Lakes Trail from Pointe de la Masse

Park in the car park at the La Masse Cable Car. Take the cable car to reach the upper station.

(S) Follow the ski run due west, and after a right-hand turn, you’ll come to a junction.

(1) Turn left and continue the descent to Lac Longet via the ski runs.

(2) Take the path on the left. Heading due north, reach Lac Noir.

(3) Continue slightly uphill, then go round the lake on the left. Finish the climb at the Col de la Bache

(4) Please note: there is no marked path to Lac Crintallia, but this presents no difficulty in dry weather for an experienced hiker. To get there, descend by sight, heading north-north-east: a GPS track is an advantage here. Arrive at Lac Crintallia.

(5) Continue the descent along the well-marked path until you reach the Château Philibert junction.

(6) Take the path on the right and continue down the fairly steep descent. After two hairpin bends, you’ll come to another crossroads at a place called Le Céseri.

(7) Head straight ahead and follow the hairpin bends to reach the Ruisseau des Enverses. Cross the stream and you’ll then come to a hairpin bend at the junction with a wider track.

(8) Take this track straight ahead. Once at the second hairpin bend, leave it to follow the path on the right, and complete the descent by arriving at the car park of the lower station of the Pointe de la Masse cable car (E).

Hiking poles may be useful to take the strain off your knees, given the significant descent.

(4) Col de la Bache: the view of Lake Crintallia with Mont Blanc in the background is magnificent.
You may spot marmots during the hike.