Lake Lolair Natural Reserve

As you reach the small lake of Lolair, at the entrance of Valgrisenche, in the municipality of Arvier, you are immersed in a Natural Reserve of great naturalistic worth. The lake, fed by three springs, is surrounded by an extended bed of reeds, the characteristic “roches moutonnées” and rounded and polished mounds of glacial origin. The rich and unexpected landscape immediately surprises the visitor, as it is characterized by the contrast of its arid slope, lake areas and thick woods. The great variety of environments confers the area with a very rich and diversified vegetation: from the many floating species which inhabit the lake, to the hygrophilous ones along its banks, to the Potentilla pensylvanica, one of the rarest plants in the Valle d’Aosta.

Activites

  • Hiking

    All itineraries are described in the TRAILS section.

  • Mountain biking

    Lake Lolair is a favourite destination for mountain bikers who can ride until the reserve’s entrance, then leave their bike and continue on foot towards the lake. For more expert bikers, there is a circuit which links La Ravoire to Planaval, crossing Baise-Pierre and Baulin.

  • Horseback riding

    The reserve can also be reached on horseback, using the dirt road which connects the site to La Ravoire; the continuation of the site’s visit must rigourously be done on foot. Expert riders can continue on the trail until Baise-Pierre and then reach Planaval.

Discover the site

The site is open all year round, but the best seasons are spring and autumn for their mild climate and their splendid colours. Because the site is very contained, it is recommended to visit it in small groups which can discover all the naturalistic specificities while following the marked trails. For bikers and riders who wish to visit the site, it is compulsory that they leave their bike or horse in the indicated areas bordering the protected site, and continue on foot.


Behavioural conduct rules

We remind you that you can contribute to the preservation of these sites by following these simple rules:

visit the natural reserve on foot, avoid using motorized vehicles, boating equipment, hang-gliders, para-gliders or similar; mountain bikes and horseback riding are permitted only in specific authorized areas (external to the site): please respect hikers;

please stay within the marked trails, as trampling can ruin the fragile grass and undergrowth areas;

osserva da lontano gli animali selvaticiplease observe wild animals from a distance, do not capture them, do not disturb them nor feed them, and do not photograph occupied nests;

keep your dog on a leash and on the marked trails;

do not pick minerals or flowers;

do not make fires;

please bring your garbage, where you will find many recyclable waste-collection points.

How to get there

The site is well linked to the main road network. Excursions depart from two different accesses: the fraction of Baise-Pierre and that of La Ravoire. A suggestion for school groups: since large buses cannot reach the parking areas in the vicinity of the above starting points, it is recommended to leave the buses in the village of Planaval and continue on foot for 5 km along the path for Baise-Pierre.

Accessibility codification of sites

VIVA has chosen to supply everyone – youngsters, adults, the elderly and the disabled – with all the sites’ information so as to allow the visitor to choose a destination in an autonomous way.
An “Accessibility Codification”has thus been defined.


Lake Lolair Natural Reserve

Information to reach the site 0
Accessibility from main roads 2
Parking for the disabled 2
Accessible restrooms 0
Information panels 2
Slopes (max 8%) 0
Trail width (min 90cm) 0
Road surface 0
Resting areas approx every 10 m 0
Safety and protection of trails 1
Periodic maintenance 2

GENERAL INDICATIONS – ASSESSMENT VALUES (0 ÷ 3):
0 corresponds to ABSENCE of the indicated parameter;
3 corresponds to the PRESENCE of the indicated parameter, in optimal condition;
1 – 2 are INTERMEDIATE VALUES: in general, they indicate the presence of the parameter which must however be improved (1 = sufficient, 2 = close to optimal)

Paths

More paths :

VIVA suggests:

Short path

Lac de Lolair

  • Elevation gain : 400m circa
  • Travel time: 1h30
  • Signposting: 3-20

What to see:

Period:

Easy trails: routes that present no major technical difficulties or too challenging slopes. They can be covered in full or in small sections, allowing in both cases to come into contact with unspoilt nature, discovering its pace and balance …

Medium difficult trails: routes that can be covered in a day, varying considerably in terms of height differences and technical difficulty; the benefit is in being able to reach wildlife destinations of great impact.

Long trails: excursions lasting several days which provide for stopover places and catering along the route.

cartina Lake Lolair Natural Reserve

SIC SIC IT1203020

Municipality: Arvier

Surface: 27,7 ha

Altitude: 1.180 ÷ 1.500 m s.l.m.

Responsible forest station:
Arvier

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