There are hikes that you discover by chance and that, without really knowing why, stick in your heart. That’s exactly what happened to me with the Lac des Millefonts, in the Mercantour Park. I found it by chance, in November 2022, while looking for a ‘more or less easy’ hike on Visorando. I was simply craving fresh air and nature, and what’s more, I’d turned up in Stan Smiths haha! Anyway, since that day, I’ve been back twice, so much so that this place has made such an impression on me. It’s now one of my TOP hikes in the Parc du Mercantour.
The starting point
The route starts from a free car park a dozen kilometres above Valdeblore, on a mountain road lined with pine and larch trees. Just the drive up the mountain prepares you for the adventure: the landscapes become wilder and wilder, the air fresher and the light clearer.
A walk for everyone
The walk is accessible to all regular walkers. Nothing extreme, but enough to give you a change of scenery. The path is well signposted, and the reward at the top is worth every step.
My advice: set off early in the morning to enjoy the silence and the best light. And of course, remember to bring your rubbish, even biodegradable rubbish. The site has remained unspoilt, and that’s what makes it so charming.
The 5 Millefont lakes
There isn’t just one lake, but several, nestling one above the other. I like to sit there, without talking, just listening to the wind and watching the light change on the water. It’s a place that invites calm, contemplation, almost meditation. The moment when the Lac des Millefonts appears, after the last climb, remains engraved in my memory. The deep blue water, the mountains reflected in it, the total silence… everything is perfect.
Some practical information
- Departure altitude: 2,035 metres
- High point (Col du Barn / surrounding lakes): 2,450 metres
- Lac des Millefonts and Col du Barn loop: around 7.5km and around 416 metres of ascent for a round trip of 3 hours 20 minutes
- Difficulty level: the hike is considered easy if you only reach the lakes and medium if you go as far as the Col du Barn or Mont Pépoiri
Why I love it
Because this hike represents everything I love about the South: the light, the nature, the authenticity. Lac des Millefonts isn’t exuberant, but it’s deeply moving.
Every time I go back there, I have that same feeling: of being exactly where I need to be, surrounded by beauty, silence and serenity.
When I reach the summit, I always shed a tear at such a sight and thank myself for the effort I’ve made to get here.
It’s up to you now!
