04 - Lacs Noirs, Lac Cornu

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© GEOPORTAIL

At the ticket office, take a one-way ticket to Flégère + Index and a return to Planpraz.

Take the Flégère cable car and the Index chairlift (2,385 m).

Upon arrival of the Index chairlift, the trail descends to the left and heads towards the Col de Glière, take this direction. The trail runs along L’Épaule de La Glière du Col de Fouet (2340 m) below the Index top station right up to the col de La Glière (2,461 m). The trail is little used because the “classic” route and one generally described for the lakes, leaves from the middle station of Planpraz.

The trail runs among rubble stones, surrounded by a rocky landscape, with almost nonexistent vegetation, which gives one an impression of being in high mountains. A good climb before reaching the Col de la Glière (2,461 m, Cairn), where snowfields often remain.

At the Col de la Glière, the trail to the Lacs Noirs is on the right (yellow marking on the rocks).

You can picnic preferably by the Lacs Noirs (two lakes: Upper Lac Noir and Lower Lac Noir) from where the view is superb. Moreover, by their altitude and their situation, the lakes can remain snowy part of the summer, which adds to the high mountain atmosphere. The view stretches far on the other side, especially on the rock barrier of the Fiz.

Come back on your steps to the Col de la Glière then turn to the right and continue on the path to the Col du Lac Cornu (2,414 m, Cairn). You will see the lake below (2,286 m).

Stay on the path towards Planpraz (1,998 m) (Leave on your left the path going down to Charlanon). The view of the Mont-Blanc chaine becomes more conventional but still beautiful.

Take the Planpraz gondola that takes you back to the Brévent parking lot in Chamonix. A bus runs from Chamonix Centre to Les Praz-Flégère in July/ August.

For those who wish to join the cable car top station of La Flégère from Planpraz, add two hours by taking the Planpraz Flégère crossing by the Grand Balcon Sud (see hike # 1). It then reaches the cable car to La Flégère in Les Praz from where one left in the morning. In this case, take a return ticket to La Flégère.

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