The green lake surprises with its extraordinary transparency and emerald green color. In the middle of a larch forest, at the foot of the imposing Rois Mages peaks, discover the most Italian of French valleys: the Vallée Etroite.
The hamlet of Les Granges is located in the Vallée Etroite, the other side of the Col de l'Echelle, in the far north of the Hautes-Alpes, on the border with Italy.
Once Italian, the Vallée Etroite was annexed to Névache after the Second World War by the peace treaty of 1947. Only the upstream part of the valley beyond the Plan du Col (Pian del Colle) became French, while the downstream part remained Italian.
Lac Vert, located at an altitude of 1,834 meters on the left bank of the Vallée Étroite torrent, is a lake with no apparent inflow or spillway. Its formation is due to a depression carved out of the Keuper gypsum (Upper Triassic), clogged by clay deposits. The remarkable green color of the water is due to the proliferation of algae.
From the last parking lot at Les Granges de la Vallée Etroite, the end of the road, follow the track towards the hamlet of Les Granges de la Vallée Etroite.
As soon as you enter the hamlet of Les Granges, take the left-hand track (you can visit the hamlet to see the typical houses, chalets and fountains). The path descends into the combe and then climbs back up to the forest. In the background, the summit of Mont Thabor rises to an altitude of 3,178 m.
Follow the signs for "Lago Verde" on your right (wooden sign) into the forest, then continue for about a kilometer.
Leave the wide path and take a dirt track that climbs into the forest.
After the bridge, take the path straight up into the forest. There are many winding paths, so don't go too far left or right. Once at the highest point, begin the descent towards the lake.
Return by the same route.
Once Italian, the Vallée Etroite was annexed to Névache after the Second World War by the peace treaty of 1947. Only the upstream part of the valley beyond the Plan du Col (Pian del Colle) became French, while the downstream part remained Italian.
Lac Vert, located at an altitude of 1,834 meters on the left bank of the Vallée Étroite torrent, is a lake with no apparent inflow or spillway. Its formation is due to a depression carved out of the Keuper gypsum (Upper Triassic), clogged by clay deposits. The remarkable green color of the water is due to the proliferation of algae.
From the last parking lot at Les Granges de la Vallée Etroite, the end of the road, follow the track towards the hamlet of Les Granges de la Vallée Etroite.
As soon as you enter the hamlet of Les Granges, take the left-hand track (you can visit the hamlet to see the typical houses, chalets and fountains). The path descends into the combe and then climbs back up to the forest. In the background, the summit of Mont Thabor rises to an altitude of 3,178 m.
Follow the signs for "Lago Verde" on your right (wooden sign) into the forest, then continue for about a kilometer.
Leave the wide path and take a dirt track that climbs into the forest.
After the bridge, take the path straight up into the forest. There are many winding paths, so don't go too far left or right. Once at the highest point, begin the descent towards the lake.
Return by the same route.
Plain text period
All year round daily.Subject to favorable snow and weather conditions.
Accepted customers
Accepted customers
- Level green – easy
- Walkers/hikers
