Port St-Pierre

Key facts

Distance: 4.6 km
Ascent: +271 m
Descent: −254 m
Estimated time: 1 hr 35; hiking
Difficulty: Easy; official rating
Route: Out and back; same way back

Profile and gradient

under 10%
10 to 20%
over 20%

Surface and path types

Surface: Paved 26%
Dirt & gravel 74%
Path types: Trail 74%
Track 4%
Road 22%

Description

With the azure blue of the lake as your guide, hug the water's edge to reach the lakeside beach of Port Saint-Pierre. A dramatic start, with a sweeping view over the Serre-Ponçon dam and its surrounding mountains. An indispensable ride along the Chemin des Amoureux before dropping down to Port St-Pierre. You reach this site by following the lake shore, first through an open section and then through forest. From the car park on the road leading to the belvedere, take the road on the left which runs into the village. - At the water fountain, take the road on the right. Go down the Chemin des Amoureux and then head left downhill to the Pied de Vière wash house. At the bottom, take the path on the right leading towards the beach ("Plage de Port St-Pierre"). - At the next intersection, where you come to some narrow wooden steps, go straight ahead (to the left of the wooden table). - Carry on downhill and when you come to an intersection in the tracks, turn right to the Port Saint Pierre recreation area.

Difficulty

Official rating: easy, by Parc national des Écrins.

Getting there

Start: Belvédère, Le Sauze-du -Lac, Le Sauze-du-Lac (05).

Sources

Track: Parc national des Écrins, Licence Ouverte 2.0, Licence Ouverte 2.0 (Etalab) (destination.ecrins-parcnational.fr/trek/974117-Port-St-Pierre). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
Surface and path types: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL, extract of 28 October 2026, matched to the track every 10 m (openstreetmap.org/copyright)
Official elevation gain: 271 m, Parc national des Écrins