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Guidebook to 170 selected walks, multi-day tours and moderate summit ascents in the Central and High Pyrenees of France, Spain and Andorra. Graded routes lasting from 1hr to 12 days explore this diverse mountain range. Includes Monte Perdido, Pic du Midi d'Ossau, Vignemale, Ordesa National Park and Gavarnie.
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A guidebook to 170 walks, multi-day treks and moderate summit attempts in the Pyrenees. Covering the Central and High Pyrenees of France, Spain and Andorra these walks, treks and climbs are suitable for all walkers of all abilities and climbers capable of F to AD-.
Covering the whole mountain range the routes are presented in 21 sections based on valley or massif. Routes vary between short 30min walks to 12-day treks and are graded allowing you to select the walks and climbs that suit you.
Overview map
Map key
Preface to the seventh edition
Introduction
The mountains
National parks
Vegetation
Wildlife
Getting there
Weather
Equipment
Refuges, gîtes and camping
Maps
Emergency services
Using the guide
Information at a glance
1 Cirque de Lescun
Route 1 Lescun – Refuge de Labérouat
Route 2 Lescun – Pic d’Anie
Route 3 Lescun (Parking Nabia) – Lac de Lhurs
Route 4 Lescun – Cabane de Pédain
Route 5 Cabane de Pédain – Cabane d’Ansabère
Route 6 Lescun – Cabane d’Ansabère
Route 7 Cabane d’Ansabère – Pic d’Ansabère
Route 8 Lescun (Pont Lamary) – Lac d’Ansabère – Ibón de Acherito
Route 9 Cabane d’Ansabère – Col de Burcq – Refuge d’Arlet
Route 10 Cirque de Lescun and the Frontier Ridge
Route 11 Lescun to Refuge d’Ayous via Etsaut
2 Pic du Midi d’Ossau
Route 12 Lac de Bious-Artigues – Refuge d’Ayous
Route 13 Lac de Bious-Artigues – Col de Suzon – Refuge de Pombie
Route 14 Lac de Bious-Artigues – Col de Peyreget – Refuge de Pombie
Route 15 Ossau Valley (Caillou de Soques) – Refuge de Pombie
Route 16 Col du Pourtalet (Anéou Pastures) – Refuge de Pombie
Route 17 Refuge de Pombie – Pic du Midi d’Ossau
Route 18 Ayous Lakes Circuit
Route 19 Tour of Pic du Midi d’Ossau
Route 20 Extended Tour of Pic du Midi
3 Balaïtous
Route 21 Ossau Valley (Caillou de Soques) – Refuge d’Arrémoulit (via Passage d’Orteig)
Route 22 Ossau Valley (Caillou de Soques) – Refuge d’Arrémoulit (via Lac d’Artouste)
Route 23 Lac d’Artouste – Refuge d’Arrémoulit
Route 24 Refuge d’Arrémoulit – Pic Palas
Route 25 Refuge d’Arrémoulit – Col du Palas – Port du Lavedan – Refuge de Larribet
Route 26 Plan d’Aste – Lac de Suyen – Refuge de Larribet
Route 27 Plan d’Aste – Refuge Ledormeur
Route 28 Plan d’Aste – Refuge de Migouélou
Route 29 Lac d’Artouste – Col d’Artouste – Refuge de Migouélou
Route 30 Refuge d’Arrémoulit – Col d’Arrémoulit – Refugio de Respomuso
Route 31 Sallent de Gallego (Puente de la Fajas) – Refugio de Respomuso
Route 32 Tour of the Balaïtous Region
Route 33 Lac du Tech (Vallée d’Arrens) – Lac de Pouey-Laün
Route 34 Refuge d’Arrémoulit – Balaïtous
Route 35 Refuge de Larribet – Balaïtous
4 The Gourette Massif
Route 36 Gourette – Lac d’Anglas
Route 37 Gourette – Lac d’Uzious – Lac du Lavedan
Route 38 Gourette – Lac du Tech – Arrens-Marsous – Gourette
5 Vallée d’Estaing
Route 39 Circuit of Lac d’Estaing
Route 40 Lac d’Estaing – Lac du Plaa de Prat
Route 41 Lac d’Estaing – Col d’Ilhéou – Refuge d’Ilhéou
Route 42 Lac d’Estaing – Lac du Barbat
6 Vallée du Marcadau
Route 43 Cauterets – Pont d’Espagne – Chalet-Refuge du Clot
Route 44 Chalet-Refuge du Clot – Refuge Wallon
Route 45 Pont d’Espagne – Refuge Wallon
Route 46 Refuge Wallon – Grande Fache
Route 47 Refuge Wallon – Port du Marcadau
Route 48 Refuge Wallon – Pic de Cambalès
Route 49 Refuge Wallon – Col de Cambalès
Route 50 Marcadau Lakes Circuit
Route 51 Refuge Wallon – Col d’Arratille
Route 52 A Tour of the Arratille Valley
Route 53 Refuge Wallon to Gavarnie
7 Vignemale
Route 54 Pont d’Espagne – Refuge des Oulettes de Gaube
Route 55 Refuge des Oulettes de Gaube – Refuge de Bayssellance
Route 56 Refuge des Oulettes de Gaube – Petit Vignemale
Route 57 Hourquette d’Ossoue – Pointe Chausenque
Route 58 Gavarnie (Barrage d’Ossoue) – Refuge de Baysellance
Route 59 Refuge de Bayssellance – Vignemale
Route 60 Refuge des Oulettes de Gaube – Col des Oulettes – Torla
Route 61 Refuge des Oulettes de Gaube – Refuge d’Estom
8 Vallée de Lutour
Route 62 Cauterets – La Fruitière
Route 63 La Fruitière – Refuge d’Estom
Route 64 Refuge d’Estom – Lac Glacé
Route 65 La Fruitière – Refuge Russell
9 Gavarnie
Route 66 Gavarnie – Plateau de Bellevue – Gavarnie
Route 67 Gavarnie – Hôtellerie du Cirque – Gavarnie
Route 68 Gavarnie – Refuge des Espuguettes
Route 69 Gavarnie – Refuge des Espuguettes – Piméné
Route 70 Gavarnie (Col de Tentes) – Pic de Tentes – Pic de la Pahule
Route 71 Gavarnie – Refuge de la Brèche
Route 72 Col de Tentes – Port de Boucharo – Refuge de la Brèche
Route 73 Gavarnie – Refuge de la Brèche
Route 74 Refuge de la Brèche – Pic du Marboré
Route 75 Refuge de la Brèche – Tour du Marboré
Route 76 Refuge de la Brèche – Casque du Marboré
Route 77 Refuge de la Brèche – Pic du Taillon
Route 78 Refuge de la Brèche – Refugio de Góriz
10 Ordesa National Park
Route 79 Torla – Pradera de Ordesa
Route 80 Pradera de Ordesa – Refugio de Góriz
Route 81 Pradera de Ordesa – Circo de Soaso – Faja de Pelay – Ordesa
Route 82 Pradera de Ordesa – Faja los Canarellos – Ordesa
Route 83 Refugio de Góriz – Collado de Arrablo – Añisclo Canyon – Puente de San Úrbez
Route 84 The Spanish Canyons Tour
Route 85 Refugio de Góriz – Monte Perdido
Route 86 Valle de Pineta – Monte Perdido
Route 87 Valle de Pineta – Llanos de La Larri
11 Estaubé, Troumouse and Barroude
Route 88 Barrage des Gloriettes – Cabane d’Estaubé
Route 89 Héas – Lacs des Aires – Le Cot
Route 90 Héas – Hourquette d’Héas – Hourquette de Chermentas – Cirque de Barroude
Route 91 Cirque de Barroude – Pic de Port-Vieux – Port Vieux – Cirque de Barroude
12 Réserve Naturelle de Néouvielle
Route 92 Barèges – Refuge de la Glère
Route 93 Barèges (Pont de la Gaubie) – Lac dets Coubous
Route 94 Barèges (Pont de la Gaubie) – Cabane d’Aygues-Cluses
Route 95 Barèges (Pont de la Gaubie) – Col de Madamète – Pic de Madamète – Lac dets Coubous – Pont de la Gaubie
Route 96 Barèges (Pont de la Gaubie) – Col de Madamète – Chalet-Hôtel de l’Oule
Route 97 Barèges (Pont de la Gaubie) – Hourquette Nère – Refuge de Bastan
Route 98 Chalet-Hôtel de l’Oule – Refuge de Bastan
Route 99 Artigues (Col du Tourmalet road) – Refuge de Campana de Cloutou
Route 100 Vallée de Couplan – Chalet-Hôtel de l’Oule
Route 101 A Walking Circuit of Lac de l’Oule
Route 102 A Circuit of Lac d’Aumar
Route 103 A Néouvielle Lakes Circuit
13 Lac d’Oô and the Cirque d’Espingo
Route 104 Granges d’Astau – Lac d’Oô – Refuge d’Espingo
Route 105 Refuge d’Espingo – Refuge du Portillon
Route 106 Refuge d’Espingo – Port d’Oô – Refugio de Estós
14 The Posets Massif
Route 107 Eriste – Refugio Ángel Orús
Route 108 Benasque – Refugio de Estós
Route 109 Refugio de Estós – Pico de Posets
Route 110 Refugio de Estós – Pico de Posets via SE Arête
Route 111 Puente Nuevo de San Chaime – Ibónes d’Escarpinosa
Route 112 Refugio de Estós – Puerto de Gistain – Refugio de Viadós
Route 113 Refugio de Viadós – Collado de Eriste – Refugio Ángel Orús
Route 114 Tour of the Posets Massif
15 Vallées de la Pique and du Lis
Route 115 Vallée du Lis – Refuge du Maupas
Route 116 Refuge du Maupas – Lac Célinda
Route 117 Vallée du Lis – Lac Vert – Lac des Grauès – Vallée du Lis
Route 118 Hospice de France – Refuge de Vénasque – Port de Vénasque
Route 119 Hospice de France – Pas de la Montjoie – Pas de l’Escalette – Puerto de la Picada – Port de Vénasque – Hospice de France
16 The Maladeta Massif
Route 120 Hospital de Benasque – Ibón de Gorgutes
Route 121 Hospital de Benasque – Forau dels Aigualluts
Route 122 Hospital de Benasque – Refugio de la Renclusa
Route 123 Refugio de la Renclusa – Pico de Aneto
Route 124 Refugio de Coronas – Pico de Aneto
Route 125 Refugio de la Renclusa – Pico de la Maladeta
Route 126 Refugio de la Renclusa – Pico de la Maladeta
Route 127 Refugio de la Renclusa – Pico de Alba
Route 128 Refugio de la Renclusa – Pico Forcanada
Route 129 Hospital de Benasque – Refugi Sant Nicolau
17 Aigüestortes West – The Besiberri Massif
Route 130 Refugi Sant Nicolau – Port de Rius – Collado de Lac de Mar – Refugi de la Restanca
Route 131 Refugi Conangles (1555m) - Estany Gran de Besiberri (c2000m) – Refugi de Besiberri (2221m)
Route 132 Vall de Sant Nicolau (1383m) – Aigüestortes (1820m) – Refugi d’Estany Llong (1985m)
Route 132 Refugi d’Estany Llong (1985m) – Estany Redó (2114m) – Refugi d’Estany Llong
Route 134 Refugi d’Estany Llong (1985m) – Portarró d’Espot (2429m)
Route 135 Estany de Cavallers – Refugi Ventosa i Calvell
Route 136 Refugi Ventosa i Calvell – Besiberri Nord
Route 137 Tour of the Agulles de Travessani
Route 138 Refugi Ventosa i Calvell – Montardo d’Aran
Route 139 Refugi Ventosa i Calvell – Coll de Crestada – Refugi de la Restanca
Route 140 Salardú/Banhs de Tredòs – Refugi de Colomèrs
18 Aigüestortes East – Encantados
Route 141 Espot – Refugi JM Blanc
Route 142 Espot (Prat de Peiro) – Refugi E. Mallafré
Route 143 A Circular Tour of Estany Sant Maurici
Route 144 Refugi E. Mallafré – Gran Encantat
Route 145 Estany de Sant Maurici – Refugi d’Amitges
Route 146 Refugi d’Amitges – Agulle d’Amitges
Route 147 Capdella/Embalse de Sallente – Refugi Colomina
19 Haute Vallée du Garbet
Route 148 Aulus-les-Bains – Cascade du Fouillet – Aulus-les-Bains
Route 149 Aulus-les-Bains – Étang de Guzet – Cascade d’Ars – Aulus
Route 150 Aulus-les-Bains (Le Garbettou) – Plateau de Garbettou – Étang du Garbet
Route 151 Aulus-les-Bains (Coumebière) – Port de Saleix – Refuge de Bassiès
20 Andorra
Route 152 Grau Roig – Estanys dels Pessons
Route 153 Soldeu – Estanys del Siscaró – Pont de la Baladosa – Soldeu
Route 154 Soldeu (Pont de la Baladosa) – Collada de Juclar
Route 155 Soldeu (Pont d’Incles) – Pont de Bonavida – Port d’Incles – Étangs de Fontargente
Route 156 Soldeu – Canillo
Route 157 Ransol – Refugi dels Coms de Jan
Route 158 Arcalís – Estanys de Tristaina
Route 159 Arinsal – Refugi de Coma Pedrosa
Route 160 Refugi de Coma Pedrosa – Pic de Coma Pedrosa
Route 161 Les Escaldes – Refugi de l’Illa
Route 162 A Circuit of Andorra’s Frontier Peaks
21 The Carlit Massif
Route 163 Orlu (Pont de Bisp) – Refuge d’En Beys
Route 164 Refuge d’En Beys – Porté-Puymorens
Route 165 l’Hospitalet-près-l’Andorre – Refuge des Bésines
Route 166 Walking Tour of the Vallée de Lanous
Route 167 Porté-Puymorens – Pic Carlit
Route 168 Chalet-Refuge des Bouillouses – Pic Carlit
Route 169 The Carlit Lakes Tour
Route 170 Tour du Carlit
Appendix A Useful addresses
Appendix B Bibliography
Appendix C Glossary
Appendix D Route index
August 2024
Thank you to Alf Kockelkoren for the following updates
Hike 66
For this lovely short hike, I think the time of 2hr in the introduction box mentioned is not really consistent with the text. Leaving from the village of Gavarnie it will take almost 1hr to reach Plateau de Bellevue. From there, 30min to the path junction below near the second river crossing and another 20min to the hotellerie. However, the route describes not a one-way but a return route ("Gavarnie - Plateau de Bellevue - Gavarnie") so in my opinion the time needed for the descend (50min) is missing.
Hike 81
There is urgent advice, not only from myself but also explicitly posted at signposts at Pradera de Ordesa, to do this hike in the other direction. The final descent as proposed in the guide is extremely steep and several accidents have been reported. That's why park authorities give hikers this advice to start the hike by making the ascent at the start.
The time of 5hr for this hike is not aligned with the indications on local waymarks, which point out it will take 6h 45min. Although the latter seems quite long to me, only 5hr without any stops will not be sufficient, even for experienced hikers
The height gain of 580m is not appropriate; in this case it simply subtracts the altitude of Circo de Soaso from the altitude at Pradera de Ordesa, but the height gain is more since the altitude of the mirador de Calcilarruego is over 2000m
Hike 89
One remark (not so relevant for the hikers among us...) is that in the introduction it is stated the toll road ends at a parking area at 2090m. However, the toll road only grants access until the Auberge du Maillet, which is at altitude around 1700m if I am not mistaken. There is mandatory parking from where a tractor-pulled wagon leaves and allows people to go up to the cirque without much effort.
As for the return path, the guide mentions short cuts around the toll road; an additional remark about the steepness of some of these shortcuts would be appropriate since some of these shortcuts have become extremely dangerous because of erosion
Hikes 93–97
The starting point at Pont de la Gaubie is no longer accessible by car. Instead, cars should be left at the Tournaboup ski area. This will add around 1km/20min to the way up for each individual route.
At the same time, the mentioned café at Pont de la Gaubie is no longer there.
There is a new refuge (Refuge d'Aygues-Cluses) close to the shelter/cabane carrying the same name; serving hot and cold drinks, light meals and offering overnight stay in dormitories.
Total time for Route 95 (Col and Pic de Madamete) of 5.5-6hr is not feasible if it includes the ascent of the Pic; even without the ascent 6hr is challenging (other hikers I discussed this with agree).
Kev Reynolds was a freelance writer, photojournalist and lecturer. A prolific compiler of guidebooks, his first title for Cicerone Press (Walks & Climbs in the Pyrenees) appeared in 1978; he later produced many more titles for the same publisher. A member of the Outdoor Writers' Guild, the Alpine Club and Austrian Alpine Club, his passion for mountains and the countryside inspired a lifetime's activity, and he regularly travelled throughout Britain to share that enthusiasm through his lectures. Sadly, Kev passed away in 2021. He will be remembered fondly by all who knew him and by many more he inspired through his writing and talks.
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