Refuge des Clots – Randonnée depuis les Aymes (Mizoën)
A balcony path, scented by wild lavender, above Lake Chambon, will take you to the small Clôts refuge. Don't miss the Lovitel Lake thematic trail!
This charming mountain refuge at an altitude of 1515 m is on the GR 50 and GR 54 C routes, and on the Emparis plateau, with a splendid view of the Meije.
You will definitely notice the waterfalls of the Petrifying Fountain, dominating the refuge, forming tuff concretions. The site is preserved by a biotope protection order. Stay on the path to avoid damaging this unique phenomenon in Oisans.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Departure: Aymes Parking (Mizoën)
Elevation: 270 m
Return time: 2 hours
Return distance: 7 km
Level: moderate, no physical difficulty but some aerial passages.
MAP AND TOPO
OBP map n°3 (Oisans at the End of the Feet): trail n°343 – GR50
IGN TOP 25 3335 ET – Bourg d'Oisans, Alpe d'Huez
ROUTE
À Mizoën, in the Ferrand valley, cross the village by car to take the small road on the right towards “Aymes” until the small parking lot at the end of the road.
The route begins with a balcony path that crosses schist slopes above the Chambon dam. A walk where it is preferable to hold the hand of the little ones because the path is “aerial”.
After a very arid passage, the arrival at the Lovitel oasis is striking. A thematic trail loops through this humid environment and joins the refuge. Follow the signposted route, it is marked with interpretation panels of the landscape, on the geology and biological life of the small Lovitel lake, with an orientation table to finish. The refuge is just a little further.
On site, the visit to the ecomuseum will complete your visit with the discovery trail, it retraces the traditional activities of this hamlet which was once inhabited.
The descent is done by the same path.
TO SEE ON THE ROUTE
– Panorama above the Chambon lake
– Lovitel Lake Discovery Trail
– Orientation table
– Ecomuseum
– Clots Refuge
THINGS TO SEE / DO NEARBY
– Resurgence of the Petrifying Fountain waterfall, continue the path above the refuge to reach it in 20 minutes. View of the waterfall all along.
– Hikes from the refuge: Tour du Haut-Dauphiné GR 50, loop to the Emparis plateau and return to Aymes, the Noir lakes and Lérié lake on the Emparis plateau. Possibility of joining the GR 54 Tour de l’Oisans et des Écrins.
TO KNOW
Apart from being one of the rare high-altitude wetlands in the Haute Romanche, Lake Lovitel has the particularity of partially drying up during the summer to transform into a marsh. It thus becomes ideal for the development of amphibians which benefit from the absence of fish, their predators. The ecological quality of the environment is remarkable. Several species with high heritage value are present on the site, notably the common ophioglossus and the simple pigamon, both protected at the regional level.
You will definitely notice the waterfalls of the Petrifying Fountain, dominating the refuge, forming tuff concretions. The site is preserved by a biotope protection order. Stay on the path to avoid damaging this unique phenomenon in Oisans.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Departure: Aymes Parking (Mizoën)
Elevation: 270 m
Return time: 2 hours
Return distance: 7 km
Level: moderate, no physical difficulty but some aerial passages.
MAP AND TOPO
OBP map n°3 (Oisans at the End of the Feet): trail n°343 – GR50
IGN TOP 25 3335 ET – Bourg d'Oisans, Alpe d'Huez
ROUTE
À Mizoën, in the Ferrand valley, cross the village by car to take the small road on the right towards “Aymes” until the small parking lot at the end of the road.
The route begins with a balcony path that crosses schist slopes above the Chambon dam. A walk where it is preferable to hold the hand of the little ones because the path is “aerial”.
After a very arid passage, the arrival at the Lovitel oasis is striking. A thematic trail loops through this humid environment and joins the refuge. Follow the signposted route, it is marked with interpretation panels of the landscape, on the geology and biological life of the small Lovitel lake, with an orientation table to finish. The refuge is just a little further.
On site, the visit to the ecomuseum will complete your visit with the discovery trail, it retraces the traditional activities of this hamlet which was once inhabited.
The descent is done by the same path.
TO SEE ON THE ROUTE
– Panorama above the Chambon lake
– Lovitel Lake Discovery Trail
– Orientation table
– Ecomuseum
– Clots Refuge
THINGS TO SEE / DO NEARBY
– Resurgence of the Petrifying Fountain waterfall, continue the path above the refuge to reach it in 20 minutes. View of the waterfall all along.
– Hikes from the refuge: Tour du Haut-Dauphiné GR 50, loop to the Emparis plateau and return to Aymes, the Noir lakes and Lérié lake on the Emparis plateau. Possibility of joining the GR 54 Tour de l’Oisans et des Écrins.
TO KNOW
Apart from being one of the rare high-altitude wetlands in the Haute Romanche, Lake Lovitel has the particularity of partially drying up during the summer to transform into a marsh. It thus becomes ideal for the development of amphibians which benefit from the absence of fish, their predators. The ecological quality of the environment is remarkable. Several species with high heritage value are present on the site, notably the common ophioglossus and the simple pigamon, both protected at the regional level.
