Lac Chaffour

Lac Chaffour is a glacial mountain lake sitting at roughly 2621 metres above sea level, in the municipality of Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée in the Alpes-Maritimes department. It lies deep in the Haute-Tinée valley, inside the Mercantour National Park, and forms part of a small cluster of high-altitude lakes gathered around the nearby Lac de Rabuons.

What does the lake look like?

Lac Chaffour is almost circular and covers an area of about 2 hectares. Its shores are largely covered in grass, which sets it apart from several neighbouring lakes ringed by bare rock and scree. That grassy fringe makes it easy to walk along the waterline and gives the lake a gentler feel than the starker, stonier basins higher up the slope. Its water comes from melting snow and old glacial ice that carved out this stretch of the mountains long ago.

Where exactly is Lac Chaffour?

The lake sits just below Lac du Cimon, a slightly higher lake in the same chain, and close to Lac de Rabuons, the largest body of water in this part of the valley. All three lie along the path leading toward the Pas de Rabuons pass, forming a well-known string of alpine lakes that hikers often visit together on a single, longer outing.

How do you get there?

From the centre of Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, the trail to Lac Chaffour covers about 9 km, with the climb typically taking 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours one way. A shorter option starts at the Rabuons refuge, from which the lake is only about 1 km away, roughly 20 to 30 minutes along the path toward the Pas de Rabuons. No climbing gear is needed, but sturdy trekking boots are worthwhile given the altitude and rocky ground, and it helps to carry the relevant map - the area is covered by IGN sheet "Haute Tinée" 3639 OT.

Are there fish in the lake?

Lac Chaffour is no longer stocked on a regular basis, yet it still holds a population of trout that sustains itself through natural reproduction. The lake draws a modest number of anglers visiting the Haute-Tinée valley, though its distance from the road means a fishing trip here calls for a full day.

Why visit Lac Chaffour?

The lake sits within the classic high-mountain scenery of the Mercantour: rocky ridgelines, open pastures, and a scattering of glacial lakes clustered around Rabuons. It suits travellers looking for quiet and open space away from busier trails, especially those keen to see several lakes in one trip by combining Chaffour with Rabuons and Cimon. The view of the surrounding peaks and the calm, grassy shoreline make it a natural spot to pause halfway through a longer hike.

When is the best time to go?

Given its altitude above 2600 metres, the lake is easiest to reach in summer, from July to September, once snow has cleared from the trail. Outside that window it is worth checking current conditions, since the higher passes in this chain can stay snow-covered well into the season.

Frequently asked questions

How high up is Lac Chaffour? The lake lies at an altitude of around 2621 metres above sea level.

How long does it take to reach the lake from Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée? The full route covers about 9 km, with the climb usually taking 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours.

Are Lac Chaffour and Lac du Cimon the same lake? No, they are two separate lakes - Lac Chaffour sits slightly lower, while Lac du Cimon lies just above it, in the same chain of lakes above Rabuons.

Can you fish here? Yes, the lake holds trout that reproduce naturally, although it is no longer regularly restocked.

Is the lake inside Mercantour National Park? Yes, Lac Chaffour lies within Mercantour National Park, in the Haute-Tinée valley.