Nature is everywhere in Serre-Ponçon and offers up simply spectacular snapshots in each location.High-altitude lakes, dizzying waterfalls and unusual discoveries will delight your camera and fill your Instagram page … A short tour of the unmissable natural sites to photograph from all angles !
1. The hanging oak of Bois Vieux
Near the dam, not far from the Bois Vieux beach, there is a small, isolated and wild cove. It can be accessed only from the water – by boat, canoe or paddleboard … Well known to locals, we had to go through some tough negotiations before obtaining their permission to include it on our list. As such, we cannot give any further information about its location – instead, why not set off on your own little adventure to discover it? One clue, however, is a characteristic oak tree suspended above the turquoise waters which marks the entrance to the cove .[(..
2. Lake St Apollinaire
This small natural lake, nestled amid lush greenery, is the ideal spot for family walks and picnics. It is also a favourite spot for fly fishing … You can reach it directly by car in summer, though in winter you’ll need to don your snowshoes to enjoy its breath-taking views of the Pic du Morgon.
3. Lake Siguret
This is a cousin of Lake St Apollinaire. This natural lake of glacial origin is just as easy to access, though this time presents a wide-ranging panorama of the Écrins massif and the peaks overlooking Embrun and the Durance galley, from Mont Guillaume to the Tête de l’Hivernet.
4. The Aiguilles de Chabrières
A truly incomparable mountain within the region. From the top of their 2,403 metres of altitude, the Aiguilles de Chabrières overlook Lake Serre-Ponçon and the Réallon ski resort. With their appearance reminiscent of the Dolomites, they offer a high-mountain landscape within easy reach. Skiing at the foot of these peaks in winter is a sight to behold … In summer, Réallon’s panoramic chairlifts allow you to reach them quickly and set off towards the Brèche de Chabrières, skirting around the Aiguilles to discover the Oucanes (limestone crevasses) on the opposite slope …
5. The Pisse waterfall
The most beautiful and majestic of the waterfalls surrounding Lake Serre-Ponçon. At the entrance to the Écrins National Park, in the Rabioux valley in Châteauroux-les-Alpes, the Distroit torrent descends immense cliffs in a more than 100-metre drop. And all this within 30 minutes of the car park. Ideal for an easy and family-friendly walk in the heart of this wild and unspoilt nature.
6. The riverine forest of Liou
The Liou wetland, at the northern end of Lake Serre-Ponçon, is home to a rich and varied fauna. Its pedestrian route, upon stilts, allows you to immerse yourself in the heart of this alpine mangrove and observe wildlife and aquatic life up close.
7. The Fairies’ Trail
A poetic interlude in the heart of the mountain. The path leading to the Razis waterfall, in the Crévoux valley, offers around twenty works of art to be discovered in the middle of nature. The icing on the cake: you can even spend the night under the stars in a shepherd’s hut, restored and converted into a work of art …
This easy walk of about two hours takes the form of a loop, sure to awaken the child inside you as you marvel at each discovery.
8. La marmite des Géants
The hamlet of Les Gourniers in Réallon is one of those valley bottoms that feels like reaching the end of the world, where time seems to stand still … Here you are, at the entrance to the Écrins National Park. From the car park, an educational trail will lead you on an exploration of the area for around 30 minutes. This walk offers up the opportunity to marvel at the power of water, having eroded the rock for thousands of years – so much so that it has created bubbling potholes of white water. This phenomenon can be found everywhere in the various valleys of the Écrins massif.
Before the pothole, take a quick detour to the Pissarotte waterfall which flows over beautiful slabs of coloured rocks …
9. The Parpaillon tunnel
This astonishing tunnel, perched at an altitude of over 2,600 m, is one of the region’s most remarkable curiosities. Nearly 500 m long, you’ll cross it in an all-terrain vehicle, by bike or on foot. By mountain bike or on foot, a reflective vest and a headlamp will be essential for this unusual experience. Dating back to the end of the 1800s, the construction is fairly basic, as you walk along the exposed stones of the bowels of the mountain, with only the light of your own lamp to guide you. As its entrance is not cleared of snow, it is rarely accessible before mid-July, and you will find patches of ice and stalactites along the walls late into the season. Welcome to another world …
10. Admire the sunset over the lake
There are no specific recommendations for this last choice on our list. This is a great classic of Serre-Ponçon and each local in the region will have their own favourite place in which to enjoy these magical moments. It’s up to you to discover yours … A few tips before setting off on an adventure: locate the various viewpoints on the maps of the sector and opt for the left bank of the lake, from Embrun to Sauze du Lac, to watch the sky set ablaze towards the west. If a few clouds linger in the sky, the colours will be all the more intense!
