Pic du Lac Blanc - Laramon, Serpent and Gardioles lakes

After admiring the beautiful lakes of Laramon and Serpent, and the Pic du Lac Blanc (2,980 m) in a mineral landscape, this circuit offers a stunning view of the Écrins and the Thabor massif. On the way back, you will discover the various small lakes of Les Gardioles.

Details

141491
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.07 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,113 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,113 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,972 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,859 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The shuttle departs from Chalets de Fontcouverte, on the D301T road, approximately 6.5 km after Névache. Cross La Clarée and park just after, opposite the campsite.

(S) From the car park, return towards Névache, cross the Clarée bridge and climb left up the track (GR®57) which leads to the Refuge de Ricou (point 2115).

(1) Continue along a path heading east. After a few hairpin bends, you will arrive at theGRP® junction for the Tour du Mont Thabor.

(2) Cross theGRP® and continue uphill, leaving a small path on your left

(3) Continue to Lac Laramon.

(4) Go around the lake on the left and follow the trail to Lac du Serpent.

(5) Follow the less marked trail that passes to the left of the lake and then climbs, more or less following the Rau des Gardioles. When the slope levels out, ignore the trail on the right leading to a scree slope and continue along the trail that overlooks a first small lake on the left and continue almost to the second lake.

(6) Turn right towards the east to reach the stream that flows towards the lake, which is characterised by flat stones lying side by side without water. After a few metres, resume the climb on a path that becomes more marked until you reach the ridge at the Col du Grand Cros (point 2848).

(7) Follow the Crête des Gardioles ridge, heading north. After point 2935, where the trail descends slightly into a small hollow, you will arrive at the Pas du Lac Blanc, from where you can see the lake of the same name below on the right.

(8) Continue along a path that becomes more difficult and less marked. Climb up the first rocky section, following the ridge, then when you reach the second, leave the path that climbs up the rocks and follow the smaller path that descends and goes around the ridge on the left below it. Cross a small scree slope and join the small path that climbs slightly and becomes steeper as it reaches the Pic du Lac Blanc.

(9) Return via the same route to the starting point towards Les Gardioles.

(6) Leave the path you took on the way up on your left, go around the small lake on the left and continue along the top of this wide valley. Pass point 2688 and begin to descend gently to a cross marked by a small stone marker in the middle of the lawn. The cross is marked by stones at ground level. Continue downhill to the largest of the Gardioles lakes below.

(10) At the head of the lake, head left towards the south to reach the bottom of the descent to the Recare valley (do not head towards the spillway). Continue across the grassy areas along a faint path that skirts the mountain (point 2612) between the valley and Lac du Serpent to rejoin the path you took on the way up below Lac Laramon.

(3) Descend back to the start of the hike via the same route.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,859 m - Parking - Head towards the bridge over the &gt - Clarée (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 1.8 - alt. 2,116 m - Ricou refuge
  3. 2 : km 2.94 - alt. 2,289 m - Crossroads of the GRP Tour du Mont Thabor
  4. 3 : km 3.3 - alt. 2,351 m - Crossroads of the return trail
  5. 4 : km 3.47 - alt. 2,362 m - Lac Laramon
  6. 5 : km 4.12 - alt. 2,457 m - Lac du Serpent
  7. 6 : km 5.44 - alt. 2,692 m - Fork in the road near Les Gardioles
  8. 7 : km 6.16 - alt. 2,846 m - Col du Grand Cros (2848m)
  9. 8 : km 6.61 - alt. 2,924 m - Pas du Lac Blanc
  10. 9 : km 7.03 - alt. 2,972 m - Pic du Lac Blanc
  11. 10 : km 9.24 - alt. 2,633 m - Lac des Gardioles
  12. S/E : km 14.07 - alt. 1,859 m - Car park at the start

Notes

Bring water with you.
Return trip from the starting point (6) to Pic du Lac Blanc, approximately 2 hours.

From the beginning of July to the end of August, traffic in the upper Clarée valley is restricted for motor vehicles. The road is closed to traffic travelling uphill from Névache between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. (closing before 10 a.m. if the car parks at Fontcouverte and Laval are full). To reach these valleys, a convenient shuttle service runs every 20 minutes from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day during the summer season.

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.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 23 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Guy Omar
Guy Omar
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Completed in July with two teenagers aged 11 and 14 in beautiful weather. A very beautiful hike, not very busy, especially after Lake Laramon. There's not much to complain about on this route, with superb views and a beautiful variety of landscapes, lots of flowers and even a few marmots. We loved it!

PS. We strayed a little from the trail on the descent via Les Gardioles, which was a little more difficult to follow.

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p.sig
p.sig

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 : No

A beautiful hike with lovely lakes and stunning views!

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olivier_75015
olivier_75015

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb dawn over the Barre des Écrins (see photo)
On the last section, after the Pas du Lac Blanc, I followed the ridge instead of the path below, which was a bit dangerous, so I don't recommend it!

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institausoleil
institausoleil

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Completed on 28/08/24. Very nice hike. The view of the Ecrins mountains gradually revealing themselves is magnificent. Not too crowded at the end of August. We mostly followed the GPS track rather than the description. We enjoyed a snack break at the Refuge de Ricou before heading back.

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ed04
ed04

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very busy route to Snake Lake, shortly after
fantastic view at the summit
we descended via the ridges and then directly to the Gardiolles lakes, but this route is only for experienced hikers with sure footing as there are few cairns and the descent is steep to very steep in places with unstable scree

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Jean Pierre Gaschin
Jean Pierre Gaschin

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

For the final climb, there are two options: the trail on the left side of the mountain or, for the more daring, the ridges. We did both. You just have to be careful.
On the way back down to the Col du Grand Cros, the tracks and cairns near Les Gardioles become a little unclear, but the path quickly reappears to the left of the lower lake.
Breathtaking 360° view from the peak.

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Lc95
Lc95

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk with a view of the mountains 🤩

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Eiger2b
Eiger2b
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very busy until Serpent, shortly after. Option to descend directly from Pic Blanc to the Gardioles lakes.

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olivier_75015
olivier_75015

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Too early to go above 2,600 metres due to snow covering the path above Serpent Lake, which was also covered in snow.
Return via the Mont Thabor tour towards Laval, with lots of snowfields to cross.
Superb walk!

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Marie-Colette
Marie-Colette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, very flowery and varied. The lakes are superb. Central point of La Clarée, at 2,900 metres, with views of the Aiguille Rouge, the Rois Mages, the Thabor, the Béraude and Rouge lakes...

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smashdc
smashdc
• Edited:

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

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grand-nord17
grand-nord17

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Excellent description of the route (already done several times). Very beautiful hike, with a fairly busy start until you reach Serpent Lake (the second lake) and fewer people after that. Magnificent 360° view at the summit, but it's always quite cold because of the wind.

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manissieux
manissieux

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike, perfect route and description
A good elevation gain, with a section through large boulders where you need to be careful.
The return via the Gardioles lakes is fabulous. We stopped there for a snack break, which turned into a looong break!

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randonnee 2015
randonnee 2015

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful outing with superb panoramic views at the summit. We did the round trip, which gives you a different perspective. We had a little trouble finding the path after the pass towards the peak, but it's relatively easy.

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Stéphanie P
Stéphanie P

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful lakes to discover! In June, there is still snow on the peak of Lac Blanc, so the trail is less obvious, but the view is worth it!

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