Lake Taney

Lac de Tanay (also spelled Lac de Taney, known in English as Lake Taney) is a small mountain lake above the village of Miex, in the municipality of Vouvry, canton of Valais, Switzerland. It sits at roughly 1,410 m above sea level on the slopes overlooking the Rhône valley, in the Chablais region close to the French border.

What is Lac de Tanay like?

This is a quiet alpine lake ringed by meadows and conifer forest. The Swiss federal landscape inventory lists the site as a landscape of national importance, and Valais tourism notes that the lake and its surroundings have been a protected nature reserve for more than fifty years. There are no lakeside hotels or amusement facilities, so the setting stays calm and natural.

How do you get to Lac de Tanay?

The route runs from Vouvry through the hamlet of Miex and over the Col de Tanay. The road to Miex is narrow with limited parking, so Valais tourism recommends leaving your car in Vouvry and taking the bus up. The last stretch is on foot. The walk from the Flon area via Miex and Tanay covers about 2.7 km with around 380 m of climbing and is graded easy. Most hikers need about an hour to go up and a little less to come down.

What can you do here?

• Walk around the lake. A full circuit takes about 45 minutes.
• Swim. Swimming is possible, but the water rarely warms above 15 degrees Celsius in summer.
• Continue into the mountains. A demanding hike to Le Grammont starts from Tanay: about 12.6 km, roughly 1,000 to 1,150 m of ascent and around seven hours return.
• Long-distance routes. The lake lies on stage 39 of the Chemin des cols alpins, which continues to the Col de la Croix (1,757 m) and on to Saint-Gingolph.

When should you visit?

Late spring, summer and early autumn are best, when trails are clear of snow. In summer, start early to avoid pressure on the bus and the narrow road. In winter the area is under snow and the approach needs proper equipment.

Frequently asked questions

Are Lac de Tanay and Lake Taney the same lake? Yes. It is a single lake in Valais. The French spelling Tanay is used locally, while English and geographic sources often write Taney.

Can I drive to the lake? You can drive only as far as Miex. The road is narrow and parking is scarce, so it is better to leave the car in Vouvry. The final section is on foot.

Can you swim in the lake? Yes, but the water is cold and stays at or below about 15 degrees in summer.

How long does a walk around the lake take? About 45 minutes at an easy pace. Reaching the lake from Miex takes around an hour.