Lac Blanc, Glacial lake in Huez, France
Lac Blanc is a glacial lake sitting at roughly 2,525 feet (770 m) above sea level in the Grandes Rousses massif, on the territory of Huez in the Isère department. It has an elongated shape and is surrounded by bare rock faces and open mountain terrain.
The lake was formed thousands of years ago when glaciers carved out the rock beneath them, leaving a natural hollow that slowly filled with meltwater. The rock formations visible around the shore today are a direct trace of that slow movement of ice.
The name of the lake does not come from the water itself, but from the Pic Blanc, a pale rocky summit just to the northeast whose light-colored stone is visible from the valley below. In summer, walkers come here to sit by the water, eat a packed lunch, and watch the changing light on the surrounding peaks.
The starting point for the walk up to the lake is in Alpe d'Huez, following a trail that passes by the Lac Besson parking area. The path is well marked, but the terrain is at high altitude, so sturdy shoes and an extra warm layer are worth bringing.
Although the lake looks bare at first glance, the water is home to three types of trout: the brown trout, the rainbow trout, and the brook trout. Their presence at this altitude is unusual, given that the water stays very cold throughout the year.
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