Mont des Acrays from Lac de Saint-Guérin

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A beautiful circular route for a long ridge walk with unobstructed views on both sides. Highlights include the majestic Mont Blanc, two large dam lakes, and the charming Beaufortain mountain pastures.

Details

n°27422640
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.76 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 750 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 761 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,300 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,558 m
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Description of the walk

Parking at the Lac de Saint-Guérin car park.

(S/E) Go back up the road to the crossroads.

(1) Take the road on the left towards Les Acrays; the tarmac gives way to a beautiful track that climbs gently to Les Acrays.

(2) Leave the road and take the path that climbs to the right. After a series of hairpin bends, the path first reaches the Passage sous Charmette, then slightly above, the Passage de la Charmette.

(3) This is the start of the ridge. Head south for a long walk with alternating small descents and ascents. This will take you to the Passage de Miraillet.

(4) Ignore the path that descends to the right towards Arceni. Head towards the Col du Couvercle. This begins with a steady climb followed by a ridge walk before descending to the Col du Couvercle.

(5) Stay on the beautiful track that runs along the right-hand side of the slope for about 600 metres until you reach a valley.

(6) Descend to the right, staying close to the valley. You will rejoin the track several times. Descend through the meadows when the terrain and vegetation allow, otherwise follow the track. This will take you to Gariotet (signpost).

(7) TheGRP® Tour du Beaufortain trail is just below the track. Follow it to the right towards Lac de Saint-Guérin, crossing the track twice, passing close to the Himalayan footbridge, then follow the eastern shore of the lake before returning to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,587 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 0.21 - alt. 1,604 m - Crossroads
  3. 2 : km 1.71 - alt. 1,705 m - Les Acrays
  4. 3 : km 3.2 - alt. 2,061 m - Passage de la Charmette
  5. 4 : km 4.78 - alt. 2,176 m - Miraillet Pass
  6. 5 : km 5.56 - alt. 2,294 m - Col du Couvercle
  7. 6 : km 6.18 - alt. 2,239 m - Leaving the trail
  8. 7 : km 9.08 - alt. 1,730 m - Le Gariotet
  9. S/E : km 11.76 - alt. 1,585 m - Car park

Notes

Between (3) and (5) exceptional views.

At (4), the directional sign is on the ground (10/22).

Yellow markings between (1) and (5). Possibility of a shortcut from (4) by turning right.

No markings between (5) and (7), possibility of staying on the track between these two waypoints.

(6) You can also choose to stay on the track for the entire descent to (7). After (6), respect the work of the alpine farmers and do not scare the livestock if necessary.

Yellow and red markings forthe BeaufortainGRP® between (7) and (S/E).

Picnic table and relaxation area by the lake (S/E).

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
User 12161442

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

very beautiful hike from St Guerin. Lots of people on the Parstire rock, but that was to be expected for a week in August

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AVET René
AVET René

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

very interesting route but visibility was poor (clouds over the peaks). The route along the ridge is comfortable with beautiful views of the St Guérin and Roselend lakes.
our group also made the round trip to Roche Parstire

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Tan73
Tan73

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike, easy to follow with magnificent views all along the way and not very busy that day.
For the descent, I followed the track, which was a little less pleasant, especially as it was very hot, but it's a beautiful circular route.

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JLParroutel
JLParroutel

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

PLEASE NOTE: The descent from Col du Couvercle is no longer possible as described in this guidebook.
Farmers have done everything possible to prevent walkers from crossing their mountain pastures: the trail is no longer visible and they have put up signs to ensure that mountain bikers and pedestrians bypass their land.
But how can we blame them?
So we had to descend entirely via the track: boring!
Using GPS, we tried to find the trail near Les Avals, but without success, apart from a few traces.
I think it's better to go back to the Miraillet pass (point 4) and take the descent towards Arceni (marked), then take a track on the left (elevation 2008) just before La Cote. This track heads south-southeast and joins the original trail at a hairpin bend in the track.
I did not take this route, but I could see at this junction that farmers had put up a sign directing mountain bikers to go up (i.e. north-north-west).

Otherwise, there are magnificent views along this ridge.

The climb between the Mirailler pass (4) and the Col du Couvercle (5) is very steep (see profile) and the path runs straight up the slope without any switchbacks.

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smashdc
smashdc
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The full discovery is here ✔️ https://youtu.be/mlHLQBgGJAQ
Another magnificent hike that will take your breath away 😎
The road to the dam is quite winding and at times not very wide at all, with reduced visibility.
The hike passes right next to the footbridge, so it's well worth the detour to go there and back.
The climb is not difficult at all in terms of elevation, but it may be muddy if it has rained recently.

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KATK2
KATK2

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2022
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, wild landscapes with magnificent views. Well-marked trail with a beautiful section along the ridge. Despite the cloudy weather, we enjoyed the scenery and plan to return when the sun is shining!

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