Lac Foréant

Lac Foréant sits at 2,618 metres above sea level in the commune of Abriès-Ristolas (Hautes-Alpes), within the Queyras Regional Natural Park. The lake occupies the Bouchouse valley, right below the Col Vieux pass and the steep rock faces of La Taillante, and is ringed by high peaks — Pic Foréant (3,081 m), Pain de Sucre (3,208 m) and Taillante itself (3,197 m).

How do you get to Lac Foréant?

The shortest approach starts at Col Vieux, a roughly 45-minute walk that families often choose because the gradient stays gentle. A second option climbs from Col Agnel and takes about an hour and a half through open, panoramic terrain. Hikers following the GR58 (Tour du Queyras) from L'Échalp reach neighbouring Lac Égorgeou first, then continue upward to Lac Foréant, which lies higher and ranks among the larger lakes in this part of the massif. The same stretch of trail is shared with the GRP Tour du Pain de Sucre.

What makes this lake stand out?

Lac Foréant is of glacial origin and borders both the Taillante ridge and the Eychassier ridge. With a surface area of around 4.6 hectares, it counts among the largest bodies of water in Queyras, which helps explain its status as one of the more recognisable stops on the Tour du Queyras. Its appearance shifts through the season: as late as the end of June the surface can still carry ice or snow, and it's only the summer warmth that reveals the deep blue water beneath the Taillante cliffs that most photographs show.

The Bouchouse valley — more than a viewpoint

Lac Foréant shares the Bouchouse valley with two other lakes, Baricle and Égorgeou. This corner of Queyras is notable across the whole Alpine arc for an unusual, well-developed community of marsh plants, protected under both national and European law. Naturalists have recorded around sixteen rare or protected species in the valley, including the alpine ptarmigan, the mountain hare, arctic rush, tussock grasses, Rostan's gentian and several sedge species adapted to these wet, high-altitude patches. Visitors are asked to keep to marked paths for this reason.

Who is the hike suited to?

Because several approaches exist, the walk to Lac Foréant works both for families after a short, scenic outing from Col Vieux and for more seasoned walkers folding the lake into the multi-day Tour du Queyras. Those circling the massif on foot — starting, for example, from Ceillac — often treat the quiet Bouchouse valley as a place to recover after the tour's first, more demanding stages.

FAQ

How high up is Lac Foréant? The lake sits at 2,618 metres, in the commune of Abriès-Ristolas in the Hautes-Alpes.

How long does it take to reach the lake? The shortest route, from Col Vieux, takes about 45 minutes. From Col Agnel, allow roughly 1.5 hours.

Is Lac Foréant the same as Lac Égorgeou? No — they are two separate lakes in the same Bouchouse valley. Lac Foréant lies higher and is larger, and the GR58 passes Lac Égorgeou before reaching Lac Foréant.

Can you walk freely around the lake? Given the rare and protected plant and animal species in the area, it's best to stay on the marked paths through the Bouchouse valley.

When is the best time to go? Summer, once snow and ice have cleared from the lake's surface — earlier in the season, such as late June, it can still be partly frozen.