Lovitel lake and the Clots refuge
Lac du Lovitel
Lac du Lovitel - Thierry Maillet - PNE
Mizoën

Lovitel lake and the Clots refuge

Flora
Geology
Lake and glacier
Embed this item to access it offline

A peaceful walk up to the small Lovitel lake and the Clots refuge on a lovely elevated footpath overhanging Chambon lake and Romanche.

"On a hard Autumn day, I hike towards Lovitel lake. The rain accompanies me. The small lake nestling in the curves of the lower mountain shelf seems to be sleeping. It is calm, magnificent and full of promise: in the summer months, you can see the Purple Loosestrife flowering here, you can hear the Common Midwife Toad "singing", you can see the Meije looming in the distance... Without a doubt : I have to come back !"

S. Durix, Park Ranger in Oisans 


Description

From Aymes car park, continue along the track that changes little by little in to a footpath. A lovely crossing, elevated occasionally, on the shale slopes overhanging Chambon lake enabling you to easily reach Lovitel lake via a gentle hill. On the ledge, there is a 1st trail discovery signpost turn either left (faster) or right towards the lake (discovery trail) to reach Clots hamlet. The refuge that you will find here provides an agreeable place for a rest to regain your strength. before descending using the same itinerary.

  • Departure : Mizoën
  • Towns crossed : Mizoën

5 points of interest

  • Alyte accoucheur
    Alyte accoucheur - Marc Corail - PNE
    Fauna

    Common Midwife Toad

    In Spring, a short note emitted at regular intervals resonates around the lake. It is the mating season for this small terrestrial grey toad, mottled with black and brown; it is the male toad’s song to attract the females. A peculiarity of this anuran is that the male uses his back legs to surround the string of ova laid by the female to fertilize them with a jet of semen mixed with urine. In this way he watches over the eggs for several weeks. When they are on the point of hatching, he goes to the water and frees the young frogspawn.

  • Salicaire
    Salicaire - PNE
    Flora

    Purple Loosestrife

    During the whole summer, the Purple Loosestrife, with its beautiful purple spikes, sprinkles the small Lovitel lake with colour. Considered to be a weed to be destroyed, it does however hold a position among the most useful plants (plants with medicinal properties). Its astringent properties, among others, deem it to be a good remedy against colic in infants when teething. In the kitchen, its young shoots and the flesh of its stalks used to be consumed as a vegetable. The leaves could also be infused like tea.

  • Le sentier de découverte des Clots, Mizoën
    Le sentier de découverte des Clots, Mizoën - Cyril Coursier - PNE
    Lake

    Lovitel Lake

    In addition to being one of the rare wetlands at altitude on the highest part of the Romanche, Lovitel Lake unusually partially dries out during the summer and turns in to a marsh.  In this way it becomes ideal for the development of amphibians who benefit from the absence of fish, their predators. Furthermore, the ecological quality of the environment is remarkable... Several species of great natural value are present at this site, notably the Adder’s Tongue Fern and the Small Meadow Rue, both protected regionally.

  • Sur le sentier du refuge des Clots surplombant le lac Chambon
    Sur le sentier du refuge des Clots surplombant le lac Chambon - Daniel Roche - PNE
    Lake

    Chambon Lake

    Chambon Lake is, like the one at Serre-Ponçon, an artificial lake created by the establishment of the dam. In April 1935, after six years of work, the site was first launched, progressively swallowing up the ancient villages of Chambon, Dauphin and Parizet. It was at this time the highest dam in Europe. A chapel was built near the dam in memory of the thirty workmen who lost their lives during its construction.

  • Les Clots, la fontaine pétrifiante
    Les Clots, la fontaine pétrifiante - Gérald Lucas
    Geology and geography

    Petrifying Fountain

    The water that crosses the Emparis plateau which is composed of permeable sedimentary rock, fills up with Calcium bicarbonate. When, lower down, it comes in to contact with the impermeable crystalline rock layer of the Hercynien granitic base, the water follows a fault plane established between two layers and finishes in an aerial waterfall. The dissolved carbonates are transformed into a soft rock called Tuff by their contact with the air which has accumulated there for millennium. This resurgence, or petrifying fountain, is one of the most beautiful in France.


Forecast


Altimetric profile


Sensitive areas

Along your trek, you will go through sensitive areas related to the presence of a specific species or environment. In these areas, an appropriate behaviour allows to contribute to their preservation. For detailed information, specific forms are accessible for each area.

Short-toed snake eagle

Impacted practices:
Aerial,
Sensitivity periods:
MarAprMayJunJulAugSep
Contact:
Parc National des Écrins
Julien Charron
julien.charron@ecrins-parcnational.fr

Recommandations

Elevated footpath, sometimes very high up, keep a close eye on children. Footpath totally inadvisable in the winter ! 


Information desks

Oisans Park house

Rue Gambetta, 38520 Le Bourg d'Oisans

http://www.ecrins-parcnational.fr/oisans@ecrins-parcnational.fr04 76 80 00 51


Video presentation of the natural resources of the Oisans mountain and its crafts. Information, documentation about the Park, projections, reading space for children. Accessible to people with reduced mobility. Free admission. All animations of the Park are free unless otherwise stated.

Find out more

Access and parking

From Bourg-d’Oisans, take the N91 towards Lautaret mountain pass. After the Chambon dam, turn left towards Mizoën, then right towards Singuigneret. After the tunnels, turn right until Aymes hamlet.


More information


Source

Parc national des Ecrinshttps://www.ecrins-parcnational.fr

Report a problem or an error

If you have found an error on this page or if you have noticed any problems during your hike, please report them to us here:


Trail news

  • Mobilité, bivouac et sentiers au menu de la journée Destination

    12/3/2024 - Depuis deux ans, le Parc national et les offices de tourisme des Écrins déploient un projet de destination écotouristique dans le massif. À l’occasion de la présentation officielle de la Destination parc national des Écrins, une journée d’échanges et de travail a été organisée le 29 novembre au Monêtier-les-Bains. Parmi les sujets abordés, les filières touristiques face au changement climatique dans le massif, la mobilité touristique, la gestion du bivouac et l’information sur l’état des sentiers et des accès au parc.

  • Automne et randonnée dans les Écrins

    10/8/2024 - Avec une végétation colorée et une lumière douce, l’automne est une saison de choix en montagne et certains randonneurs sont tentés de poursuivre leurs sorties dans le massif jusqu’à l’arrivée de la neige. Attention cependant à bien vous renseigner en amont : comme chaque automne, les passerelles enjambant les torrents sont en cours de démontage et les intempéries peuvent endommager les sentiers.

  • Concours photo sur le GR54 : les gagnants !

    10/7/2024 - Après quelques hésitations et pourparlers, le jury s’est décidé et a désigné les gagnants du concours photo organisé pour les 60 ans du GR54. Nous vous laissons découvrir ci-dessous les photos lauréates des deux catégories : « la plus belle photo » et « la photo insolite ». Merci à tous pour votre participation et bravo aux gagnants !

  • Le GR54 a fêté ses 60 ans

    10/7/2024 - En 1964, une poignée de passionnés de montagne créaient le GR du Tour de l’Oisans et des Écrins, plus connu sous le nom de GR54. 60 ans plus tard, les acteurs participant à son entretien et sa gestion, ainsi que plusieurs hébergeurs sur le GR, se sont donnés rendez-vous le 27 septembre dernier pour fêter cet anniversaire à Besse-en-Oisans.

  • Des dégâts sur les sentiers suite à la tempête Aitor

    9/30/2024 - Les reconnaissances menées vendredi 27 septembre 2024 ont révélé des dégâts sur les sentiers dans certaines vallées du massif des Écrins. Ils portent essentiellement sur des passerelles de franchissement de torrents. Les randonneurs sont appelés à la vigilance pour le week-end et au cours de la semaine du 30 septembre.