The 5 most beautiful hikes to do at the Lakes of Ayous

Among the most beautiful natural areas of the Pyrenees, the Lakes of Ayous are particularly popular among walkers. Around its emblematic summit, the Pic du Midi d’Ossau, the hikes around the Lakes of Ayous enjoy an exceptional mountain setting.

A set of six glacial lakes make up the Lakes of Ayous, in the Ossau valley Lake Castérau, Lake Miey, Lake Gentau, Lake Bersau, Lake Paradise and Lake Roumassot. It is a high place of hiking in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques, with the passage of the GR10, a great mythical route linking the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, the refuge of Ayous, emblematic of the corner, and the uncontournable Pic du Midi d’Ossau, isolated vestige of a very old volcano that still dominates the valley and the whole of Béarn.

The hikes of the Lakes of Ayous thus take place in a mountain world, on often demanding trails in terms of both distance and positive elevations: good shoes, walking sticks, hiking equipment, prepare accordingly! Fortunately, the diversity of trails and the geography of the Ayous Lakes allow you to adapt long routes to shorter and accessible walks.

Remember that in the mountain area, the risk still exists: prefer the spring or summer season to offer you the most beautiful hikes of the Ayous Lakes.

1. Ayous Lakes hiking

It’s THE Hiking of the Lakes of Ayous not to be missed, a great classic on which many hikers cross. This route bears its name as you pass successively next to the six lakes of Ayous, without missing one!

Always as a backdrop, the impressive Pic du Midi d’Ossau with the characteristic silhouette accompanies you, in a grandiose setting. The views are followed, as well as the pleasant breaks on the shores of the lakes. In the beautiful days, it is useful to take his bathing with yourself!

A path of more than 15 km with a good positive denial, the Ayous Lakes hike is not an anodine exit: plan good shoes and sticks, and what to carry water and food. The loop is of course feasible in the day: leave early in the morning, in case.

Some of them don’t hesitate to take advantage of their passage to the Lacs d’Ayous to bivouaquate a night on the way: ideal for taking good time, and enjoying long landscapes.

2. Le Tour du Pic du Midi d’Ossau

If the Hiking of the Lakes of Ayous takes a fairly sporty ride, let’s specify the entrance to the game that the Tour du Pic du Midi d’Ossau addresses only to the experienced hikers, who have it under the sole. A long walk in a number of kilometers, technical by location, demanding a big physical effort in terms of denial, do not embark on the blind adventure!

For the seasoned walkers on the other hand, the Tour du Pic du Midi d’Ossau is an unmissable classic of the Lakes of Ayous. Like many hikes around the corner, the start is at the level of Lake Bious-Artigues, easily accessible. The goal of the itinerary is to make the whole tour of the Pic du Midi d’Ossau, a sumptuous loop in the heart of extraordinary mountain landscapes.

This peak, height of 2,884 m, recognizable among all, takes dark shades due to the very old volcanic rocks that compose it, and stands alone in the middle of the Ossau valley. The locals call him Jean-Pierre!

Sports ride, plan all day to complete the loop and return to your starting point. Possibility to spend the night at the Pombie shelter as needed. A more difficult option is to pass directly through the summit of the Pic du Midi d’Ossau... For real rando pros!

3. The refuge of Ayous

GR10 is part of these paths of great mythical hikes that make all hikers salt. Here, we only keep a beautiful section, which makes it possible to hike to the Lakes of Ayous through the emblematic refuge of the corner: the refuge of Ayous.

The itinerary, to go back and forth, connects Gabas to the refuge through several lakes, that of Bious-Artigues, Lac Roumassot and Lac Gentau. Bathing possible (and recommended) when the sun shines on the Pyrenees and temperatures rise.

As such, the Ayous refuge is perfect if you intend to spend the night around the Lakes of Ayous, to enjoy the sunset, declining colors, and the evening... You will also be at the heart of the subject in the early morning!

4. Les Grottes aux Eaux-Chaudes

Quitte à randonner aux Lacs d’Ayous, don’t hesitate to make a stop by the village of Eaux-Chaude, just steps from Laruns. It will be an opportunity for an easy and accessible walk to all, still accumulating 500 m of positive denial, to discover the two caves at the Eaux-Chaudes.

Equipped with a torch lamp, you can explore these beautiful cavities without difficulty, although the water is actually rather cold... An output to be expected over half a day, with return to the starting point.

5. The peak of Er via the lake

On the road to Gabas, you will find the starting point of another beautiful hike of the Lakes of Ayous, also quite sporty: the idea is to climb through the path to the peak of Er, around the 2 170 m altitude, which leads us to a well-rounded positive gap of 880 m to climb, but also to descend!

Let's build indispensable for the knees... Ascension is steep enough by location, but you will always have the choice to stop at Lake Er and come back if the peak seems too difficult for you. An exit to be made in the summer, when snow and ice have disappeared.