounter with a shepherd. Bring warm clothing for the pass and good shoes, especially for the section between the pass and the lakes.

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chantal42520
chantal42520

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Good signposting, but a bit challenging given the elevation.
Beautiful view of Lake Guérin.

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jomad
jomad

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful colours on Lake Guérin, followed by a good climb up to the Col de la Louze, rewarded by beautiful views on the way up and on arrival at the pass. Fewer people on the small lakes that follow.
Regulations: no camping within 100 metres of the lake and a mayoral decree for this summer prohibiting dogs from walking from the pass onwards (/patou).

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Gilles-a
Gilles-a

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, although quite difficult with a long climb up and then down the Col de la Louze.
Nevertheless, the result is well worth the effort.
It may be worth continuing the hike to the following lakes. They are magnificent, wilder and much less frequented.

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User 4117849

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk to start the holidays. A beautiful view of Lake Saint Guerin.

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sempervivum
sempervivum

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The path on the left bank of the lake is still off-limits. Educational panels and picnic tables by the lake. Ascent in snow from 1800 m. Snowshoes would have been welcome to avoid sinking into the holes in the scree slopes, or else bring waterproof footwear. I didn't see any climbing steps... The storm lake was beginning to break up. A classic during the snow melt: the torrent is easy to cross in the morning, more complicated in the afternoon. Beautiful waterfalls. Not frequented at this time of year: seen from a distance by a hiker with his dog. Lovely hike with breathtaking views of Mont Blanc.

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Michel Delain
Michel Delain

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A tough but pleasant climb. It would be useful to specify the difficult passages in the rocks between the pass and the lakes in the information sheet. Otherwise perfect.

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Claude2
Claude2

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It's a very nice, sporty but accessible hike, except perhaps a little more difficult at the end when you have to climb a few stones without danger, as there's no void below - it's very easy if you take your time.
It's a steep climb all at once, but the view of the lakes is well worth it!
Nice view of Mont Blanc too
Hiking to do

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JOSETTE25
JOSETTE25

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Up to the Col de la Louze, it's uphill, but doable. On the other hand, from the Col de la Louze to the Lacs de la Tempête, there are some difficult places to cross (scree slopes) and some major rocks.

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Violette moronval
Violette moronval

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Superb hike, very physical, the passage of the rocks between the pass and the stormy lakes tricky at times, but a must-do hike, with plenty of water if it's very hot.

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Jojo073
Jojo073

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice walk. The different viewpoints are magnificent.
As someone who is afraid of heights on certain ridges, I didn't feel uncomfortable at any point.
The only difficulty might be in certain places where you have to "climb" over a very short distance, which might not be suitable for some people. But there's nothing dangerous about it. But that doesn't mean it's an easy walk.

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pepinet
pepinet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The climb up to the pass is a little rough in places, but there are superb views of Mont Blanc and the surrounding peaks, followed by some easy sections in the rocks. Magnificent lakes with 360-degree views.

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