The best days in Verbier don't always start on the piste or the trail map. Sometimes they start with a chairlift, a packed lunch, and a lake. The lakes around Verbier are worth far more than a passing mention, three of them in particular. Here's what you need to know about each one.
Lac de Louvie - Verbier's Best Full Day Hike
The journey starts with a scenic ride on the La Chaux Express chairlift up from Les Ruinettes. Lac de Louvie sits at 2,213 metres inside the Haut Val de Bagnes, one of Switzerland's largest nature reserves. The trail crosses Col Termin and drops through terrain that feels genuinely wild before delivering you to a glacier lake so still and cold that the first thing you want to do is get in.
Dive from the edge. The water is glacier-fed, clear to the bottom - crisp, clean, and well earned.
Nestled above the lake's edge, the Cabane de Louvie has been here long enough to feel like part of the landscape. Fondue on a sunny terrace, the Grand Combin glacier filling the horizon.
On the way up, keep your eyes on the higher rocks. Ibex are almost certain on this stretch, moving across what looks unclimbable, indifferent to the drop below them. Listen out for the marmots too, you’ll hear them whistling to each other from their boulder perches.
Lac de Vaux - Verbier's Best Kept Secret
Most visitors know this terrain, but they know it in ski boots. The pistes, the chairlifts, the long descent down the Tortin itinerary. Summer at Lac de Vaux reveals something incredible.
The approach from La Croix de Coeur runs along the high ridgeline with Verbier spread out far below you. In late summer the path is lined with wild blueberries. When the lake appears at 2,543 metres it is surrounded by cottongrass, Mont Gelé rising behind you, and is almost always empty. No hut, no terrace, no fondue - just the water, the mountains, and whatever you brought for lunch. One of the finest picnic spots in the Alps.
Alpine water at this altitude is pure and genuinely restorative, there are few better things for the body after a morning on the mountain than getting in.
On the way back down, stop at the Ice Cube bar at Les Ruinettes. A cold lager on the terrace, Verbier below you. Well deserved.
Champex-Lac — The Perfect Day Trip from Verbier
Champex-Lac is 45 minutes by car from Verbier and a completely different kind of day. Down through the Val de Bagnes, back up through dense larch forest above Orsières, and suddenly you pop out at a village that feels like it belongs to another era - traditional wooden chalets and a lake at 1,470 metres. By summer, the village is full of ambience mixed with locals and visitors.
Out on the water, pedal boats and paddle boards are available to hire to cruise from one side of the lake to the other. Spend the day dipping in and out of the water, an ice cream from the village in hand. There is a walking path that wraps all the way around the lake, for those up for it.
For lunch, choose between sun-drenched terraces or choose a classic Swiss chalet adorned in cowbells. Either way, order something local.
These three lakes won't all fit into a short trip. But they're a good reason to make sure the trip is long enough to try.
The best days in the mountains start with knowing where to go, and end somewhere worth coming home to. We have chalets in Verbier, a team on the ground, and a good idea of how to put a week together. Get in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Verbier in summer? Verbier in summer is built around the mountains, the trails, and the lakes. Hiking, wild swimming, mountain biking, and day trips through the Val de Bagnes are the highlights. The lakes, Lac de Louvie, Lac de Vaux, and Champex-Lac are among the finest days out the region has to offer.
When is the best time to hike to Lac de Louvie from Verbier? Late June to September. The lake can hold snow into mid-June. The Cabane de Louvie opens from late June, check louvie.ch for exact dates each year. Start mid-morning via the La Chaux Express to arrive in good shape for lunch.
How do you get to Lac de Vaux from Verbier? Take the telecabine to La Croix de Coeur and follow the trail through the Col des Mines. Around 4 hours return, moderate to strenuous. Best from July to late September.
How far is Champex-Lac from Verbier? About 45 minutes by car via Le Châble and Orsières, an easy half-day or a full day depending on how long you linger.
Can you swim in the lakes near Verbier? Yes. Lac de Louvie is glacier-fed and wonderfully cold, dive in from the edge. Lac de Vaux is equally refreshing at altitude. Champex-Lac has a designated swimming area and is slightly warmer, with a heated outdoor pool nearby for those who prefer it.
