Access to the start of the hike:
From Embrun or Savines-le-Lac: take the N94, then the D568 (between Crots and Savines-le-Lac) towards Boscodon Abbey. At the abbey (in front of which there is a car park), follow signs for the Grand Clot car park uphill and then turn right (as well as for La Fontaine de l'Ours, uphill and then left).
Please note that the forest road from the abbey is unpaved, but this will not prevent a small city car from driving up at (very) low speed.
(S/E) This is what prompted me to park before reaching the car park (see GPS track). I quickly reached the car park by following the forest road on foot.
(1) The path starts immediately at the end of the car park. It is easy to follow as it is very well marked and wide enough for vehicles to pass (although these are obviously prohibited).
The path splits several times, allowing you to take small shortcuts that quickly rejoin the main path.
The climb is sometimes through the forest, sometimes offering increasingly clear views of the lake.
A few dozen metres after leaving the first path down to the right (towards the ladder), you will reach the Portes de Morgon without too much difficulty, revealing the magnificent Morgon cirque, bordered to the west by the Pic de Morgon and to the east by the Pic de Charance (Parpaillon massif).
(2) At the intersection, take the path opposite and follow it, keeping the bottom of the valley on your left.
(3) The path turns right, then curves sharply to the left. After a series of small hairpin bends, you will reach a fork.
(4) We head right and tackle the final climb, which first takes us to a peak offering a beautiful view of the lake and surrounding villages, then to the Pic de Morgon, from where the view expands even further, offering a 360° panorama of both the lake and the Cirque de Morgon.
(5) After enjoying the view, it is impossible to miss the path following the ridges towards the south-east, towards the Tête de la Vieille. We will take this path, taking care not to slip on the first downhill section, and admire the numerous edelweiss flowers.
The trail is very well marked.
Be careful of two tricky sections, which are rocky ridges that can be slippery in wet weather and require the use of your hands for safety (also not recommended for people who are prone to vertigo).
We then arrive at the point where we descend into the Cirque de Morgon towards Lake Saint-Pierre. The descent leads us without any particular difficulty to the small lake dominated by the Pic de Charance (Parpaillon massif).
(6) Take the second path on the left heading north to rejoin the original path just before entering the forest.
(2) We continue to the right, following the same route we took on the way up, until we reach the car park (S/E).
... However, the change in route (well signposted) is a little confusing when trying to follow the original trail.