Hiking - La boucle des lacs de Palanfrè

A beautiful, partial loop route on well-maintained trails, passing alongside two lakes in the Vallon des Alberghi. Only the traverse between the two lakes involves a short section across a scree slope where there is no apparent trail.

Expect a wide variety of scenery on this loop hike: the lower section features beech forests, while higher up, you'll find pastures. You will also come across two magnificent lakes, one of which lies at the foot of the unique Mont Frisson.

From the Palanfrè car park (1352 m), follow the small paved road downhill from the hamlet. The road becomes a dirt track and, when it turns right, continue straight ahead (south) on a mule track that crosses a few streams, reaches Gias Piamian (1432 m, 25 min from Palanfrè, fountain) and becomes a trail.
When you reach a fork, ignore the old trail that continues straight ahead (risk of rockfall) and take the left branch that crosses the dry stream bed.
The trail climbs for a good while in a series of switchbacks through the beech forest, then descends to cross the dry stream bed once more and rejoin the trail you left earlier.
Continue to the left until you reach a fork: turn right towards Lacs du Frisson (you will take the left branch on your return journey) to arrive at a grassy rise where Gias Vilazzo is located (1823 m, 1h 20min from Gias Piamian, fountain).
Turning right (south-west), climb a steep slope through the meadows, then traverse to the left across grass and small rocks to the lower Lac du Frisson (2054 m, 45 min from Gias Vilazzo).
A marked trail crosses the lake's outlet stream and continues eastwards. A series of ascents and descents takes you around the rocky ridge separating the Lacs du Frisson from Lac des Alberghi. After reaching an altitude of about 2085 m, descend through scree, then follow a trail among glacially smoothed rocks down to Lac des Alberghi (2039 m, 25 min from the lower Lac du Frisson).
After crossing the outlet stream, follow a trail to the left which almost immediately joins the wider trail coming from Col de Ciotto Mien.
You slowly lose altitude through meadows, then descend more steeply via several switchbacks in a small pine wood, until you are near Lac Vilazzo. After crossing the outlet streams from the two lakes, which join together here, the trail returns close to Lac Vilazzo, then turns right and descends alongside the stream. After a fountain, you will return to the fork you encountered on the way up. Bear right and retrace your outward journey to return to Palanfrè (1352 m, 1h 40min from Lac des Alberghi).