The Lac des Confins lies at the head of the valley of the same name, approximately 5km above the centre of La Clusaz, at 1358m altitude. Just above, the combes of the Chaîne des Aravis open out: Bella Cha, Paccaly, Tardevant. You can reach it by car or free shuttle bus, to walk around the lake as a family, picnic by the water, or set off on more serious hikes, as far as the Lac de Tardevant or the Trou de la Mouche.
The lake in practice
- Altitude: 1358m. Natural lake of approximately 5 hectares, with a maximum depth of 6m.
- Access: route des Confins, approximately 5km from the village centre. Free Aravis Bus shuttle, line 1, stop “Lac des Confins” (summer 2026: 20 June to 5 September).
- Parking: Confins car park, free, tolerance parking for up to 24 hours.
- Walk around the lake: 2.5km, 1 hour, 65m elevation gain. Partially suitable for pushchairs, not adapted for wheelchairs.
A lake born from a glacier
The Lac des Confins is a proglacial lake: it formed at the foot of the former glacier of the combe de Bella Cha, which descends from the Aravis just above it. It measures approximately 350m by 240m and contains around 130,000m³ of water.
To the north, the Col des Confins (1425m) overlooks the Bouchet valley, on the commune of Grand-Bornand. To the west rises the mountain of Danay. To the east, the combes of Bella Cha, Grand Crêt, Paccaly and Tardevant climb towards the ridges of the Aravis, which exceed 2400m: Tardevant (2501m), Roche Perfia (2499m), Tête de Paccaly (2467m).
The walk around the lake
The path makes a complete circuit of the lake in 2.5km, with 65m elevation gain: allow a leisurely hour. It departs from the Confins car park or the “Lac des Confins” shuttle stop. It is an earth and grass path, partially suitable for pushchairs, but not adapted for wheelchairs. It offers no shade: in the height of summer, bring a hat and water. A picnic area with four tables is set up by the lake shore.
Around the lake, in summer, children can find pony rides, donkey trekking or walks with llamas, a 6-hole golf course and a 12-hole mini-golf, as well as a goat farm. A restaurant is open year-round by the water.
Hikes departing from the Confins
The Confins are the starting point for several major routes across the Aravis. From the most accessible to the most demanding:
- Tête du Danay (1731m): approximately 6km and just under 400m elevation gain, an easy outing. This can also be done on snowshoes in winter.
- Lac de Tardevant (2110m): 9 to 10km return, approximately 750m elevation gain, 4 to 4.5 hours. Departure from the Arpettaz car park, at the end of the road, or from the Confins car park. To be done from June to September.
- Trou de la Mouche: a natural arch pierced through the ridge, at over 2400m. Approximately 9km and 1050m elevation gain, 5 hours, ascent via Paccaly and descent via Grand Crêt. Very difficult route, with a tricky passage, reserved for experienced hikers, from mid-June to mid-September.
AEC’s tip. For Tardevant or Trou de la Mouche, start early: both routes are long, exposed to the sun, and summer storms often form in the afternoon over the Aravis.
Winter at the Confins
The lake freezes in winter, and the Confins become the Nordic domain of La Clusaz, between 1420m and 1650m: approximately sixty kilometres of trails according to the tourist office, and a link to Le Grand-Bornand via the Bouchet valley, reserved for advanced skiers. There are also three marked snowshoe itineraries, around ten kilometres of footpaths, a free sledge run for children and horse-drawn sleigh rides. The car park remains free and shuttle line 1 serves the Confins during the season.
The frozen lake even hosts ice diving. And each spring since 1987, the Défi Foly sees skiers attempting to cross the thawed lake on skis, in April.
Where to stay
The Lac des Confins is approximately 5km from our chalets and apartments in La Clusaz, and the free shuttle allows you to leave the car at the chalet. To plan the rest of the season, our guide What to do in La Clusaz in summer brings together the Beauregard plateau, the bike park, the Col des Aravis and the major events of the resort.
A circuit around the lake in the early morning, the combes still in shadow, followed by a picnic overlooking the Aravis: this is one of La Clusaz’s finest half-days.
