The Palluel and Faravel Lakes

No worries! It's just a personal opinion, but as long as we understand each other, that's what matters most!
And indeed, sometimes it's not a bad idea to "overrate" a hike so that you don't end up with reviews saying that the hike was actually much more difficult than its initial rating!

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Hello
@jodido Your message says it all. Everything you say is true, and it all comes down to personal opinion. We often discuss this rating system among moderators and administrators, and we have concluded that the one currently in use suits the vast majority of hikers.
As a general rule, a hike with a 1,000-metre elevation gain corresponds to a length of between 12 and 15 kilometres. This factor must also be taken into account, especially since these hikes often end with a descent. And we all know that the last few metres of descent are the most dangerous.
So yes, we will always receive comments on our ratings from Easy to Very Difficult, but these are guidelines for our many visitors, who are ultimately aware of the commitment required for these outings.
Always happy to read your opinions.
Bernard

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Response to Étienne: You mention that "above 1,000 metres of elevation gain, we rate it as difficult."

I have done this hike twice and I do not think that the "difficult" rating is appropriate...
The elevation gain is very gradual, and personally I think it should be considered "moderate"!

You may come across hikes with less than 1,000 metres of elevation gain, but because the distance is quite short, the slope can be very steep, which may justify the "difficult" classification...

It is important to remember that this also depends on personal perception, individual fitness levels, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness...

Last Saturday, I climbed up to Lake Cédéra from Les Borels in the Champoléon Valley, a very long 20 km hike with an elevation gain of over 1,500 metres, which took me 7½ hours of walking for a total duration of 9 hours.

I pointed out to Diggi (the author of this hike) that the "Very difficult" rating seemed somewhat unjustified to me, because apart from the length and the significant elevation gain, the proposed route did not present any difficulties.

He agreed that a "difficult" rating was more appropriate. And then, I imagine that no novice hiker would dare to attempt this route, which is certainly magnificent, but is essentially intended for experienced walkers!

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Hello SossoMicka, thank you for your feedback.

Regarding the rating of the hike, you are correct: above 1,000 metres of elevation gain, we rate it as Difficult. I have just changed the rating accordingly.

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Date of your route : Sep 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The level of this hike seems low to me. In fact, the duration and the climb without breaks, as well as the descent, are demanding on the muscles and joints.
Good physical condition is important because the path is very long and steep. There is no variation in pace, which means that your muscles have no respite and are constantly working during the ascent and descent.
However, the two lakes and the hike itself are extraordinary! Our marmot friends were very beautiful and plump before winter. I had the immense privilege of seeing edelweiss flowers still clinging to the mountains!

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Date of your route : Jul 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant hike! Thank you!

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Date of your route : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty route with lots of beautiful scenery, climbing in fairly steep switchbacks for the first hour and a half before offering more varied terrain. The route remains relatively quiet even in early August. You need to be reasonably fit, but there are no real difficulties to report. The paths are well marked on the ground but not particularly signposted. As a reminder, swimming in mountain lakes is extremely harmful to them, so please just look and admire!

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

A magnificent hike through the mountain pastures above Dormillouse. The climb up to Lake Palluel seemed easy because it was fairly steady and partly through forest, with a flock of sheep above the hut, but we didn't see any guard dogs.
The balcony trail between the two lakes and the descent from Lake Faravel are simply sublime, and on the way back we took a detour through the neighbourhoods of Dormillouse with a stop at the Royal refreshment bar.
What a beautiful day...

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Hello Jodido,

Thank you very much for your detailed reply! OK, so there are no water points along the hike, only very close to the start in Dormillouse. We'll have to plan ahead for that!
I'll make a note of your last comment, but I'm still a long way off being able to walk 40 km in the mountains, but maybe one day Well done to you anyway, it must have been a real treat.

Elodie

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Hello,

You can camp there without any problems. Both lakes are very beautiful, so it's up to you to choose...
But don't forget that you are in the Écrins National Park and that there are rules to follow!
"To preserve the spirit of camping, a few specific rules must be observed: camping is permitted between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. and must be practised at least one hour's walk from the edge of the park or any road access." So, camping at the lakes is possible...
As for water, I don't remember any springs along the route, but you should be able to get some in Dormillouse...
If you wake up early in the morning, I suggest walking to the Col des Terres Blanches... Guaranteed views of the Barre des Écrins!
A long hike from Dormillouse to the high plateaus of the Col des Terres Blanches, a gypsum bubble perched on a ridge: a wild, Nordic atmosphere guaranteed! From Lake Faravel, you have to descend to the former Lake Fangeas (which disappeared in 2023 following the collapse of the dam) and then take the path to the Col des Terres Blanches...
I did this magnificent hike over two days in July 2019, spending the night in a tent in Prapic (which is allowed as it is outside the Écrins National Park), then passing by Lac de la Pisse, the slopes of the Orcières-Merlette resort, several lakes, the Col de Freissinière and back to Dormillouse. In total, it was a 40 km hike with 2,600 metres of elevation gain, but it was so beautiful!

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Hello,
Thank you very much for sharing this hike, which looks amazing.
We would like to camp out for a night. Lake Palluel or Lake Faravel seem like good spots! If anyone can confirm this, that would be great! Other ideas are welcome :-)
Is there a source of drinking water along the way for water bottles?
Thanks again!
Have a great day!
Elodie

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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 : No

A magnificent hike that begins with a beautiful waterfall. Then the path climbs through a forest to open out onto mountain pastures. And finally the lake. A real beauty. This is a hike that doesn't require any technical skill, but it does have a good gradient.
On the return loop, we have a bird's eye view of the second lake.

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Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Swimming at Lac Palluel, a very original cairn cemetery and more pretty cottongrass at Lac Faravel.
A lovely hike, with 2 pretty lakes to discover.

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Date of your route : Aug 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very fine hike, with a varied and sustained climb to Palluel. The vast expanse of "decorative" caïrns is surprising and original. Marmots and a pair of eagles can be seen. Getting from Lac Palluel to Faravel is easy. I then continued on to visit Lake Fangeas, below, leaving the route. This variant allows you to follow a stream. In total, around 18km and over 1000m of ascent.

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Date of your route : Jul 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We followed the route. This was the third time I'd done this walk (which makes it easier): the route described is very easy to follow. On the way back, we took a detour by going downhill and taking Dormillousse on the left (via Les Romans). We approached the village from above (this path is magnificent) and then returned to the car park via the winter path, which is more technical but not really difficult, with a view of the waterfall that is well worth the diversions. A loop. Not many people.

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