Save this place and discover nearby attractions with NextOnTrip
In the app you can add it to your favorites, see what else is worth visiting nearby on the map, and earn a badge for your visit.
The app is available for iPhone and Android.
About this place
Lac de Champex is a small mountain lake in the municipality of Orsières, canton of Valais, Switzerland, beside the village of Champex-Lac (near Som-la-Proz). It covers about 17 hectares and lies at roughly 1,470 m above sea level, ringed by larch and spruce forest below the Mont Blanc massif. It is one of the best-loved alpine lakes in Lower Valais.
How did the lake form?
An old moraine left by the Arpette glacier dammed the valley and created the basin. A stream from the Val d'Arpette feeds it today. At the northern end, marshland and wet meadows form a protected nature reserve of national importance.
How do you get to Champex-Lac?
A winding cantonal road climbs about 7 km from Orsières, gaining around 600 m in height. Cars, buses and cyclists all use it, and road cyclists count it as a classic ascent. From the village centre the shore is a few minutes on foot.
What is there to do at the lake?
- Lakeside walk. An easy, level loop with mountain views mirrored in the water, doable in under an hour.
- Rowing and pedal boats. In season you can hire a rowing boat or pedalo right at the shore.
- Flore-Alpe alpine garden. It holds more than 4,000 plant species from the Alps and other mountain ranges.
- La Breya chairlift. It takes you up to a panoramic viewpoint over the Valais Alps.
- Hiking. Trails start from the lake into the Val d'Arpette, to the Relais d'Arpette hut (an easy walk, famous for its local blueberry tart) and on to the Cabane d'Orny. The village is also a stage of the Tour du Mont Blanc.
- Bisse de Champex. A route along a traditional Valais irrigation channel.
- Walks with St. Bernard dogs. Offered as guided outings.
When should you visit?
Summer suits walking, boating and hiking, with most paths open from June to September. In hard frosts the surface can freeze over, and the area then offers snowshoe trails and cross-country skiing.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the lake?
About 17 ha, so a full circuit takes little time.
Can you walk all the way around it?
Yes. The loop is easy and well marked, and it passes the marshes at the northern end.
Can you rent a boat?
In season, yes: rowing boats and pedal boats are available by the shore. Check hours and prices locally.
Is Champex-Lac on the Tour du Mont Blanc?
Yes, the village is one of the stages of the popular circuit around the Mont Blanc massif.
Nearby places
Earn badges for the places you visit
Download NextOnTrip, discover new places and check off your trails.