Saint-Grat Lake and Refuge Adami

Nestled at the foot of Tête du Ruitor and its glaciers, within a beautiful setting, Saint-Grat Lake is the highlight of any hike in its own right. Through the final twists and turns before the lake, the slope is smooth and the route straightforward. The next climb much steeper, leading to Refuge Adami gives you a stunning view point.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.40 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 803 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 803 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,742 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,939 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the place called Plan Ronchet at the junction between the road coming from Valgrisenche and the path leading to the place called Grand’Alpe (spelt Grand’Alpe on the IGN map at 1/25000, Grand Alpage on the Italian map at 1/25000 and most probably by mistake, Gradalpe on the OSM map). Head for Valgrisenche a mountain village that you'll reach from Arvier in the Aoste valley. In Valgrisenche, take the road towards Bohne which then overlooks Beauregard Lake's left bank. Roughly 1.5 km after the end of the lake and before heading down a windy trail leading to Surier, you'll come across a junction.

(S/E) Take the path heading west. You'll reach a group of chalets at the place called Grand'Alpe.

(1) Ignore a path that heads off to the left sticking to the main track (north-west). The path gradually heads up along the left bank of Grand'Alpe Torrent (Rio Grand'Alpe on the Italian map). You'll reach some alpine chalets at the place called Revéraz-Décot (IGN map), Revera Basse (Italian map) or Revera Bassa (OSM).

(2) Go past the chalets heading north-west. Around high point 2170 the path turns into a trail through the pastures: ignore a trail heading off to the left towards the torrent instead head right reaching the torrent a bit further up.

(3) Cross the torrent (high point 2200) and head north with the torrent to your right hand side. Here, you'll be able to see Saint-Grat Lake with Ruitor Massif in the background. After about a kilometre the trail steers away from the torrent then heads up a steep slope. After a few bends, cross the glacial rock bar to reach the lake.

(4) Don't head north along the lake, instead go left, and between some blocs of rocks you'll come across a trail heading up over the lake. The trail is windy and heads east. Head up the bends sticking to the same direction until you get to the first neves and reach a berm with a cabin (Refuge Adami).

(5) Head back the same way to get down.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,939 m - Ronchet Plan
  2. 1 : km 0.69 - alt. 1,993 m - Grand'Alpe or Grand Alpage
  3. 2 : km 2.38 - alt. 2,147 m - Revéraz-Décot or Revera Basse
  4. 3 : km 3.06 - alt. 2,199 m - Torrent du Lac or Rio del Lago
  5. 4 : km 4.54 - alt. 2,459 m - Lake Saint-Grat or - Lago Di San Grato
  6. 5 : km 5.7 - alt. 2,742 m - Adami Refuge
  7. S/E : km 11.4 - alt. 1,939 m - Ronchet Plan

Practical information

Saint-Grat Lake can be the highlight of a family hike in its own right: the slope has around a 500 m drop and should take around 1 hour and a half walk (without stops).

The rest of the hike, from the lake to the shelter is for more experienced hikers: heading up from the lake, roughly 300 m drop and an hours walk.

Whichever you choose (the complete hike or just to the lake) hiking gear and shoes are a must. Make sure you have warm clothes and sun protection. Take water supplies.

In the nearby area

Saint-Grat Lake is in a stunning setting with impressive views over la Tête du Ruitor and its glaciers, the last glaciers' snouts plunging into the lake.

Val D'Aoste is a self-governing Region where French is the official language and Italian commonly used which explains the different spelt typonyms.

In Valgrisenche, you can get a hold of some excellent quality fontine (mildly cooked hard cheese) either in the village food shop or directly from the cheese cooperative on the outskirts of the village heading back towards the valley. In the pastures, you'll come across herds of the local breed of cows Valdostana pezzata rossa whose milk is used to produce fontine cheese.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
eric83
eric83
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Beautiful view during the climb to the lake
Windy weather followed by clouds, so we didn't climb up to the Adami refuge and had a picnic sheltered by the small chapel at the lake's spillway

A slight variation on the way down: we followed the path on the left at the top, which starts at the lake.
This is only for experienced hikers (narrow and a bit rough in places) but the view is stunning
Then you have to look around a bit to find your way back down to the large cowshed at the bottom of the track, but it's not too difficult

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sylvie la crau
sylvie la crau

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

We did this walk on 27 July 2024.
We only went as far as the lake because we didn't have enough time.
It took us 2 hours to walk up to the Lac de GRAT. Difference in altitude 570 M.
It's really magnificent, the lake is turquoise blue and the view is exceptional.

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Laurarandonnee
Laurarandonnee

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Magnificent hike and beautiful lake on the way in. We stopped at the lake.

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babelli
babelli

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Very good up to the Lac de Saint Grat, it was more difficult to find the right start for the "refuge" Adami right away, although it would be sufficient to point out that it starts on the left of a small sheepfold just before arriving at the lake. The value of the Adami refuge, apart from the effort required to climb up to it, is very relative: it's a ruin and the view is limited by the small, easy rocky ridge on the left, which you have to climb to get a really good view.
It is also possible to do a loop from the lake by crossing back to the left (path 14A), a less easy and longer route, but a very pretty one.
A lovely walk!

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Fredododo
Fredododo
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

As described in the tutorial, the refuge is no longer used as a shelter as it has now been reduced to a vulgar ruin. The last part of the route is interesting because it's off-path and requires you to know your way around and read the kairns.

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romain.clavel
romain.clavel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 01, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

This is an easy walk for everyone, with little difficulty. Don't make a mistake at point 3 and turn right into the mountain pastures. Magnificent lake and sublime views from the refuge.
A herd of 15 ibex were waiting for us at the refuge, and we got very close to them.
Round trip from the bottom to the refuge, 3h45.
The only drawback is that the whole hike is in full sun, so it's best to do it early in the morning in summer. We set off at 9am.
More sections of the route under snow.
The lake is not really indicated on the route, even from the road below, but it's magnificent and accessible in a 1h10 walk.
The Adami refuge is no longer a refuge, it's just a pile of stones and planks, everything has collapsed.

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mimidaut
mimidaut

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 15, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This is indeed a magnificent walk. You need to follow the yellow Italian signposting (no. 14). However, if you decide to continue from Lac St Grat, this is not a refuge but a hut called Adami. We didn't make it because there was still too much snow. On the way back, you can also decide to do a loop along trail 14A, which arrives above Bonne. But you'll have to get back on the road to Plan Rocher to pick up your car.

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