Starting from the Ruitor mountain refuge, enjoy breakfast or a hot drink in the idyllic, timeless setting of the Petite Sassière plateau, and take in the sound of the torrent flowing a short distance behind you.
The walk ahead isn’t very long, but it’s enough to take your breath away. After a good hour’s climb along the path running alongside the Saint-Claude torrent, the Lac du Petit finally comes into view, nestled in its beautiful, wild rocky setting.
Lac Petit
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If you’re looking for a change of scenery, the hike to Lac du Retour offers you the chance to discover a hidden valley via a balcony trail – perfect for combining a walk with taking in the scenery, whilst enjoying a moderate workout to warm you up.
Then, as you cross the first streams, you’ll begin the final ascent towards the Col du Retour, where a commanding view of Lac du Retour and the Tarentaise Valley awaits you. Take the time to admire this peaceful and harmonious scene during a break or a picnic before heading back along the same route.
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Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful circular walks in the Haute Tarentaise.
Tackling the Lac Noir de Montséti circuit gives you the chance to take your time, whether at the Ruitor refuge before setting off or further along the route at the Archeboc refuge.
To begin with, a gentle start takes you across the magnificent Sassière plateau towards the Col de Montséti. At the top of the climb, Lac Noir comes into view, just a few steps from the pass.
You then head into the neighbouring valley, the equally stunning Vallon de Mercuel. After a fairly direct descent, you’ll arrive at the Refuge de l’Archeboc. This is the perfect opportunity to stop for a refreshing drink or a tasty bite to eat, depending on what you fancy (from 15 June to 15 September).
It will then be time to set off again to return to the Refuge du Ruitor, heading back down the Vallon de Mercuel whilst keeping the Arète de Monséti on your right at all times. Before tackling the final ascent to the Vallon de la Sassière, take a moment to admire the imposing and unique Mont Pourri and its glaciers.
The mountain lakes of Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise (Lac du Petit, Lac du Retour, Lac Noir de Montséti, Lac du Clou, the Verdet Lakes, etc.) are particularly fragile natural environments. Although no general ban on swimming has been publicly announced for any of these lakes, swimming is strongly discouraged in order to preserve their ecological balance.
These high-altitude lakes are home to sensitive ecosystems that react quickly to human disturbance. Simply entering the water can contribute to the erosion of the banks, disturb aquatic wildlife and introduce pollutants such as residues of sun cream or personal care products.
Within the Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise area, several valleys and lakes are situated within protected natural areas, notably the Clou Valley, renowned for its environmental richness. The preservation of these sites relies largely on visitors’ voluntary respect for the environment. For this reason, we recommend that you admire these lakes and stop there for a break or a picnic, but avoid swimming in order to minimise the impact on these particularly vulnerable high-altitude environments.
Take a look at the list of our partners who can help you with your walking activities.
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