Explore Lake Serre-Ponçon with your dog
Lake Serre-Ponçon is a magnificent lake on the border between the Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence departments. Looking for a beach, a hike, or an activity to share with your dog around Lake Serre-Ponçon? Find all the information in this article!
I'd been wanting to see Lake Serre-Ponçon with my dog for a very long time, and I must say it was well worth the effort. Its turquoise waters , fed by the Durance River and surrounded by the Pre-Alps, offer a picture-perfect setting . Straddling the Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence departments, its many unspoiled shores allow you to enjoy it with your dog.
The unique feature of this lake in the low mountains – incidentally, the largest reservoir in Europe – is that the accessible beaches and coves are interspersed with steep, impassable cliffs. So I had a real struggle finding pleasant beaches to enjoy with Musher , as the supervised beaches don't allow dogs!
In this article, I'll share the best beaches for enjoying the water with your dog, water sports activities to do together, hiking ideas to get some altitude, and places to visit around Lake Serre-Ponçon . Everything you need to plan a fun-filled stay with your furry friend!
Summary
Practical Memo
Where can I stay around Lake Serre-Ponçon with my dog? Here are some QUALIDOG-certified accommodations ideally located to easily enjoy the lake with your dog:
Didn't find what you were looking for in our selection? Here are a few websites where you can find dog-friendly accommodations. They are not QUALIDOG-certified partners, so I don't know their standards of hospitality.
- The shores of Lake Serre-Ponçon are steep, so be sure to keep your dog on a leash or prevent it from approaching the edge. Furthermore, the beaches and coves are made up of rock with sharp, pointed edges (not sharp, but thin) protruding from the ground. Be careful where your dog walks to avoid injury.
- If you wish to explore the lake by paddleboard, canoe, or even rowboat, don't forget the your dog's life jacketEven if he knows how to swim, it's a safety measure that shouldn't be overlooked!
- Want to explore the heights of Serre-Ponçon with your dog? Between alpine panoramas and breaks by the water, discover our complete hiking guideFind my tips and the right reflexes to adopt for successful walks on sometimes stony paths.
Dog-friendly beaches around Serre-Ponçon lake
Finding a dog-friendly beach at Lake Serre-Ponçon isn't easy. In fact, dogs are prohibited on all nine public, supervised beaches, especially those awarded the Blue Flag label. This label is good news for biodiversity but prohibits dogs on the beach in order to protect it.
Fortunately, our dogs can enjoy the unsupervised beaches and coves accessible via footpaths around the lake. Aside from the beaches, the tourist office doesn't specify that dogs must be leashed, but signs may require it. Generally speaking, I recommend keeping an eye on your furry friend so they don't bother anyone.
💦 Here are several dog-friendly beaches on the shores of Lake Serre-Ponçon :
- Hyvans beach in Chorges : the one we chose with Musher, easily accessible from this parking lotWe had a beautiful view of a small island and the surrounding mountains.
- The coves of Chanteloube Bay at Chorges From the yacht club, several small natural coves allow you to reach the lake shores with your dog. This area is particularly appealing if you prefer to get away from the busy beaches.
- The beach at Pré d'Émeraude Savines-le-Lac This pebble beach, bordered by a grassy area, is unsupervised. Dogs are allowed provided they are kept on a leash.
- The coves and beaches along the Riou Bourdoux in Savines le Lac : an arm of the lake with a magnificent view. A very quiet place, accessible by footpaths, where shade is easily found.
- The Freshwater Beach Crots This vast, more secluded beach allows you to enjoy swimming with your dog on a leash. The area is also very popular with windsurfers, kitesurfers, and other water sports enthusiasts.
- Chanterenne beach in Crots : a large beach on the Marne River, partly developed, but dogs are welcome on the right side of the dike.
- The banks around the ancient submerged village of Ubaye Several wild and undeveloped coves allow you to reach the water with your dog. Don't confuse them with Ubaye Plage, which is a developed public beach and dogs are not allowed.
- The banks of the Durance at Embrun : to simply allow your dog to cool off, you can also go to the banks of the Durance, especially in the area located under the Pont Neuf.
👉 If your dog loves water like Musher, also discover 60 lakes and ponds in France where you can swim with your dog.
After swimming, why not head out to sea and discover Serre-Ponçon directly from the water?
Water sports to do in Serre-Ponçon with your dog
With Musher, when you go to the lake, the inflatable paddleboard or canoe is never far away! Water sports around Lake Serre-Ponçon with your dog allow you to fully enjoy the water in a different way.
There are two solutions for this:
- Either you have your own equipment and you can set off with your dog from the beach or cove of your choice. I advise you on the inflatable paddle and the inflatable canoe Suitable for dogs, tested and approved by Musher and me, in my guide to water sports with a dog.
- Alternatively: choose a water sports center that allows dogs on its boats. Boat, canoe, paddleboard or paddle bike, pedal boat… The choice is yours! The centers La Petite Mer, Bois Vieux Nautisme, and Sbrava Nautique accept dogs.
🛟 In any case, I advise you to bring a life jacket for your dog , even if it's a good swimmer. On a lake as vast as Serre-Ponçon, the distances to the shore can quickly become long, and a simple cramp could put your dog in difficulty.
Back on dry land, I now suggest we gain some altitude to admire the lake from a different angle.
Musher's seasonal advice
Hikes around Lake Serre-Ponçon that are dog-friendly
The hikes and walks around Lake Serre-Ponçon allow you to walk along the water's edge or gain some altitude to enjoy magnificent panoramas of the lake and the Pre-Alps.
Please note that some areas such as the Pic de Morgon or the Réallon valley prohibit dogs in summer to protect the flocks on the mountain pastures.
Here are 3 walks where your dog can accompany you all year round :
- The Lakeside Trail, from Saint-Michel Bay to Chanteloube 14 km, approximately 4 hours of walking, 417 m elevation gain, moderate difficulty. This route follows part of the lake shore and leads to the Chanteloube area. I highly recommend it, especially for its frequent views of the water, its shaded sections, and for discovering the Chanteloube railway viaduct.
- The Curattes trail 8 km, approximately 3 hours of walking, 300 m elevation gain, easy level. This hike starting from Saint-Michel Bay allows you to gain altitude as you cross undergrowth, dry grasslands, and black marl. The Curattes viewpoint offers a superb panorama of Saint-Michel Bay, the chapel on its island, Savines-le-Lac, and the Morgon peak.
- Port Saint-Pierre in Sauze-du-Lac 5 km, approximately 1 hour 30 minutes of walking and 265 m of elevation gain, easy. This fairly short hike alternates between wooded sections and viewpoints overlooking the Ubaye River before reaching Port Saint-Pierre.
If you're keen on hiking, you can find more to share with your dog on the tourist office website.
After exploring the trails, let's continue our discovery with some iconic places that tell the story of Serre-Ponçon.
Visiting the villages around Lake Serre-Ponçon with your dog
A trip to Lake Serre-Ponçon isn't just about enjoying the water and the surrounding nature. There's also history and cultural attractions to discover with your dog! Here's how to learn more about the amazing history of this valley, transformed by the creation of the lake, always accompanied by your canine companion:
- The old town of Embrun Nicknamed the "Nice of the Alps", Embrun is worth a walk with your dog for its center historic, perched above the Durance river. I particularly recommend exploring Place Barthelon, the medieval alleyways, the ramparts and their viewpoints, the Archbishop's gardens, and the Notre-Dame du Réal cathedral, which you can admire from the outside with your dog.
- The village of Chorges The atmosphere of this small town, both Alpine and Provençal, provides a real breath of fresh air. You can stroll through the colorful streets, admire medieval buildings such as the Saint-Victor church, the medieval house, the Souchons gate and the fountain in Place Lesdiguière, or even enjoy the view of the Saint-Michel chapel with your dog.
- The Chanteloube viaduct This is certainly one of the most iconic spots in Serre-Ponçon. This railway viaduct was intended to be part of the line linking Gap to Barcelonnette, but no train ever ran on it. Now partially submerged, it reappears when the lake level drops sufficiently. At that point, it's possible to walk on the structure and admire its spectacular series of arches with your dog.
- The viewpoint at the Serre-Ponçon dam It's impossible to explore the lake without taking the time to admire its impressive earth dam. The Ivan Wilhelm viewpoint offers stunning views of the structure, the lake, and the surrounding mountains, while interpretive panels provide insights into its operation. It's an easy outdoor activity to incorporate into a day trip with your dog.
So, did you find Lake Serre-Ponçon as captivating as I did? I must admit that Musher and I were charmed by its tranquility, from the beaches to the villages, not to mention the leisurely strolls along the water's edge where everyone takes the time to appreciate the view…
For a successful stay in Serre-Ponçon, consider the QUALIDOG accommodations I mentioned at the top of the article: they are perfect for your holidays with your dog!
And if you know of any other beaches, activities, or walks to try around the lake, share your experiences in the comments! 👇
