SmaylaRoad & trail journals

On foot · Portes du Soleil, Valais · October 2022

The 4 lakes walk

We were looking for a loop with 1,000 metres of climbing in the Portes du Soleil: found it, in 16 kilometres. The 4 lakes walk, below the Dents du Midi, in late-October colours. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Date
October 2022
Distance
16 km
Elevation gain
1,000 m
The Dents du Midi above the track

The route · indicative

Golden grass

Facing the Dents du Midi

At the end of October, the pastures are golden and the Dents du Midi stand out against a hazy sky. The path runs through tall grass, then along the empty autumn ski slopes.

A first lake appears at the bottom of a valley, then others, small, resting on the plateau. One of them is almost heart-shaped, with the sun reflected in the middle.

Path through golden grass facing the Dents du Midi
The Dents du Midi above the track
Lake at the bottom of the valley
Emmanuelle above a lake
Emmanuelle by the lake
Small lake in the valley
Heart-shaped pond
The sun in the pond

The ridges

Pointe de l'Au and Aiguille des Champeys

Dark reflections in the last lakes, below the ridges of the Pointe de l'Au and the Aiguille des Champeys. A marsh marigold still blooms at the water's edge.

The loop ends with a cross on a summit and a last lake in the evening light. 16 kilometres, 1,000 metres of climbing: beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Reflections in a lake
Grass and lake
Christian facing the Pointe de l'Au
Firs and the Dents du Midi
Marsh marigold in bloom
Emmanuelle facing the ridges
Christian at the cross
Lake in the evening light