The Champ la Chèvre campsite is nestled in the heart of the mountains, on the border between Drôme and Hautes-Alpes. In other words, it is a prime destination for hiking enthusiasts. During our stay, we had the opportunity to explore the marked trails that run around the campsite. However, the most beautiful hike will remain the one recommended to us by Cécile and Vincent, the campsite owners: the Lauzon Lake hike.
At the southern end of the Vercors Regional Park, on the heights of the Vallon de la Jarjatte, this lake is small in size, but that doesn’t detract from its interest. Nestled among the mountains, it is the only lake in this part of the Alps. “With a bit of luck, you might spot a chamois or an eagle,” Cécile told us. So, armed with our binoculars, we set off on this beautiful hike.
The starting point is in the Vallon de la Jarjatte, just 6 km from the campsite. On the advice of Cécile and Vincent, we park in the parking lot at the bottom of the valley, where the asphalt road ends. Then it’s off for a 4-hour 45-minute hike. Don’t forget your hiking boots: some of the slopes on the ascent are quite rough, especially on the last kilometer. After all, we’re going from 1,200 meters to 2,000 meters. Lac du Lauzon is definitely worth the effort! Once there, however, you won’t regret your efforts: the panorama is sumptuous, with beautiful views of the highest point in the Drôme, Rocher-Rond (2543 metres), and Grand Ferrand in the Hautes-Alpes (2758 metres). We weren’t lied to: these landscapes are magical. The grassy areas around the lake contrast with the minerality of the peaks, reminiscent of the Dolomites. We’re glad we brought our binoculars, because on the way up we actually saw a golden eagle and a few vultures. The latter were reintroduced to the region several years ago. The ones we saw were griffon vultures, although the region is home to all 4 species of European vulture: griffon, sparrow, Egyptian vulture and bearded vulture. The waters of the lake are also home to alpine fauna, with alpine newts, but we didn’t see any.
The area around the lake is ideal for a short break, or even a picnic. The second part of the hike follows part of the GR93 to the Col des Aurias, before descending to the parking lot in the Vallon de la Jarjatte.
For those wishing to explore Lac du Lauzon from the Champ la Chèvre campsite, the itinerary is available on the Internet ( https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-le-lac-du-lauzon/ ). You can also ask Cécile and Vincent at the campsite for more information about this wonderful hike. They’ll be delighted to help.
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