Our take
A volcanic explosion crater (maar) of almost perfect roundness, sitting on the Mézenc plateau. Originally, the hole was more than 100 m deep; sediments have filled it in, and only about 7 m remain.
A volcanic crater filled with water at 1,236 m, the highest lake in Haute-Loire. A walk round it in an hour, with the Mézenc massif as a backdrop.
Seen from the sky, it is an almost perfect circle of water sitting on the Mézenc plateau, at an altitude of 1,236 m. Lac de Saint-Front is a maar, a volcanic explosion crater filled with water, and it is the highest lake in Haute-Loire.
The walk round the lake takes just under an hour, without difficulty, with the Mézenc massif as a backdrop. Swimming is not allowed: here, the water belongs to the anglers, trout and carp first of all, and to the birds of the plateau.
One piece of advice: come early in the morning, when the mist still hangs over the water. And don't write winter off: the lake often freezes, the plateau turns white, and the scenery takes on a far-north look.
Why we love it
- An almost perfect circle of water, sitting at 1,236 m on the Mézenc plateau
- The Mézenc massif as a backdrop all the way round
- The frozen lake and the whitened plateau in winter, the scenery taking on a far-north look
- A volcanic explosion crater filled in by sediment: about 7 m deep where the hole was more than 100 m
Top tip
Does the walk round the lake leave you wanting more? The waymarked PR061 trail unrolls a 14.8 km loop across the plateau (about 4 hours, 344 m of elevation gain), with the lake as its high point.
Before you go
- Early in the morning, when the mist lingers over the water and the plateau is still silent.
- If the walk round the lake isn't enough for you, the PR061 loop will keep you busy for about 4 hours: 14.8 km and 344 m of elevation gain across the plateau.
- Swimming is not allowed, the water belongs to the anglers and the birds of the plateau.
Weather for the next 3 days
Today
10°/2°
0 mm · 33 km/h
Tomorrow
12°/1°
dry · 16 km/h
Tue 27
17°/7°
dry · 15 km/h
Source: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). General lowland forecasts, to be cross-checked with specialist mountain forecasts at altitude.
Practical info
- Address
- Lac de Saint-Front, 43550 Saint-Front, France
43550 Saint-Front
What visitors say
Google rating
Average of 245 reviews on Google Maps.
Community rating
No reader reviews yet: yours gets things started.
Your logbook
Around Lac de Saint-Front
3 spots in and around Saint-Front, enough to build your day.
Where to stay nearby
Hikes nearby
Waymarked routes within 15 km, GPX track included.
Mountain biking
Mountain bikingHikes around Lac de Saint-Front
Mountain bikingMountain biking
CyclingYou might also like
More lakes in Haute-Loire and nearby.
Lac Pavin
4.8Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise · Puy-de-Dôme
2407 reviews
Lac des Hermines
4.5Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise · Puy-de-Dôme
138 reviews
Lac de Montcineyre
4.4Compains · Puy-de-Dôme
131 reviews
Lac du Bouchet
4.7Cayres · Haute-Loire
830 reviews
Lac de la Crégut
4.5Trémouille · Cantal
30 reviews
Lac de Servières
4.7Orcival · Puy-de-Dôme
652 reviews