Lac des Garrets

Lac des Garrets is a high-altitude lake in the commune of Entraunes, in the Alpes-Maritimes department, within the boundaries of Mercantour National Park. It sits at 2,621 metres above sea level, in a small rocky cirque right on the edge of the neighbouring Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department — and it's from that side, near Allos, that most visitors approach it.

Where exactly is Lac des Garrets?

The lake lies northeast of the far better-known Lac d'Allos, surrounded by the high peaks of the Mercantour massif. To its south sits Lac de la Petite Cayolle (2,588 m), and the Pas du Lausson pass nearby links the two lakes on a well-known loop route. From several points along the trail, hikers get clear views of Mont Pelat (3,051 m) and Montagne de l'Avalanche (2,729 m).

What makes this lake distinctive?

Because of its elevation, Lac des Garrets spends most of the year frozen — roughly eight months of ice cover. In summer, strong evaporation shrinks the water surface considerably, so by autumn the lake takes on a visibly reduced, irregular shape. Despite these harsh conditions, phytoplankton that captures solar energy still develops in the water, allowing a limited form of life to exist at this altitude, though it never goes beyond the planktonic stage.

How do you get there?

The most common approach starts from the Allos side: the D226 road leads to the Cluite parking area (1,800 m), from where a narrow road — sometimes subject to a toll — climbs further to the parking spot near the Maison Forestière du Laus (2,110 m). From there, only a walking trail leads up to the lake itself. The loop combining Lac des Garrets, Lac de la Petite Cayolle and the Pas du Lausson pass typically takes around 4 to 4.5 hours, with an elevation gain of roughly 500 to 800 metres depending on the exact route chosen. May to October is the best window, once the passes and approach trails are clear of snow.

What else can you see along the way?

The hike to Lac des Garrets is largely about the views: from the upper sections of the trail, walkers look down on Lac d'Allos some 400 metres below, as well as across to the Mont Pelat massif. The loop over the Pas du Lausson makes it possible to visit three distinct lakes in a single outing, which is why this route is one of the more popular choices in this part of Mercantour.

Frequently asked questions

How high up is Lac des Garrets? The lake sits at 2,621 metres above sea level, in a rocky cirque right on the border between the Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence departments.

Does the lake hold water all year round? Not at a constant level — strong summer evaporation shrinks it noticeably, and it freezes over for several months each winter.

Is the trail difficult? It's a high-mountain route with several hundred metres of elevation gain, so decent fitness is needed, but the technical difficulty is low — the main factors to plan around are altitude and weather conditions.

When is the best time to go? Between May and October, once the passes and access trails are free of snow and the access road to the Laus parking area is open.

Can this hike be combined with other lakes? Yes — a popular loop links Lac des Garrets with Lac de la Petite Cayolle and the Pas du Lausson pass, taking in a view of Lac d'Allos along the way.