Trail · Moderate
Lac d'Ormaz (mountain lake)
A there-and-back walk through the summer pastures to a small clear mountain lake at the foot of a rocky ridge.
At a glance
| Difficulty | Moderate: mountain path with some steady climbs; hiking boots recommended. |
|---|---|
| Distance | 9 km (there and back: 4.5 km each way) |
| Climb | +620 m of ascent; highest point 1,720 m |
| Time | 3 h 30 min of walking, not counting breaks |
| Start | Les Granges car park (12 spaces), 800 m from the village. |
| Waymarking | Yellow and red paint marks; cairns above 1,600 m. |
| Best season | Late June to early October: snow may lie by the lake until late June. |
| Water | A spring at the summer farm (untreated: boil or filter it). Take 1.5 litres. |
| Herds | Herds possible in July and August, sometimes guarded by livestock guardian dogs: what to do. |
Map and profile
A fictional track drawn for this demo: it does not follow any real path. For the same reason there is no link to an online map (OpenStreetMap or other).
Schematic map, north at the top: a 9 km there-and-back walk (4.5 km each way) on the same path. Start: Les Granges car park (12 spaces), 800 m from the village. The route heads north-east. Highest point: 1,720 m, with 620 m of climbing in total.
Elevation profile: steady climb from 1,100 m to 1,720 m on the way out, then down the same path.
Download the GPX track: Lac d'Ormaz (mountain lake) (GPX file, 12 KB)
GPX files open in most hiking apps. Fictional track: do not use it to find your way.
The route
- From the car park, climb the pasture track to the Ormaz summer farm (1 hour).
- Go well around the herd if it is there, on the marked path to the left of the fences.
- The path crosses a rocky step, then reaches the flat area of the lake.
- Return the same way.
Things to see
- The lake and the reflection of the ridge
- Alpine flowers in July
- Marmots near the boulders