Lac de la Noire

Lac de la Noire is a high-altitude lake sitting at 2,887 m in the commune of Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye, in the Haute Ubaye valley (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence). It rests on the western flank of Tête des Toillies (3,175 m), right beside the Col de la Noire, in the borderland between the Ubaye valley and the Queyras — just a few kilometers from Italy. It remains one of the quieter lakes in this part of the Southern Alps, favored by hikers looking to escape the busier trails of the valley.

Where exactly is the lake?

Lac de la Noire lies in the high-mountain terrain surrounding the Chambeyron area, on the boundary between Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Hautes-Alpes. Its coordinates are roughly 44°39'05" N, 6°56'13" E. Tête des Toillies (3,175 m) and Pic de la Farneireta (3,134 m) rise to the east, Roche Noire (3,134 m) and Péouvou (3,232 m) stand to the west, and further off the Bric de Rubren massif, also known as Mongioia (3,340 m), marks the Italian side of the border.

How do you get there?

The usual starting point is the village of Saint-Véran (2,042 m), known for having the highest parish church in Europe. From there, a trail follows the Aigue Blanche valley up to the Chapelle de Clausis, where a marked path begins its climb to the Col de la Noire (2,955 m). During summer, a regulated shuttle service runs through the valley, limiting car traffic in this fragile high-altitude environment. From the pass, it only takes a few more minutes to descend to the lake itself — and the col already offers a clear view down onto the water before you even reach it.

What makes the geology here notable?

The lake basin and its surroundings are built from ophiolites — rock formed on the floor of the ancient Tethys Ocean around 150 million years ago, at depths exceeding 3,000 meters. That deep-sea origin is what gives the area its unusual palette: green and black serpentinites sit alongside basalts with distinctive pillow structures, pale marbles, and occasional asbestos fibers. Finding slabs of former ocean floor thrust up to nearly 3,000 meters of elevation is uncommon in the Western Alps, which is one reason the route draws hikers with an interest in field geology.

What wildlife and plants live around the lake?

The bare, rocky ground around Lac de la Noire supports roughly 21 endemic or rare plant species adapted to extreme high-altitude conditions and the nutrient-poor ophiolitic soil. Among the animal species of particular conservation interest here are the rock ptarmigan and the bearded vulture, a bird closely associated with the highest ridgelines of the Southern Alps.

Who is this hike suited for?

Given the altitude — close to 2,900 m — and the rocky, demanding terrain, this route suits hikers with prior mountain experience who are prepared for changeable weather and steep sections near the pass. Summer is the best season, when the trail and the Aigue Blanche valley are fully accessible and the shuttle service simplifies reaching the trailhead.

Frequently asked questions

Is Lac de la Noire the same lake as Lac des Neuf Couleurs or Lac de Longet? No. These are separate lakes, even though all three lie within the commune of Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye and the same high-altitude section of the Ubaye valley. Lac de la Noire is distinguished by its position right at the Col de la Noire, close to Tête des Toillies.

How long does it take to reach the lake? The route runs from Saint-Véran through the Aigue Blanche valley and the Chapelle de Clausis up to the Col de la Noire, from which only a short, few-minute descent remains to the lake.

Do you need a permit or reservation to access it? In summer, a regulated shuttle operates in the Aigue Blanche valley to protect the sensitive high-mountain ecosystem from excessive vehicle traffic.

Can you swim in the lake? Given its altitude and the water temperatures typical of lakes above 2,800 m, it functions mainly as a scenic stop and viewpoint along the route rather than a swimming spot.