You’ve probably heard tales of mountain lakes so breathtaking they seem almost unreal—where crystal-clear waters reflect towering peaks, and the landscape is so pure and untouched that it almost feels mythical. Hidden deep within the wild beauty of Écrins National Park in France, Lac du Lauvitel is one such marvel. Nestled at 1,530 meters above sea level, this pristine alpine lake attracts hikers like a siren. But the magic of Lac du Lauvitel hike isn’t just in the destination—it’s in the journey. So, lace up your boots and join me on a virtual hike to one of the most breathtaking gems of the French Alps.
Cost: Free
Length: 6.22km according to my smartwatch, total ascent 547m
How to get there: By car
Other hiking routes in France: Le Petit Montrond ; Baron – Veyrier
This stop is part of our France travel itinerary. Check out the full route
But First – a quick Lunch Stop in Le Bourg d’Oisans
In my mind, no hike is complete without securing a baguette to savor at the top of the mountain. Since we’re starting our hike after lunch, this is the perfect opportunity to fuel up on some hearty mountain food. So, before we head to Lac du Lauvitel, let’s stop in the charming nearby town of Le Bourg d’Oisans for a quick taste of life by the French mountains.
Because it’s off-season, there’s a lot of construction going on in the streets, but the town still exudes its charm with stone houses, simple facades, and heavy wooden shutters. At the end of each street, you can catch a glimpse of a mountain peak in the distance. It’s a joy to just wander around, peeking into a souvenir shop or a bakery.
For lunch, we’re stopping at Café du Centre. The hearty meat with gravy, accompanied by a small Gratin Dauphinois (sliced potatoes baked in cream with spices), is so tasty and filling that I’m now ready to conquer any mountain after savoring this.
Let’s start our Lac du Lauvitel hike
We park the car in the free parking lot, and as soon as you open the door, you can feel the soft dance of raindrops on your skin and the smell of the rain in the air.
The weather is far from ideal for hiking, but there is nothing we can do about it. Unless, of course, we want to turn back—which would be a perfectly reasonable decision for those who aren’t experienced hikers.
But today, we are accompanied by some seasoned hikers, so we press on, following the winding road towards a charming cluster of stone houses. They appear to be either a tiny village with a peaceful rhythm of life or a retreat, as we spot some people practicing yoga.
Looking up towards the mountain peak we are planning to conquer, all you can see is a gray wall of rain. I burst into laughter. It looks like we’re in for an adventure! And trust me—we are. While I wouldn’t recommend hiking in the rain (the rocks become extra, extra, extra slippery), not even the weather can diminish the beauty of the Lac du Lauvitel hike.
Hopefully, when you come here, the weather will be much nicer than it was in our virtual adventure.
The Terrain of Lac du Lauvitel Hike
Most of the trail leads through lush green forest, with trees and shrubs surrounding you. You can spot birches and ferns and various other vegetation I don’t know the name of.
The path itself is well-maintained, and most of it is laid with rocks, which can be both a blessing and a curse. It’s good that it doesn’t get muddy, but in the rain, the rocks—polished by thousands of feet each year—become very slippery, so you have to be mindful of every step.
They say that the Lac du Lauvitel hike tends to get very crowded in the summer, but it looks like during the mid-week in September, you can enjoy relative solitude. Or it could be because of the weather – who knows?
Higher up the mountain the track turns into more of a rock staircase, and the vegetation grows scarser, so time after time the forest opens up to reveal a peak of other mountains. In this weather they are almost completely hidden in the mist, with one exception that randomly seems to be enjoying some sunlight.
The Restless Mountain River
A playful companion to your walk up is a restless mountain river that hides for a large portion of the Lac du Lauvitel hiking route, just to peek out again when you start to feel that the climb gets too monotonous.
Our first meeting with the river is at the start of the trail, where the stream runs over a pathway of rocks in various shapes and sizes. But the grandest spectacle awaits higher up the mountain. As you climb, you can see white streams of water moving in the distance. As you come closer, a series of cascades, split by rocks and trees, reveals itself in all its glory. The water here runs with tremendous force, oozing the energy you need to finish your hike.
The Breathtaking Lac du Lauvitel
We need to stop and catch our breath from time to time, but on a trail so beautiful, time flies. Before we know it, we’ve reached the top.
And the scene that unfolds is like a dream.
On your right, a maze of rocks in various shapes and sizes sprawls out before you. It looks as though a giant, weary from carrying them, tossed these rocks carelessly across the landscape. Now they lie wherever they fell, forming a natural obstacle course that only a few determined shrubs and patches of moss have dared to conquer. But deeper within this sea of rocks, sit picturesque, rustic stone houses.
This place can’t be real, can it? Well, it is. And it gets even better.
In front of you lies Lac du Lauvitel—the stunning blue waters of the lake, surrounded by towering mountains. Their peaks are veiled in a soft mist of rain, and clouds rise from the water’s surface, ascending into the sky. In the distance, nestled between the lush forests that blanket the mountains, streams cascade down the rock walls, possibly feeding the lake with fresh, clean mountain water. You step closer to the rock-covered shores and peer into the water, which from this distance is as transparent as glass. As you look further out, it transforms into a mesmerizing play of blues.
But remember: swimming or engaging in any water sports in this pristine lake is strictly forbidden to protect its delicate ecosystem. So please keep a respectful distance.
They say that one can spend hours watching water flow or fire burn. But you can also spend hours simply gazing at Lac du Lauvitel, peacefully existing in the moment. From here, the journey down follows the same path, so you’ll get a chance to say hi to the river a few more times. But the descent is always easier—probably due to the dopamine rush we just received from this magical sight.
Thoughts?
I am in love. Lac du Lauvitel hike definitely is one of my all time favourites. And it is not a particularly long or challenging hike (unless you’re hiking in bad weather), so if you ever wanted to see a mountain lake – this is an amazing option.
Rout We Followed to Lac du Lauvitel
Screenshot from my sports watch
