Lac de Chésery

Lac de Chésery is a small alpine lake in the municipality of Monthey, canton of Valais, Switzerland, right by the French border. It sits at roughly 1,890 m above sea level beneath the Pointe de Chésery, inside the Portes du Soleil ski and hiking area.

Where is Lac de Chésery?

The lake lies in the Chablais Alps, at the head of the Val de Morgins and close to the Col de Chésery. Above it rises the Pointe de Chésery (2,249 m), a summit on the Swiss-French frontier. The nearest resorts are Les Crosets, Morgins and Champéry, while on the French side the hamlet of Les Lindarets is the closest base. The water body is tiny, with published surface figures ranging from under half a hectare to about 1.5 ha. Come for the scenery, not for swimming.

How do you get to the lake?

There is no road to the shore, so every route involves walking. The usual options are:

• From Morgins: follow the tarmac road into the Val de Morgins, then a footpath past the Fontaine Blanche to Lac de Chésery and on to Lac Vert. The full loop through the lake and hut is about 16 km with around 760 m of ascent, and takes about 7 hours.
• From Les Crosets: marked trail 27 begins with the Mossettes chairlift to 2,277 m, crosses the Col des Portes de l'Hiver and drops to the Chésery hut. This loop is roughly 9 km and takes just under 2 hours.
• From France: park at Les Lindarets or the Bassachaux pass and follow the GR5 towards the Col de Chésery.

What else is nearby?

Lac Vert (about 1,970 m) lies next to it, with the Refuge de Chésery, a mountain hut sleeping 35. The hut is open from late June to late September and serves meals and overnight stays. A longer hike from Champéry via the Croix du Culet to Lac Vert covers about 17 km in some 5.5 hours and is rated difficult by the Valais tourist board. Views take in the Portes du Soleil ridges and the French border peaks.

When should you visit?

Trails are clear from late spring into early autumn, and the hut only takes guests in summer. July, August and September are the best months. In winter the area belongs to Portes du Soleil skiers and the lake is under snow. Start early, because afternoon weather in these mountains often turns.

Frequently asked questions

Can you drive to Lac de Chésery? No. From Morgins, Les Crosets or the French hamlet of Les Lindarets, the last stretch is on foot.

How long does the walk take? The Les Crosets loop via the hut takes about 2 hours. Longer routes from Morgins or Champéry take between 5.5 and 7 hours.

Is there food or lodging close by? Yes, at the Refuge de Chésery by Lac Vert, from late June to late September.

Is there another lake in the area? Yes, Lac Vert is a short walk further along the trail and is just as popular with hikers.