Lac Noir is a large, 12 person gondola leaving from just above Montchavin Les Coches (around 1400m) up to around 1900m. It is one of the key lifts on the way back from Les Arcs so can get busy – particularly at the start and end of the day.
At the top, it’s possible to join the lower section of the long Mont Blanc piste, the La Duy red or take a short walk over to a beginners’ area near Ecureuils. Alternatively, if you’re making your way back to the main area, take the short link piste down to the base of the Bijolin chair which takes you up to the top of the Montchavin sector with the Salla chair or high-speed Crozats chair then linking into the main area.

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From Lac Noir, the connecting pistes are Ecureuils blue, Mont Blanc blue, La Duy red.
The local map shows the surrounding Montchavin pistes and lift network. See the connections table below for onward routes.

From gentle warm-up runs to longer days exploring La Plagne, comfortable boots and a suitable setup make a difference. Compare the live hire offers and choose a collection point near your accommodation.
Featured hire: Montchavin. Choose the shop that works best for where you are staying.
Twelve-person gondola from Les Coches towards Bijolin and the upper mountain. Compare its advantages and limitations below.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Open in most weather | Can get very busy early morning |
| Accesses great runs & terrain | |
| Apart from early morning, queues are rare |
Before your trip, check how your policy deals with mountain rescue, medical treatment and getting you home. Cover varies, so read the wording and choose protection suited to your plans.
Use these connections to plan your route from Lac Noir.
| Connecting lifts | Connecting pistes |
|---|---|
| Bijolin detachable chair | Ecureuils blue |
| Ecureuils drag lift | Mont Blanc blue |
| La Duy red |
Twelve-person gondola from Les Coches towards Bijolin and the upper mountain. The table gives its length, station altitudes, capacity and travel time.
| Lift statistic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length: | 1.7km / 1 miles |
| Base alt: | 1436 m |
| End alt: | 1882 m |
| Vert ascent: | 446 m |
| Av gradient: | 27% |
| Max gradient: | 52% |
| Capacity: | 12 people |
| People per hr: | 2200 |
| Av travel time: | 5min 49s |
| Type: | Gondola |
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