In this page, you will find informations and advices we can give, based on our experience
Pyrenees National Park
- Ossau Valley -
What to do if you have little time : Artouste Lake and the Passes of Aubisque and Poutalet
The Pyrenees National Park is full of beautiful hikes, each one more beautiful than the next. The purpose of each of these hikes is often a lake, but the landscapes leading to it are often prettier than the lake itself. This mountain range consists of several steep valleys. We fell in love with the Aspe Valley, which we think is a little more "wild" than the Ossau, Cauterets and Luz Gavarnie Valleys.
Advice : before going on a hike, check the weather forecast because it can change quickly in the mountains. Bring warm clothing.
Ossau Valley : the Pic of Midi d'Ossau
Loop of 15 kms - 1 250 metres of alitude difference - 6h00
1 day
Free
A long 15 kms hike around the Pic of Midi d'Ossau with a cumulative altitude difference of 1 250 metres. It is a very beautiful hike which we advise to do clockwise in order to avoid too steep climbs. The views are magnificent on the Pic of Midi d'Ossau and the high altitude lakes, especially from the Col de Peyreget. A real favorite.
Access : from Laruns, take the D934 south and then the D231 to Bious Artigues Lake.
Ossau Valley : Ayous Lakes
Loop of 15 kms - 650 metres of altitude difference - 4h30
1 day
Free
Beautiful 15 kms hikes with 650 metres of altitude difference which allows you to admire several lakes : Bious Artigues, Roumassot, Ayous, Bersau, Casterau.
Access : from Laruns, take the D934 south and then the D231 to Bious Artigues Lake.
Ossau Valley : Anglas Lake
4,3 kms one way - 516 metres of altitude difference - 1h20
3 to 4 hours
Free
To access Lake Anglas, you can first take the Bézou de Gourette cable car, then walk 4.3 kms (516 metres). The lake is quiet, ideal for a picnic. For the descent, you can take the cable car or do it by foot. In this case, count 4.6 kms for a negative altitude difference of 690 meters in 2 hours.
Access : from Gourette.
Ossau Valley : Aule Lake
4,5 kms one way - 750 metres of altitude difference - 2h00
3 to 4 hours
Free
9 kms round trip hike for a 750 metres of altitude difference. It keeps climbing up to the lake.
Access : from Bious Oumette near the Bious Artigues Lake.
Ossau Valley : Artouste Lake
Depending on wish
3 to 4 hours
25€ per person in 2016
To get to Lake Artouste, you must first take the cable car up to the start of the famous Artouste train. This train travels 55 minutes on a mountainside to the artificial lake of Artouste and its dam. You can then walk around the lake as you wish while waiting for the train's return time.
Access : from the Lake of Fabrege.
Ossau Valley : Aubisque Pass
No hike
30 minutes
Free
Ossau Valley : Pourtalet Pass
No hike
30 minutes
Free
Copyright Magali and David BELLEC