📸 The 10 must-photograph spots in summer at Alpe d’Huez

Whether it is for your holiday photo album, your social media feed, or to share with friends and family, you are always looking for the best photo spots. Look no further — here they are ⬇️

1. 🩵 The turquoise waters of Lac Blanc

Among the glacial lakes of the Grandes Rousses massif, Lac Blanc is a must-see in summer. Located at an altitude of 2,528 metres, this high-altitude lake is renowned for its distinctive turquoise colour, which changes depending on the weather and the light. The lake is easily reached via a marked trail leading down to its shores. For those who prefer to gain a little height, several viewpoints offer spectacular panoramas over the lake and the surrounding peaks.

📍 Access: via the Pic Blanc cable car line
📸 Photo tip: Find the special “Alpe d’Huez” photo spot for a memorable souvenir — and tag us!

2. 🌄 A sunset at Lac Besson

The Alpe d’Huez Lake Loop, with the famous Lac Besson, is one of the highlights of the summer season. Every time of year reveals a different side of its beauty. It is the perfect setting for that classic sunset apéritif. The hardest part? Choosing the best place to sit!

⚠️ Do not forget to take your rubbish with you and leave nothing behind.
📍 Access: Take the free shuttle bus from the resort. Last return from the lakes is at 10:40 pm back to the resort.
📸 Photo tip: Wander a little further to find that perfect angle with the iconic view over the two most beautiful lakes: Lac Besson and Lac Noir.

3. 🤩 The view from Pic Blanc

Rising to 3,330 metres in the Grandes Rousses massif, Pic Blanc offers an exceptional panorama (awarded 3 stars by the Michelin Guide). The panoramic terrace reveals a 360° view over the great Alpine massifs: Mont Blanc, La Meije, the Écrins, the Aiguilles d’Arves, and many other iconic summits. It is a suspended moment between sky and mountains, a total immersion in wild nature, where every glance becomes a memory.

📍 Access: via the cable car line and then the Pic Blanc cableway
📸 Photo tip: This is the perfect time to capture a panoramic shot!

4. 🐑 Laura Ingalls at Col de Sarenne

If you are looking for a mountain landscape that is both wild, remote and spectacular, Col de Sarenne is an essential stop in the Alps. With its vast alpine meadows and timeless atmosphere, this site evokes the wide open spaces of the past, where unspoilt nature meets authentic simplicity. At the heart of the pass, a traditional mountain hut welcomes you in an exceptional natural setting. You can even enjoy platters of local produce there.

⚠️ If you come across a livestock guardian dog, make sure to behave appropriately.
📍 Access: Take the Sarenne road by car, bike or on foot.
📸 Photo tip: After your gourmet break, head a little higher around the pass for even more spectacular viewpoints. Make the most of the summer grazing herds to capture the perfect pastoral shot!

5. 🪢​ The view from Pic Bayle

It is one of the most jaw-dropping experiences to enjoy in summer. When you set off on a glacier walk towards Pic Bayle, you will be reaching for your camera every ten metres. But do remember to take it all in with your own eyes as well!

📍 Access: Reachable from the summit of Pic Blanc with the proper equipment.
⚠️ Do not hesitate to contact the Guides’ Office for safe support and supervision.
📸 Photo tip: With your harness, helmet and ice axe, this is the perfect moment for the holiday selfie — preferably with a wide-angle lens!

6. 🏔️ Col de Cluy

Every bend in the road or path brings a new viewpoint. Here is another one, easy to access and visible from the Sarenne road. What we particularly love about this view is the contrast in colours between the rocky slopes of La Muzelle and the wide green expanses on either side of the pass.

📍 Access: From the altiport, take the Sarenne road by bike, on foot or by car.
📸 Photo tip: Do not stop at the view over Col de Cluy — keep going along the road and become a true hunter of scenic views!

7. 🚵🏻 Capture the view from the 21 bends

The climb up to Alpe d’Huez is one of the most famous cycling routes in the world, especially thanks to the Tour de France. Known for its 21 hairpin bends, this ascent is both a sporting challenge and a must for cycling enthusiasts. Each bend is numbered and named after a rider who helped make the history of this legendary climb. These bends are not only a physical challenge: they also shape the ascent and offer a different panoramic view over the valley at every stage.

📍 Access: By road bike or electric bike if you want to say “I’ve ticked that one off” — especially in a Tour de France year. From Bourg d’Oisans or Alpe d’Huez, a marked vertical path allows you to cross the 21 bends safely on foot and discover viewpoints you cannot fully appreciate from the road.
📸 Photo tip: Head to bend number 9 for the best photo!

8. 🚶‍♀️‍➡️ A look over the resort and the Grandes Rousses

Locals love this trail, which is easily accessible from the resort. You will probably come across trail runners and joggers on their lunch break, early in the morning, or at the end of the day. Alternating between shade and light, the route (up to the orientation table) involves very little elevation gain, making it perfect for an easy walk.

📍 Access: From the top station of the Signal lift, follow the panoramic path to the orientation table (around 3 km). Sit on the wooden bench facing the resort and enjoy the scenery!
📸 Photo tip: You will enjoy a double view here. First, to your left, the resort itself, its size, its architecture, with the Grandes Rousses massif in the background. Then, to your right, the Romanche valley, Auris-en-Oisans, Maronne, the Écrins massif, Le Grand Renaud, and more.

9. 🔎 The ruins opening onto the mountains

Did you know that Alpe d’Huez is home to the remains of the highest medieval village in Europe linked to the exploitation of a silver mine? Even today, they offer a fascinating glimpse into the organisation of the village, with its homes, its symbols of religious and civil power (shell keep), and its working quarters (grinding, crushing and washing workshops). From the ruins, the view is stunning!

📍 Access: From the resort, follow the Font Morelle path on foot. At the foot of the archaeological site, climb a few metres to reach the ruins.
📸 Photo tip: Gain a little height above the site to capture the perfect shot combining history and raw natural beauty.

10. 💧 The magical atmosphere of the Gorges de Sarenne

For fans of Hobbit-style adventures, mysterious landscapes and slightly magical settings, do not miss the Gorges de Sarenne, with their lush undergrowth, moisture-laden atmosphere at certain times of day, and their fresh, lively stream.

📍 Access: From the resort, take the free Huez Express.
📸 Photo tip: Find the Roman bridge and photograph it from the edge of the stream, with enough distance to capture it in the heart of all this surrounding nature.