Lac de Belledonne (by the Chazeau hut) – Hiking

This tour takes you to Lac Belledonne, one of the must-do hikes in the Eau d'Olle valley. The atmosphere is wild and the scenery magnificent: you'll have a wonderful panoramic view of the Belledonne chain (Croix de Belledonne, Les Sept Laux), the Grandes Rousses massif and the Rissiou massif.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Start: Coteyssart parking lot above Allemond.
Ascent: 916 m
Duration: 3h15 (one way)
Distance: 5.3 km
Level: Difficult

MAP AND TOPO :
Carte IGN TOP 25 n°3335 ET - Bourg d'Oisans, Alpe d'Huez
OBP map no. 2 (Oisans au Bout des Pieds): trails 201, 202 and 209

ROUTE :
From Allemond, head towards l'Eglise, then the route de la Traverse to the Coteyssard parking lot.
Take the path that rises above the road and heads north. It crosses the Ruisseau de Coteyssard and continues through the forest of the same name to reach the Cabane de Chazeau. This hut is home to transhumant shepherds during the summer. From the hut, the trail crosses alpine pastures and blueberries and climbs to the Pas du Bessey via a moraine.
The path then descends slightly, crossing a scree slope below the Grand Charnier.
Arrive at an intersection near the 2016m mark.
Turn left to the west, passing 2 small lakes and a waterfall descending from Lac de Belledonne.
After a few hairpin bends, climb to the ridge above which Lac de Belledonne lies hidden.

Forest atmosphere at the start of the hike, before arriving on a balcony path from the Chazeau hut and finishing in a more mineral atmosphere.

WHAT TO SEE ALONG THE WAY :
Chamois can sometimes be seen, as they are particularly fond of this area in summer.
- Chazeau forest hut with rhododendrons and blueberry bushes in abundance.
- Pas du Bessay at 2000 m altitude
- Belledonne lake nestled on a rocky plateau