Le plateau d'Emparis et ses lacs – lac noir et lac lérié
The Black and Lérié lakes are real gems that a stay at La Grave must-see. Located at 2400m facing the Girose glacier.
This route offers hikers an exceptional setting with breathtaking views of the Malaval valley. The route described allows you to explore the Emparis plateau off the beaten track and is a great alternative to the GR54.
From the starting point of Chazelet (1770 m), go down towards the village along the car park. At the first junction, do not go up into the village but take a hairpin bend on the right towards the foot of the ski lifts.
Cross the Gâ at the start of the chairlift then follow the wide hairpins which go up the entire eastern slope of the Plateau d'Emparis.
Pass the benches (2060 m) and, at this point, turn left towards the southern edge of the Plateau d'Emparis; Pass close to the ruins of “Maison Rouge” and those of “Pré Veyraud” by turning left (2132 m).
Continue along the small path that leads to the high-altitude sheepfolds of Galan and then Massarelles, crossing two torrents along the way, the last of which is called “Caturgeas”.
Then go back up towards the North by a narrow path towards the ruins of the same name, the path goes around the large rocky kidney to join the path which leads to Lake Lérié, a path which we will follow on the left.
Go around the lake and follow the path which then overlooks the Malaval valley located 1200 meters lower and reach the Lac Noir in a quarter of an hour. Go along it from the south, pass near a rain gauge and 200 m further, opposite a small lake which is sometimes dry, turn right. The path leads in 30 minutes to the Souchet pass (2365m).
At the pass, do not take the wide path on the right taken by the GR 54 but continue opposite (east) by a path along the mountainside which joins the “Berche”.
Go down its north-eastern slope, pass near ruins and reach the place called “Plaque joue” the good track coming from the combettes, take it on the right until you reach the Querellé.
Do not take the path on the right which leads to Clot Rafin but continue on the track which goes down to the “pont de la mine”.
Cross the torrent and go back up towards Chazelet to reach the starting point of the route.
From the starting point of Chazelet (1770 m), go down towards the village along the car park. At the first junction, do not go up into the village but take a hairpin bend on the right towards the foot of the ski lifts.
Cross the Gâ at the start of the chairlift then follow the wide hairpins which go up the entire eastern slope of the Plateau d'Emparis.
Pass the benches (2060 m) and, at this point, turn left towards the southern edge of the Plateau d'Emparis; Pass close to the ruins of “Maison Rouge” and those of “Pré Veyraud” by turning left (2132 m).
Continue along the small path that leads to the high-altitude sheepfolds of Galan and then Massarelles, crossing two torrents along the way, the last of which is called “Caturgeas”.
Then go back up towards the North by a narrow path towards the ruins of the same name, the path goes around the large rocky kidney to join the path which leads to Lake Lérié, a path which we will follow on the left.
Go around the lake and follow the path which then overlooks the Malaval valley located 1200 meters lower and reach the Lac Noir in a quarter of an hour. Go along it from the south, pass near a rain gauge and 200 m further, opposite a small lake which is sometimes dry, turn right. The path leads in 30 minutes to the Souchet pass (2365m).
At the pass, do not take the wide path on the right taken by the GR 54 but continue opposite (east) by a path along the mountainside which joins the “Berche”.
Go down its north-eastern slope, pass near ruins and reach the place called “Plaque joue” the good track coming from the combettes, take it on the right until you reach the Querellé.
Do not take the path on the right which leads to Clot Rafin but continue on the track which goes down to the “pont de la mine”.
Cross the torrent and go back up towards Chazelet to reach the starting point of the route.
