Have you ever been to the 💦 Lac de Montriond ?
Located at 1072m, this 💦 alpine lake – known as the green lake – is nestled under dramatic cliffs.
In ☀️ summertime, you can 🏊♀️ swim and you’ll find 🚣♂️ watersports and other activites, ❄️ winter brings ice-diving, and 🌸 spring & 🍁 autumn are lovely for strolls . . .
💦 Lac de Montriond is the THIRD largest lake in Haute-Savoie . . . so which are the largest ?
1. 💦 Lac Léman – is the largest of these 3 lakes, but 2/3 of the lake is located in Switzerland !
2.💦 Lac d’Annecy – is the second largest of the Haute-Savoie lakes;
Of these 3 Haute-Savoie lakes, 💦 Lac de Montriond has perhaps the most picturesque and pristine setting: located in the Vallée des Aulps, within the ⛰ Geopark Chablais (and not too far from the Pays du Mont-Blanc!), it is nestled under majestic cliff faces, and has calm green waters.
facts and figures:
- surface area: about 33 hectares (or 25,000m2 to 35,000m2), depending on the water level!
- length: 1,3km;
- width: 253m;
- depth: 19m at deepest point!
Geology
Under its calm green waters, 💦 Lac de Montriond hides a tumultuous geological history!
The 💦 lake was formed around 4500 years ago, after a part of the ⛰ Nantaux mountain fell in a landslide; this caused a dam to build up on the river running at the bottom of the valley, and the lake was hence formed, the level rising from springtime melt.
Up until 1990, when major works were carried out, the lake would vary hugely in size from spring to autumn ! Since then, with the more stable conditions, 🚣♂️ watersports have been developed on the lake!
On a walk around the lake, information panels will explain the glacial history of the valley, the dramatic formation of the lake, the 💦Cascade d’Ardent, the history of the extravagant Baron de l’Espée…
Two very different ends of the lake !
The two ends of the lake are very, very different :
🌈 activity end – at one end, you’ll find all the 🚣♂️ watersports activities, 🏖 a beach, a separate small lake for kids, 🛝 a playground, the Parc d’Activités . . .
🌲 Le Bout du Lac – the other end, referred to as the ” bout du lac “, is more serene. You’ll find grassy areas, picnic tables and a restaurant. It is next to the 🌲 forest and is also the starting point for the hike to the 💦 Cascade d’Ardent.
Activities at Lac de Montriond
💦 Lac de Montriond is a huge playground, ON and IN the water, and also OUT OF the water!
As mentioned above, at the 🏖 beach end of the lake is a small swimming lake for younger children (due to open in early July, but due to works this springtime, with slightly restricted access) and you can rent out 🚣♂️ paddle boards, canoes and kayaks (with life-jackets) to take out onto the larger lake!
In the ☀️ summertime, you’ll also find:
- 🐴 pony rides;
- 🚣♂️ canoë-kayak or paddle boards to rent or lessons with the club Canoé Kayak Montriond Hautes Dranses;
- 🎣 fishing – you’ll find rainbow trout, arctic char and more ! You’ll need a licence and you’re required to wait until the spring melt !
- 🌟 NEW since 2020 – Parc Activity Lac de Montriond ! You’ll find here:⛳️ mini-golf, inflatable toys to rent, bubble football! / FB page;
Hiking & Biking
There are various possibilities for 🥾 hiking (some easy and possible with a decent buggy, some with a dénivelé) and 🚵 biking around the lake.
🥾 tour du lac – this is a decent hike (or buggy walk), as it’s 3km around the lake!
💦 Dranse river trail – again, this is possible with a buggy and is fairly flat!
💦 Cascade d’Ardent – the waterfall is a site classé, and the trail there (130m dénivelé) will take you through the pretty hamlet of les Albertans, with its traditional chalets d’alpage, forest and clearings.
A lake for all seasons
💦 Lac de Montriond is stunning across the seasons . . .
🍁 In autumn, the summer masses have departed, and the lake returns to serenity – perfect for a family hike, with the autumn colours reflected in the lake !
And in ❄️ wintertime, you’ll find a white paradise, with a frozen lake and frozen waterfalls.
You’ll find ❄️ winter activities a-plenty :
🎿 ski de fond (cross-country skiing) – 6km across 4 circuits :
- piste verte – the left side (cliff-side) of the lake (shut in the case of avalanches);
- piste rouge – from the Bout du Lac to the hamlet of les Albertans (boucle);
- piste des Albertans à Ardent – one green and one blue boucle;
❄️ plongée sous-glace – this is a unique activity on the lake in wintertime ! Through a hole carved through the deep ice, divers can explore the water under the ice !
Further visits
Montriond village – overlooked by its big brothers Avoriaz and Morzine, this is the small village, with a pretty 15th century church, next to the lake;
⚒ les mines d’ardoise – long before ski tourism took off, slate mining was an important local trade back in the 18th century, with the slate largely being used for tiling. If you look closely at the cliffs above the lake, you might see some holes – the vestiges of the mining (some of these mines reached hundreds of metres into the rockface). There are trails up to the old mines, but just don’t venture inside!
🐐 Les Lindarets – is known as the ” goat village “, as in summertime goats roam freely around this village and you can buy bags of food to give them ( on a trip with his garderie, my then 3 year old was terrified of some of the larger goats; on a recent family trip, then 10 year old, he enjoyed feeding them! );
Eating options
🥗 Hotel du Lac – this hotel & restaurant is located at the 🏖 beach end of the lake. It is beautifully decorated, and known locally for its Sunday roasts !
website & FB page address: Hotel du Lac, 74110, Montriond / tel: +33 6 03 56 85 05
The hotel has a great little map . . .
🥗 Le Verdoyant – next to the lake, this restaurant near the 🏖 beach end of the lake, gets good reviews!
FB page address: Le Verdoyant, route du Lac, 74110, Montriond / tel: +33 4 50 79 21 96
🥗 Auberge du Bout du Lac – at the calmer end of the lake, this restaurant has stunning views !
website & FB page address: Auberge du Bout du Lac, 74110, Montriond / tel: +33 4 50 74 70 98
Mont Blanc Family Fun 