Circular at Lac de Badet

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A short, easy walk for the whole family.
Bucolic landscapes and a beautiful little lake where you can relax and daydream.

Details

n°9217944
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.80 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 344 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 342 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,145 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,820 m
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Photos

The mountain range above the clouds
The clouds didn't stop us from continuing our hike.
Waterfall
The valley

Description of the walk

In Aragnouet, take the Bielsa tunnel road and then head towards the Piau Angaly ski resort. Park in the highest car park.

(S/E) At its western end, take the track that leads to the Mouscades chairlift.

(1) Immediately afterwards, leave this track and take a path on the right.

(2) You will quickly reach a footbridge that crosses the Neste de Badet river to the left bank. The path climbs slightly, passing to the left of the Cabane de Moune. The trail curves southwest to a first intersection.

(3) Continue on the path on the right heading due west. The path climbs gradually and then heads south-southwest.
About 3 km after the start, you will reach another fork.

(4) Leave the path on the far right that leads to the Hourquette de Héas and take the next one on the right that joins the Chemin de la Hourquette de Chermentas.

(5) Turn right. Pass in front of a hut and continue to Lac de Badet, a pretty little lake that is a pleasant spot for a picnic.

(6) Retrace your steps to the junction with the Chemin de la Hourquette de Chermentas.

(5) Continue straight ahead, heading north on this path, which leads back to the chairlift.

(1) Take the same route back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,833 m - Piau Angaly car park
  2. 1 : km 0.32 - alt. 1,822 m - Chairlift
  3. 2 : km 0.7 - alt. 1,828 m - Neste (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 1.14 - alt. 1,873 m - Intersection
  5. 4 : km 3.29 - alt. 2,144 m - Junction
  6. 5 : km 4.14 - alt. 2,078 m - Chemin de la Hourquette de Chermentas
  7. 6 : km 4.5 - alt. 2,084 m - Lac de Badet
  8. S/E : km 7.8 - alt. 1,834 m - Piau Angaly car park

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 15 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
jodrouet
jodrouet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk in an exceptional and impressive mineral setting
Not many people, worth doing again.

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chris5732
chris5732

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely hike, superb scenery after passing above the sea of clouds

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raphaelleb212
raphaelleb212

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

I couldn't do the hike because the footbridge is broken (and it was starting to snow)
It would have been possible to cross the stream by finding a way through the rocks, but that's not possible for everyone
Otherwise, from the little we saw, it's a magnificent landscape and the hike looks like it's worth it!

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Isabelle40
Isabelle40

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

No markings, so it's easy to stray from the path, but otherwise a very beautiful hike with lovely views, ending at the beautiful Lake Badet

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Ledat47
Ledat47

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There are two ways to get to Lake Badet: either follow the sign at the start of the hike along the wide direct path, or take the Visorando circular route. The climb is on a continuously sloping path, sometimes crossing small scree slopes, but without any particular difficulty. It is almost impossible to get lost as it is often the only path available and rarely difficult to see. The last part of the hike offers beautiful views. The lake is small but pleasant. The return journey is via the direct route, which is easy to follow. There are more people on this route as most hikers do not do the circular.

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Algerard1
Algerard1
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We were distracted by the marmots and missed the first junction
and followed the path along the Neste (which seems to be more popular
because it is more visible) which passes, further on, a little closer to the gorge carved out
by the torrent.
It's best not to make a mistake! Very beautiful site.

thank you for letting us know about it.

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girau33
girau33

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Easy start to the lake. Two possible hikes afterwards to the Hourquettes de Chermentas or Héas for experienced hikers.

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xtinebardinet
xtinebardinet

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant outward journey; we didn't meet anyone, but the return route was clearly much busier.
We encountered two marmots playing hide-and-seek! Beautiful flights of vultures.
A very flowery climb, with beautiful views of the surrounding peaks.
The modest Badet pond is nevertheless a very nice place for a picnic.
The descent was more ordinary and busier.
i would advise against going there in July or August; late September was very good.

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mussonville
mussonville

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a lovely circular and pleasant lake at the end, but it quickly becomes too crowded with people.
a must-see is the sheepfold just below the lake. Interesting conversation and excellent sheep's cheese

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momopat64@gmail.com
momopat64@gmail.com

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely little hike to get us started for the week. Perfect weather for mountain walks. We were lucky enough to see marmots during the hike!!!

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stephanelevasseur
stephanelevasseur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A really lovely discovery that gave us a good chance to stretch our legs and test the children at the start of the holidays. The route is very well marked and easy to access. The scenery is splendid, with a few flowers still in bloom and plenty of birds of prey and marmots. The icing on the cake was the summer sheepfold, occupied by a very nice couple of shepherds and their son. A wonderful encounter (and some very good cheese!).

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rdecremps
rdecremps

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful hike, but be careful not to climb during the hottest hours of the day. The entire climb is in the sun. We were lucky to climb on a cloudy day, which cleared up when we reached the summit.

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lesendetsois
lesendetsois

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike in cloudy weather, so we didn't "suffer" from the heat as there are no trees and few hikers, which allowed us to see marmots and bearded vultures.

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Villou
Villou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Please note that dogs are not allowed on this hike, even on a leash. Forest rangers are on patrol. We were allowed to walk along the right bank, there and back. So we couldn't do the circular. However, the scenery is breathtaking, at the foot of the glaciers and surrounded by cows and marmots. Very wild but also very busy. At this altitude, there are no trees, so no shade for picnics.
The last section before the lake climbs a little more, but nothing insurmountable.

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JLC30
JLC30

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, done in the morning, which allowed us to encounter a group of about fifteen izards crossing a snowfield, as well as marmots. On the way there, you can admire the beautiful valley with the river flowing at the bottom and beautiful waterfalls. On arrival, there were a few people at the edge of the lake (not very big). We continued 200 or 300 metres along the path to see a beautiful waterfall. Given the altitude, there are few trees and therefore little shade. The easier return route follows the river and the tracks. Thank you for this hike

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