Top 4 Lakes around Mont-Dauphin

For families, Eygliers Lake is an excellent choice. It features shallow waters, a supervised beach, and a leisure park, making it safe and enjoyable for young children. There are also picnic tables and two restaurants nearby. Lac de Serre-Ponçon also offers family-friendly amenities, including an aquapark during summer and numerous 'Blue Flag' labeled beaches.

The vast Lac de Serre-Ponçon is a prime destination for water sports enthusiasts. You can enjoy swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, boat rentals, water skiing, and towed buoy activities. Lac d'Eygliers also offers paddleboarding in a calmer setting.

Yes, Lac de Serre-Ponçon holds significant historical value. It is one of the largest artificial lakes in Western Europe, created by the impressive Serre-Ponçon dam built in 1959. The iconic Chapel of Saint-Michel, standing on a small island, is a poignant reminder of the villages submerged during the lake's creation.

While many lakes offer pleasant strolls, for a more dedicated hiking experience, consider the area around Lac du Lauzet. This beautiful alpine lake, located at about 2200m, offers spectacular views and a scenic climb. For general hiking around the region's lakes, you can explore routes like the 'Bridge Over the Guil River' or 'Mont-Dauphin – Panorama of the Guil River' which are part of the hiking guide for Mont-Dauphin.

Absolutely. Eygliers Lake has two restaurants directly on its banks and numerous shaded picnic spots. Lake Peyrol and Lake Pré du Laus are also known for their excellent picnic areas, with Lake Pré du Laus even offering barbecue facilities.

Lake Peyrol is celebrated for its beautiful natural emerald waters and suggestive landscape, offering breathtaking views of the Ecrins mountains. Lake Pré du Laus, nestled among larches, also boasts beautiful emerald green waters. For grand, expansive vistas, the vast Lac de Serre-Ponçon with its clear, often turquoise waters and surrounding mountain landscapes is unparalleled.

The lakes are generally best visited from late spring to early autumn (May to October). During this period, the weather is warm and sunny, ideal for swimming, water sports, and hiking. Lac de Serre-Ponçon, for instance, benefits from exceptional sunshine, with around 300 days a year, making it enjoyable for much of this season.

Yes, fishing is possible at Lac d'Eygliers, which even features a dock accessible for disabled visitors. Lake Peyrol, originally created for artificial snow production, has also become home to many trout, making it another option for anglers.

Visitors frequently highlight the diverse natural beauty, from the emerald waters of mountain lakes like Lake Peyrol and Lake Pré du Laus to the vast, turquoise expanse of Lac de Serre-Ponçon. The family-friendly amenities and supervised swimming at Eygliers Lake are also highly appreciated, as are the numerous opportunities for outdoor activities and peaceful relaxation.

Yes, the region offers various cycling opportunities. For gravel biking, routes like 'Eygliers Lake – Le Guil loop' or 'The Gorges du Guil' are available, which you can find in the gravel biking guide for Mont-Dauphin. Road cyclists can explore routes such as 'Guillestre to Col Agnel' or 'The Gorges du Guil – Col de Vars loop' from the road cycling guide for Mont-Dauphin.

While a bit further from Mont-Dauphin, Lac de Sainte-Croix, located at the base of the Gorges du Verdon, is a stunning 'hidden gem' known for its turquoise waters and preserved natural setting. Another option is Lac de Castillon, the first lake in the Verdon gorges, offering picturesque scenery and various water sports. These are popular regional destinations for those willing to travel a bit further.