The 6 most beautiful hikes to do in the Neouvielle Massif

Through granite and limestone decors, the hikes of the Neouvielle massif take a mineral character, for lovers of real mountain walks: anticipate good denivels, we are really in the Hautes-Pyrénées!

The Neouvielle massif is 3,192 m tall with the Pic Long, in the south, and has many other high peaks perched like the Pic de Neouvielle, its northern alter ego. Hiking in the Neouvielle massif is therefore primarily for motivated walkers, who are not afraid to accumulate denial in the day.

The difficult itineraries are numerous, and often require to spend the night in refuge. They're also beautiful! That the less ambitious walkers reassure themselves, several hikes from the Neouvielle massif are also more accessible, as around the beautiful mountain lakes that scatter the ancient glacial valleys...

A mountainous area of great beauty, one part of which is protected by the Pyrenees National Park, and another by the Neouvielle National Natural Reserve ! So easily find some very nice randos...

1. Lac d’Orédon, Lac d’Aubert and Lac d’Aumar

We start with a very big classic of hiking in the Neouvielle massif with a tour of the lakes of the reserve. Great advantage of this walking route: an easily accessible starting point (pay parking), a loop that returns to its starting point, and fantastic landscapes!

You are indeed in the heart of the massif, to progress from lake to lake from Lake Ordon: Laquettes, Lac d’Aubert, Lac d’Aumar, all the must-sees pass there. With some technical passages on the end especially, good shoes and walking sticks are recommended for this hike, as always in the mountains...

2. The Tower of Lake Oule

This hike in the Neouvielle massif offers you the possibility to make a beautiful loop around the Lake of the Oule, without major difficulty to predict: an easy to follow, frequented route, which can be realized with family. The departure is made from Artigusse’s (paying) parking lot.

The big one is to climb from the entrance to the game, to reach the beautiful lake of the Oule, closed by a dam. A trail goes all the way through the banks. Ideal for a beautiful summer outing, you even cross a bivouac area on the way, for those who wish to prolong for the night!

3. The Ascension of the Pic de Neouvielle

We go to serious business with this hike from the Neouvielle Mountain which leads you to one of the highest peaks in the area: the Pic de Neouvielle, 3,091 m still!

Although popular, this relatively short ascent is reserved for solid hikers: a good denivellated with an imposing pierrier, demanding and requiring all your attention, are to be explored before reaching the top. The panoramic view of the Neouvielle massif will be your reward!

An ascension to be preferred from August when the nevés disappeared, with good material. The return can be done by the same path (attention the knees), or by a loop around Lake Aubert, longer and harder.

4. The refuge of Bastan

From the Portet pass (2,215 m), this pretty family hike in the Neouvielle massif allows you to take a part of the GR10, mythical way of great hiking that crosses the Pyrenees of the Atlantic to the Mediterranean.

Here, we do only a small section, without difficulty, to reach the Bastan lakes and the refuge of the same name. The frame is superb for a break, or linger all day! In particular, we appreciate beautiful views of Lake Oule and the Neouvielle massif...

Return by the same route, with possible variants, including the climb of the peak of the nearby Pichaley, at 2,621 m for the panorama and corser (a little) things.

5. The Glère refuge from Barèges

We leave this time from Barèges, for a pleasant hike in the Neouvielle massif, towards the Glère refuge. From the bottom of the valley, you gradually enter the area of the high mountain, as you climb the 900 m of positive elevations of this route!

The ideal to enjoy this hike is to experience one night at the Glère refuge on the edge of its lake, very nice, before descending the next day.

6. Monpelat's Soum

Several hikes in the Neouvielle massif begin at Lake Ordon, to walk around the lakes in particular. Here, the idea is more to take height to admire these famous lakes, seen from above... 900 m higher even!

A hike to do preferably with the sticks, rather demanding in terms of physical effort... But which offers an exceptional view over the lakes and peaks of the Neouvielle massif, from the Soum de Monpelat perch to 2,474 m above sea level. Return to the starting point by the same path.