The Haut-Giffre hides some of the most striking mountain lakes in Haute-Savoie. Perched between ridgelines, often ringed with snowfields well into summer, these high-altitude waters are cold, quiet, and genuinely earned. You won't reach them from a parking lot. You climb, you push, and then you arrive at a lake that still feels like a discovery. From the villages of the Giffre Valley, three lakes in particular draw hikers' attention: Lac de Gers, Lac de la Vogealle, and Lac d'Anterne. Three different characters, three different approaches.
Lac de Gers: the essential lake above Sixt
Set inside the Réserve Naturelle de Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, Lac de Gers requires a solid climb from the valley floor, starting near Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval. The surrounding pastures, dotted with gentians and bilberry bushes in summer, set the tone: this is protected land, less crowded than many comparable sites in the Alps.
The most ambitious hikers continue past the lake to the Refuge de Sales and Tête Pelouse, a demanding loop that racks up serious elevation. The Lac de Gers, Refuge de Sales and Tête Pelouse circuit from Le Fay is one of the great classics of the area: 22 km, over 1,600 m of elevation gain, and a route that spans gorges, open pastures, and high ridgelines. Budget a full day and solid fitness.
Shorter approaches to the lake alone exist through alternate trailheads. Either way, check access conditions in advance: the nature reserve enforces specific rules, including no camping, no dogs, and marked trails only.
Lac de la Vogealle: the harder one from Samoëns
Lac de la Vogealle is arguably the most demanding of the three. Reached from Samoëns via the Lac de la Vogealle par Le Crêt loop, it calls for a full day and real fitness. The circuit covers over 22 km with more than 2,400 m of elevation gain, topping out around 2,350 m.
This is not a walk for beginners. But it is not reserved for experts either. Any fit hiker comfortable with long mountain days can take it on, given an early start, a good forecast, and enough food and water to last. The lake, tucked in a scree-lined cirque, delivers the kind of view that makes you feel genuinely remote.
The ascent via Le Crêt moves through forest and pasture before shifting to more mineral terrain as altitude builds. The descent follows a different line, which gives the loop real coherence and keeps you from retracing your steps.
Lac d'Anterne: a gem in the nature reserve
Lac d'Anterne sits in a distinctive part of the Réserve Naturelle de Sixt-Passy, spanning two valleys. Accessible from Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval as well as from the Arve Valley on the far side, it draws hikers looking for expansive views and a genuine alpine atmosphere without necessarily targeting a summit.
The approach from the Haut-Giffre side involves a sustained climb on well-marked trails in the lower sections, growing wilder as you near the lake. The setting, enclosed by rock faces, more than justifies the effort. On a clear late-summer day, the reflections of the ridgelines in the water are genuinely striking.
As with the rest of the reserve, the rules here are firm: no fires, no camping, no pets. This is a good thing. It keeps the site wild in a way that overcrowded places simply cannot maintain.
What to plan before you go
These three lakes share some practical common ground:
- Weather is the top priority. At elevation, storms can build in hours even when the valley looks clear. Check mountain-specific forecasts for the 1,800 to 2,500 m range.
- Early starts are strongly recommended, especially for the Vogealle and the longer Gers circuit. Leaving the valley by 7:00 AM is sensible in mid-summer.
- Nearby refuges can serve as landmarks or rest stops. Refuge de Sales is a useful concrete option for the Gers area circuits.
- Fitness level matters: plan for a moderate day on the shorter Gers route, and a long, hard day for the Vogealle.
- Reserve rules apply throughout: marked trails only, no litter, no picking plants.
Gear-wise, the summer basics apply: proper hiking boots, a windproof layer, sun protection, and enough food and water for the full day. Late-lying snowfields sometimes persist on approaches well into July. Trekking poles add real stability on those sections.
The Haut-Giffre beyond the lakes
These high-altitude lakes are only one side of the area. The Giffre Valley also offers valley-floor walks, family-friendly circuits, and passes accessible at every level. If you're discovering the region for the first time, spend time getting a feel for its different moods before committing to the harder routes.
These lakes rank among the most authentic destinations in hiking across Haute-Savoie. Not too easy, not reserved for specialists, they deliver what mountains do best: effort matched to a reward you genuinely feel, in a silence that valley life cannot replicate. Go see them for yourself.