Less than 5 km from the Annecy La Ravoire and Les Fontaines campsites, and just a few minutes from our campsite near Veyrier du Lac, the Bout du Lac national nature reserve is the perfect haven for a family outing on the shores of Lake Annecy in the Massif des Bauges regional nature park. Here’s an overview of this protected area, accessible to children, baby carriages and people with reduced mobility.
A site of over 80 hectares classified Natura 2000
The Doussard or Bout du Lac reserve is the last remaining wetland on Lake Annecy. An essential part of our natural heritage, this marshland is crossed by two watercourses and is home to a number of animals, notably beavers. Classified as a Natura 2000 site in 1974, it is home to a myriad of fragile ecosystems, which visitors can discover on a short 1-hour walk. Along the way, you’ll discover a variety of wetland landscapes: marshes, undergrowth, moors, meadows, reedbeds…
A beautiful stroll along a landscaped path
A well-maintained trail allows walkers to venture into the Bout du Lac reserve. One of the most beautiful hiking trails in the Haute Savoie department! Allow 45 minutes to 1 hour for the round trip (1.7 km trail, 3.4 km total). The first thing you’ll see is a cross on the pitch of Doussard’s first church. You’ll come to a large field, then the marshland. You then take a path on stilts that leads to Lake Annecy, with Mont Blanc in the background. Before turning back, take time to observe and climb to the top of the Beauvivier tower, built in medieval times, and the beavers near the Eau Morte river (Saint-Ruph). The trail is signposted with information panels on the reserve.
How to get to the Bout du Lac national nature reserve
From the Les Fontaines or La Ravoire campsites, you can reach the Bout du Lac reserve:
- By bike: take the green route along Lake Annecy. In Doussard, at the SNC store, turn left and immediately take the first street on the left towards the lake as far as the reserve.
- By car: take the D1508 towards Doussard, and follow the directions above.
Before or after your walk, take the bike path around the lake, go paragliding or visit the Château de Menthon Saint Bernard!