Belle Combe lakes, from the Joux car park

Introduction

This route leads to two beautiful lakes set in an enchanting valley. In the first part of the hike, you pass the three Rutor waterfalls (diversions recommended), while in the final part you proceed through a green valley.

Description

Before the car park of the restaurant-bar (1603 m), on the left, the trail starts, markers (3) and (8 ), to be followed. Proceed for a short distance along the stream and cross over a beautiful bridge to the opposite bank. In the middle of the forest, climb up to the panoramic balcony on the first Rutor waterfall (1700m, 0h15'). Continue along twists and turns in the forest, passing a characteristic boulder and coming out at Parcet. Now proceed on a gentler ascent, passing by another waterfall and reaching a bucolic plateau near the stream, close to a bridge. Continue uphill on the path, which is paved in places, until the short diversions, to the right, to the second waterfall. Continue uphill and in a few minutes you will reach the next turnoff for the third waterfall, which can be reached in 3-4 minutes (1996m, 1h10'). When visiting this waterfall, pay particular attention to the very slippery terrain because it is constantly splashed with water.
You continue on the path, climbing up a stepped section to the fork, on the left, for the Deffeyes hut. Go right, marker , to cross the Rutor torrent on a bridge (2147m, 1h40') just near some waterfalls. Go up a stream to the junction for Cerellaz, marker , and continue left up the little valley to the entrance of the Belle Combe valley. The path now continues on a grassy ridge, passes a ruin, and overlooks the basin of the first Belle Combe lake. Proceeding to the right (orographic left) along the lake, it is also easy to reach the second Belle Comba lake (2379m, 2h50'), in the middle of which stands a strange, sharp islet.
The descent follows the same route: down to the bridge over Rutor (2147m, 0h55'), then to the third waterfall (1996m, 1h20') and to the car park (1603m, 2h20').