Tour of Lake Charpal

de fr

Hike around Lake Charpal in a completely unspoilt protected natural site. The path does not stray far from the lake, so the elevation gain is very low and the route is easy. Much of the route is through woodland, ideal in summer when it is hot.

Details

n°25053681
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.32 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 52 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 52 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,400 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,341 ft
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Lake
Charpal Lake
Charpal Lake
Charpal Lake

Description of the walk

Park in the car park near the dam.

(S/E) Leave the dam on your left and take the path through the woods on the right that follows the lake shore. Join a carriage road.

(1) Turn left.

(2) Leave the road and take the path on the left.

(3) Cross the footbridge and continue straight ahead.

(4) Cross a second footbridge and follow the path that temporarily moves away from the lake, crosses the Combe Grosse and reaches a fork.

(5) Continue straight ahead, leaving the straight forest track on your right.

(6) Turn left towards the lake shore. Continue to the dam.

(7) Take the path on the dam to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,347 ft - Dam car park - Lac de Charpal
  2. 1 : mi 0.19 - alt. 4,354 ft - Road suitable for vehicles
  3. 2 : mi 1.18 - alt. 4,390 ft - Path on the left
  4. 3 : mi 2.04 - alt. 4,350 ft - Footbridge
  5. 4 : mi 2.28 - alt. 4,350 ft - Footbridge
  6. 5 : mi 3.17 - alt. 4,357 ft - Fork
  7. 6 : mi 3.77 - alt. 4,370 ft - Fork in the road
  8. 7 : mi 5.17 - alt. 4,350 ft - Dam
  9. S/E : mi 5.32 - alt. 4,347 ft - Dam car park

Notes

Isolated location. Please arrange transport to reach the lake. Large car park near the dam.

The route is marked with regular signs indicating the number of kilometres covered and the number of kilometres remaining. The loop can therefore be completed in either direction.

Worth a visit

A few kilometres away by car, you can visit the village of Habitarelle and the tomb of Duguesclin, the English Tower and the statue of Duguesclin in Chateauneuf-de-Randon.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 28 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
RAJAT
RAJAT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A Canadian landscape with pine forests. To be redone

Machine-translated

gadcirederf
gadcirederf

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

12 August 2026
A lovely walk – the scenery is magnificent 🤩
I’d recommend a walk round the lake with the family, as it’s easy for children.👨👩👧👧

Machine-translated

User 8616631

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A partly shaded walk. Stunning views of the lake.

Machine-translated

Gygma
Gygma

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with no difficulties at all.

Machine-translated

sylviane henner
sylviane henner

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk. No difficulty at all. Wild pansies, daffodils and cotton grass at this time of year.

Machine-translated

pascal114mxm
pascal114mxm

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy walk with well-marked trails.
There’s still quite a bit of snow and it’s muddy in places, but that doesn’t matter at all...

Machine-translated

François59
François59

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route around Lake Charpal with no particular difficulties. Beautiful views halfway along the route at the end of the lake

Machine-translated

ehu
ehu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk to discover this lake. We did the hike in good weather with magnificent scenery. Easy as there is no elevation gain.

Machine-translated

martinelqe
martinelqe

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

no difficulties on this course during the summer, but don't forget your hats as there is little shade.

Machine-translated

Dedette90
Dedette90

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Early morning hike accompanied by birdsong.
A peaceful walk with no difficulties.

Machine-translated

Arzaela
Arzaela

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

In mid-June, there was hardly anyone there. Almost the entire northern part is very shaded and there is no view of the lake, which is the complete opposite of the southern shore.

Machine-translated

marquounet
marquounet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Perfect

Machine-translated

ribri
ribri

Hello, the hike has been postponed until later.

Machine-translated

b-attitude11
b-attitude11

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hikes. Varied landscapes and fun signs along the route. Numerous benches and picnic tables along the path or nestled high up: impressive view from the dam. The wooden signposts say 8.7 kilometres, not 8.56 kilometres as stated in the guide. Be careful of the mossy pontoons, which are slippery in wet weather.

Machine-translated

ribri
ribri

Hello, the lake tour has been postponed due to health reasons.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Tour of Truc de Fortunio

Visorando Member
↔7.40 mi ↗+1,053 ft ↘-1,050 ft ◔4h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Rieutort-de-Randon (Lozère)
Tour du Truc de Fortunio, a hike of moderate difficulty due to the limited elevation gain. The scenery is varied: wild and surrounded by nature. A breathtaking view upon reaching the highest point.

Walking Tour of Lake Charpal

Visorando Member
Tour du Lac de Charpal
↔5.70 mi ↗+141 ft ↘-131 ft ◔2h 45 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Rieutort-de-Randon (Lozère)
Tour of Lake Charpal in Lozère. An easy route on a relatively flat path, despite being at an altitude of over 1,300 metres. Beautiful views of the lake along the entire route, alternating between forest, meadows and peat bogs.

Walking Around Rieutort-de-Randon

Visorando Member
↔5.31 mi ↗+817 ft ↘-814 ft ◔3h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Rieutort-de-Randon (Lozère)
Walk around Rieutort-de-Randon with a view of the Randon signal.

Walking The Truc de Fortunio circular loop via Lake Charpal

Visorando Member
Boucle du Truc de Fortunio par le Lac de Charpal
↔13.17 mi ↗+2,005 ft ↘-2,018 ft ◔7h 50 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Rieutort-de-Randon (Lozère)
A circular route starting from Rieutort-de-Randon along forest paths that will take you to the Truc de Fortunio orientation point. It offers a 360° panorama (views of the Aubrac, Lozère, Lake Charpal, etc.) You will then head back down to the Charpal Dam before following the Colagne river back to your starting point.

Walking Around the hamlets of Asprettes and La Fagette

Visorando Member
Autour des hameaux d'Asprettes et de la Fagette
↔4.14 mi ↗+423 ft ↘-440 ft ◔2h 15 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Chastel-Nouvel (Lozère)
A pleasant hike through oak and beech forests to discover the Fagette waterfall and the hamlets of Asprettes and La Fagette, with their superb granite houses and old ovens.

Walking The Patus Forest

Tourist office
La Forêt du Patus
↔9.31 mi ↗+755 ft ↘-745 ft ◔4h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Jean-la-Fouillouse (Lozère)
This route takes you through several typical villages of the Margeride region with their rich and varied heritage, as well as the wonderful Patus Forest where you can enjoy unspoilt nature.

Walking Exploring the area around La Fouillouse

Tourist office
Découverte autour de la Fouillouse
↔7.22 mi ↗+781 ft ↘-761 ft ◔4h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Jean-la-Fouillouse (Lozère)
This route will take you on a journey of discovery through the local heritage (the Cellier Tower, the bread oven, the cross) and the wild, unspoilt landscapes around the Ruisseau de la Fouillouse.

Walking The troglodytic chapel and hermitage of San-Chaousou

Visorando Member
Chapelle et ermitage troglodytiques de San-Chaousou
↔3.34 mi ↗+712 ft ↘-696 ft ◔2h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Balsièges (Lozère)
Discover the troglodytic chapel and hermitage of San-Chaousou (Saint-Joseph in the local dialect) on the slopes of the Causse de Changefège.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.