Lac du Mont Cenis is a high-altitude region situated on the French-Italian border, characterized by its large artificial lake with turquoise waters and surrounding peaks exceeding 3,000 meters. This alpine environment offers a diverse landscape of mountain pastures, historic fortifications, and challenging ascents. The unique geography provides varied terrain suitable for several sports like road cycling, mountain biking, hiking, touring cycling, and more.
The Lac du Mont Cenis region provides a wide…
122
Routes
4.6
(536)
Average rating
7569
People visited

4.9
(26)
1,451
riders
65.4km
04:03
1,810m
1,810m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

14
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.3
(12)
413
riders
32.4km
01:59
890m
890m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.3
(19)
681
riders
70.3km
04:29
2,050m
2,050m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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3.6
(5)
10
hikers
8.30km
03:25
500m
500m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.7
(62)
272
hikers
16.8km
06:41
1,020m
1,020m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.5
(21)
186
hikers
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.8
(20)
132
hikers
19.2km
06:02
590m
600m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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4.9
(40)
316
riders
42.3km
04:09
1,180m
1,180m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(47)
272
riders
24.8km
02:09
600m
600m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.4
(18)
107
riders
26.3km
03:16
1,070m
1,070m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.3
(4)
58
riders
30.0km
02:25
830m
830m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(22)
217
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(3)
113
riders
41.3km
04:17
1,180m
1,180m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

75
riders
20.3km
01:29
460m
460m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

126
riders
72.1km
05:12
1,550m
1,550m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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198
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

27
runners
21.0km
02:55
1,040m
1,040m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

20
runners
8.26km
00:57
200m
200m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
12
runners
12.7km
01:30
360m
360m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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20
riders
37.8km
03:13
1,140m
1,140m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
61
riders
59.7km
04:24
1,560m
1,560m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

32
riders
40.9km
03:16
740m
730m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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8
hikers
3.17km
01:56
270m
270m
Hard mountaineering route. Great for any fitness level. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(1)
8
hikers
16.6km
05:16
520m
520m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

5.0
(2)
6
hikers
15.1km
07:23
1,120m
1,120m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

3
hikers
15.8km
07:19
1,330m
1,330m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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Lac du Mont Cenis offers a variety of outdoor activities, including Road cycling, Mountain biking, Hiking, Touring cycling, Jogging, Gravel biking, and Mountaineering. The region features diverse terrain from high alpine peaks to the shores of the artificial lake. More than 10 routes are available, with an average rating of 4.56 out of 5 stars.
The ascent to the Col du Mont Cenis is a renowned road cycling route, with climbs available from both the French and Italian sides. The Italian ascent is approximately 16 miles (25.5 km) long. Routes like the "Lanslebourg – Pyramid Chapel of Mont Cenis" loop are popular. For more details, refer to the Road Cycling Routes around Lac du Mont Cenis guide.
Yes, Lac du Mont Cenis provides a network of mountain biking trails, many utilizing former military tracks. These trails range from easy to difficult and offer high alpine scenery and historic fortifications. Popular options include the "Mont Cenis Dam – Blue lagoon loop" and "Mont Cenis Lake View – Fort de Ronce loop." Explore more in the MTB Trails around Lac du Mont Cenis guide.
The region offers diverse hiking trails for all ability levels, from moderate lake loops to challenging mountain ascents. Hikers can enjoy high-altitude lake views, Alps peaks, and historic fortifications. Popular routes include the "View of Lake Mont Cenis – Fort de Ronce loop" and "Lago del Moncenisio – Lake Mont Cenis loop." For more options, see the Hiking around Lac du Mont Cenis guide.
Yes, Lac du Mont Cenis offers family-friendly options, particularly for hiking. Trails like the "Lago del Moncenisio – Lake Mont Cenis loop" are suitable for various ages. The Family-friendly hikes around Lac du Mont Cenis guide provides specific recommendations.
The most striking natural feature is the Lac du Mont Cenis itself, a large artificial lake with turquoise waters at approximately 6,476 feet (1,974 meters) above sea level. It is surrounded by Alps peaks exceeding 9,800 feet (3,000 meters), including Grand Mont Cenis (11,080 feet / 3,377 meters) and Pointe de Ronce (11,850 feet / 3,612 meters). The region also features vast unspoiled mountain pastures and unique alpine flora.
The Mont Cenis Pass has significant historical importance, evident in numerous fortifications such as Fort de Ronce, Fort du Variselle, Fort de Malamot, and Fort de Pattacreuse. These sites are often accessible via hiking and biking trails. The Pyramid Church near the lake also stands as a notable architectural landmark.
Lac du Mont Cenis is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 60,000 visitors having explored routes in the region. There are 13 routes available, which have received over 6,000 ratings. The average rating for routes in Lac du Mont Cenis is 4.56 out of 5 stars.
Komoot offers several guides for Lac du Mont Cenis, covering various activities. These include guides for Road Cycling Routes, MTB Trails, Hiking, and Family-friendly hikes. There are also guides for Easy hikes and Touring Cycling.
For information regarding the Mont Cenis Pass and Lake, the Val-Cenis Tourist Office can be contacted. Their phone number is 04 79 05 99 06. Information is also available through the Haute Maurienne Vanoise Tourism platforms.
Yes, Lac du Mont Cenis provides easy hiking trails suitable for less strenuous outings. These routes often feature lake views and mountain pastures. Specific recommendations can be found in the Easy hikes around Lac du Mont Cenis guide.
Touring cyclists can explore the high-altitude alpine environment of Lac du Mont Cenis. Routes often feature historical military forts, mountain pastures, and the Mont Cenis Pass. The terrain includes a mix of paved roads and gravel tracks. The Cycling around Lac du Mont Cenis guide offers more details.

