The Sept Laux from Fond-de-France

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Hike between lakes and mountains around the Refuge des Sept Laux.

⚠️15/06/2026: a notice indicates a rockfall at Cul de la Vieille between 7 and 3, making it impossible to follow this route. You must take the GR®738 between 7 and 4. Please let us know in the comments if you have any information regarding the lifting of this notice.

Details

n°3245330
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.63 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,484 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,468 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 7,054 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,586 ft
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Photos

The 7 Laux Lakes
lake Dec Otepens
Lac de Cottepens
Lac de Cottepens

Description of the walk

Park in the car park reserved for hikers, not the one at the hotel in the hamlet of Fond-de-France in the commune of Haut-Bréda (formerly La-Ferrière).

(S/E) From the car park, follow the marked path above the hotel towards the Refuge des Sept Laux. Follow the yellow markings. Reach the junction with a farm track.

(1) Cross the footbridge and continue along the marked path. Carry on to a junction at the Rocher des Biassus climbing site.

(2) Take the path straight ahead, then turn right onto theGRP®® Tour du Pays d'Allevard, marked in red and yellow. Continue the ascent, cross a farm track, then reach the junction of the twoGRP®® routes: the Pays d'Allevard and the 7 Laux.

(3) Stay on the left-hand path.

(4) Cross the Torrent du Breda to reach a scree slope.

(5) Follow the path through the boulder field, beneath which the Torrent du Breda flows underground. Then begin a series of hairpin bends leading out onto a meadow.

(6) Turn right, continue the ascent, and reach the Col de la Vieille, which overlooks Lac Noir.

(7) Take the path on the left; a few metres further on, you’ll reach another junction.

(8) Turn right onto theGRP®® towards an EDF building. Reach the building then continue along the path beneath the Lac Carré dam. At the end of the dam, continue along the lakeside and reach another junction.

(9) Turn right.

(11) Cross the dam between Lacs Carré and Cottepens via a boardwalk. Continue to the Refuge des Sept Laux or Jacqueline Mathieu.

(10) Return to the previous junction.

(9) Turn right, then immediately left. Walk along Lac de la Motte to a shelter.
At the shelter, take the path on the left, continue straight on and return to the junction you passed on the way out.

(8) Turn right and follow the route back in the opposite direction to return to the Col de la Vieille.

(7) Take the path on the left; this is the sharedGRP®® trail for the Tour du Pays d’Allevard and the Tour des Lacs des Sept Laux, marked in red and yellow. Begin the descent, passing the Chalet du Gleyzin de la Ferrière. Continue to the right at the next junction to then reach the junction you passed on the way out.

(3) Follow the route back in the opposite direction to the outward journey, turning left to return to the Fond-de-France car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,586 ft - Hikers’ car park. Near the
  2. 1 : mi 0.25 - alt. 3,698 ft - Pont de la Sauge
  3. 2 : mi 0.48 - alt. 3,829 ft - Rocher des Biassus Climbing site
  4. 3 : mi 1.58 - alt. 5,102 ft - GRP junction
  5. 4 : mi 1.83 - alt. 5,194 ft - Cross the Bréda (torrent) – a tributary of the Isère
  6. 5 : mi 2 - alt. 5,338 ft - Bréda Torrent
  7. 6 : mi 2.85 - alt. 6,473 ft - Meadow
  8. 7 : mi 3.16 - alt. 6,880 ft - Col de la Vieille (2095m)
  9. 8 : mi 3.27 - alt. 6,942 ft - After Lac Noir
  10. 9 : mi 3.6 - alt. 7,008 ft - After Lac Carré
  11. 10 : mi 3.76 - alt. 7,018 ft - Sept Laux Refuge
  12. 11 : mi 3.99 - alt. 7,005 ft - Dam between Lake Cottepens and Lake de la Motte (2,130 m)
  13. S/E : mi 7.63 - alt. 3,586 ft - Hikers’ car park at Fond-de-France

Notes

The altitude of the hike means that snow may still be present late in the year, which can make the ascent more difficult.
(7) Col de la Vieille: on the return journey, if there is snow, it is advisable to return via the same route as the ascent rather than via the Cul de la Vieille slope: steep, slippery and potentially avalanche-prone sections.
On the Sept Laux plateau, feel free to vary your route between the lakes as you wish.
Please note that the water levels of the various lakes can vary significantly depending on the season, which can be misleading.

Worth a visit

(10) The Refuge des Sept Laux offers overnight accommodation on the plateau; it is advisable to check its opening times before setting out on the hike (staffed refuge, admission fee applies).
If the refuge is closed, you can fill your water bottles at the back of the building using a hose that leads out from there.
The main lakes visible around the refuge are Lac Noir, Lac Carré, Lac de la Motte and Lac Cottepens.

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

4.9 / 5
Based on 22 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Benoit-Savoie
Benoit-Savoie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Section 3-7 is still closed, so you’ll need to plan a round trip. The path is challenging, stony and constantly uphill, but it’s well worth the effort – the lakes are magnificent. On the way back, we had to cross a flock of sheep being tended by a shepherd who kept his distance. He told us to go ahead, so that’s what we did, though we weren’t exactly reassured by the two Patou dogs...

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claudemarche
claudemarche

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk; the distance is quite long but there are significant elevation gains; a notice prohibits use of the right-hand side of the GR de Pays trail on the way up due to rockfalls, so you must return via the same route
It’s a lovely walk at the moment.

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sempervivum
sempervivum

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The car park at the start of the trail is reserved for locals, but there is a car park 300 metres before that for hikers. Steep climb with black ice (north-facing + sub-zero temperatures + wet path along the Breda torrent) then a nice thick layer of powder snow in early November. Refuge with picnic tables to admire the lake and mountains. Return via the same route, with the circular path passing through avalanche corridors.

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User 4149424

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Yes, the hike is steep, but to be honest it's not that difficult. The finish with the different lakes is simply incredible. I'd definitely recommend this hike!

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Josci
Josci

Hike with a significant elevation gain over a relatively short distance. The weather was beautiful, with a very pleasant route near the lakes and a stop at the Refuge des 7 Laux, where we received a very warm welcome.
The descent was a little difficult in places due to loose scree. The walking poles proved invaluable.

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Jocelyne P.
Jocelyne P.
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A challenging hike, as stated, but well worth the effort. There were other hikers, but not too many. We had a picnic by one of the lakes and enjoyed the magnificent view. I did this hike 20 years ago and found it tough at the time. I can confirm that it is still just as tough...

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Josci
Josci

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike, and a very warm welcome at the Refuge des 7 Laux.
The descent is quite steep over scree, so walking poles are strongly recommended

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rdub
rdub
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful route, very popular but the Belledonne massif is vast!
The elevation gain is constant (and quite steep), but it is well known that the reward awaits hikers at the summit. We continued along the trail to Lac du Cos (without difficulty, as the trail remains at roughly the same altitude). There was no wildlife to be seen on Sunday, except for a young fawn that was not very shy at the start of the climb.
Please note that you must use the car park reserved for hikers and not the hotel car park...
Thanks to the author.

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RENE69
RENE69

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I confirm that the route is difficult and should be followed in the direction indicated, but the reward is great when you arrive at the 7 Laux refuge.

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TedMARCOZ
TedMARCOZ

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike to the Lacs and Refuge des 7 Laux.
The ascent and descent are very challenging, regardless of the route taken (Chalet de Gleyzin or the other path along the waterfall). However, the reward upon arriving at the 7 Laux refuge after a 3.5-hour walk is well deserved!

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dije38
dije38

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice walk and beautiful climbs. I recommend doing it in this direction.

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Deuxpattes
Deuxpattes

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

PLEASE NOTE: The GPS coordinates take us to a car park reserved for residents and a hotel. (There are two signs in this car park, but we didn't see/read them, even though they are clearly visible!!!) The hotel owner came to move us... THE PARKING AREA FOR HIKERS IS MUCH LOWER DOWN, on the left as you go up.

Otherwise, it was a very beautiful route; we didn't find it that "physical" (at least in the sense intended) compared to other hikes with less elevation gain but over a shorter distance....
Thanks for this post!

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stéphanie balthazar
stéphanie balthazar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We were the only ones there... We had attempted this hike in April, but had to turn back because there was still too much snow and we weren't equipped.

The colours were magnificent, and the climb was challenging, but the views were well worth the effort ;-)

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Supermum
Supermum

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I completely agree with the previous comments about the physical demands of the route. But the beauty of the scenery quickly makes you forget your fatigue. In total, this hike took 9 hours, with 3 hours of climbing, 2½ hours of descent, and the rest spent enjoying the area (up to Lake Cos). Thank you for the guide.

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Stéphanie. D
Stéphanie. D

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A challenging and athletic hike, just as described! Magnificent landscapes, varied terrain and sustained elevation gain. We did this hike during a heatwave and drought, so the lakes were quite low. A very good memory and a sporting achievement for me. The description is very accurate and allows you to do a beautiful loop.

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Walking Circular route on the Sept Laux lakes plateau

Visorando Member
Boucle sur le plateau des lacs des Sept Laux
↔11.13 mi ↗+3,963 ft ↘-3,937 ft ◔8h 35 ▲Difficult
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This fairly strenuous circular route offers a taste of the best of Belledonne (forest, rocks, lakes, peaks) to those who take it on. The route is well signposted, though obvious, with an unmistakable trail on the ground all the way. There are no technical difficulties, but it’s best to wear sturdy footwear as the rocky sections on the ascent are challenging. ⚠️ 15/06/2026: a notice indicates a rockfall at Cul de la Vieille between points 4 and 9, making it impossible to follow this route. You must bypass this section between points 3 and 4 via the GR®738. Please let us know in the comments if you have any information regarding the lifting of this notice.

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This is a lovely walk which, although it occasionally passes close to ski lifts, is full of beautiful scenery. The views of the Pic de la Belle Etoile range are fabulous. And for those who enjoy downhill skiing in winter in the Sept Laux massif, it is great fun to see landscapes usually covered in a blanket of snow completely free of any trace of snow.

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