We are looking for suggestions to hike in the Pyrenees for about 3 days. We will have a car & will be coming from Carcassonne. We would go as far west as Tarbes and consider going into Spain for some of this. It is a big area and would appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks Annelle
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
8719 posts
Drive south from Tarbes, through Lourdes, and stay in Cauterets. We were there in July two years ago, when the Tour de France came nearby, and did lots of hiking, from easy (assisted by a chairlift) to considerably more challenging. Some hiking passes through lands where cattle and horses graze in the summer. The Spanish border is not far away, and we met some backpackers who were heading into Spain from there. There are spas for soaking/swimming, too, if you were interested.
We stayed at the Lion d’ Or, which provided a superior breakfast, and offered an excellent option for dinner in town, too.
Posted by
71 posts
Hi When ? The snow cover is very significant in the Pyrenees right now, particularly in the southern part of the range. You will have to hike below 1800m or even lower, depending on the slopes.
Posted by
OP
morrison, Co, USA
38 posts
We are planning mid to late Sept to reach the area. Any info on the chairlift that may be open would be helpful
Thanks
Posted by
71 posts
Hi. There won't be many chairlifts open at this time of year. I only know of this one: https://www.cauterets.com/lac-de-gaube-experience/
Posted by
France Southwest - Occitanie
3722 posts
You can find some ideas for not-too-difficult hikes here:
https://www.valleesdegavarnie.com/en/terre-de-randonnees/lacs-faciles-dacces/
(Keep an eye on the weather forecast)
The "Skyvall" gondolas at the Peyragudes ski resort operate on weekends in September.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/d5qcw5bsooxcX2XM8
And the Luchon-Superbagnères gondola operates the first 3 weekends of September.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/e4tw33LsFrq2AjQo9
The cable car at the Pic du Midi, one of the highest peaks in the Pyrenees, is open year-round
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
8719 posts
A road that climbs south of Cauterets reaches the parking lot for the Pont d’ Espagne (Spanish Bridge), and trails climb from there. That’s also where the chairlift that climbs towards Lake Gaube starts. Lots of people rode down on the chairlift, in addition to going up. There’s one steep hiking trail that also reaches the Lake, but much of it involves scrambling over enormous boulders. If riding the chairlift instead, a relatively easy path eventually reaches the lake.
Some people were swimming in the seriously cold (in July) lake, and a small herd of cattle roamed loose in the area, too. Watch your step if cow pies litter the path. We tried to hike clockwise around the lake, but found that we could only get part-way around. Some of that hike was easy-to-moderately challenging, but then became really steep slopes and giant boulders at the edge of the water, which meant technical bouldering. We turned back at that point, but almost nobody else at the lake ventured where we went.
There’s also a gondola/tram that departs from downtown Cauterets, but it appears to be a ski lift that just runs during ski season. The town is in a national park, and the Tourist Information office has lots of information about many hikes on the area. Done dance started in town, and for others, we drove to a trailhead.
Posted by
923 posts
Bonjour Anne,
Below is our somewhat-related Fodors TR titled 'Plenitude'. Over on that forum I go by 'zebec'. It covers the third part of that overall trip.
The second part is similarly looooong and deals with our experiences in the Spanish Pyrenees (titled 'Pyrennial').
Hopefully something of use awaits readers of those photo-dense reports.
I am done. the walking
https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/plenitude-a-french-pyrenees-tr-172889
Posted by
923 posts
Link below works if above one is problematic.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/plenitude-a-french-pyrenees-tr