Circular at Lac de Badet

de fr

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: 4.84 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Average
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,129 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,122 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 7,037 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,971 ft
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Photos

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

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 : mi 0 - alt. 6,014 ft - Piau Angaly car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.2 - alt. 5,978 ft - Chairlift
  3. 2 : mi 0.43 - alt. 5,997 ft - Neste (rivière)
  4. 3 : mi 0.71 - alt. 6,145 ft - Intersection
  5. 4 : mi 2.04 - alt. 7,034 ft - Junction
  6. 5 : mi 2.57 - alt. 6,818 ft - Chemin de la Hourquette de Chermentas
  7. 6 : mi 2.8 - alt. 6,837 ft - Lac de Badet
  8. S/E : mi 4.84 - alt. 6,017 ft - Piau Angaly car park

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

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 22 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
didierrena
didierrena

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Start at the far end of the upper car park at the PIAU ENGALY resort. Carry on straight ahead and, after a short climb, turn right to head up to the lake.
Return via the left-hand side, passing behind a sheepfold, then head downhill to a small bridge and another sheepfold.
You will then rejoin the path leading to the lane.

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Papi Dada
Papi Dada

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

At the start, the track crosses a small bridge that no longer exists
It’s no problem to cross the river at this time of year, and you’ll soon find the path again by following the route past a hut
Furthermore, there is a bridge further on which makes it easy to rejoin the path a few metres further on
Hikes of little interest and no difficulty
other than walking through wide open spaces and reaching a small lake
A walk suitable for a family with children
We saw a marmot and a vulture

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Papi Dada
Papi Dada

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

At the start, the track crosses a small bridge that no longer exists
It’s no problem to cross the river at this time of year, and you’ll soon find the path again by following the route past a hut

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La chevre 64
La chevre 64

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk with cows of all breeds, a few sheep too, and plenty of (rather young) marmots playing without paying much attention to the many photographers… some pretty waterfalls along the route, a clear lack of water, and arrival at the lake – which is really small but still worth seeing. A pleasant setting, a picnic, and the return via the circular route.
There are no signposts on the right-hand side of the stream on the way up, but they are present on the way back.

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User 9966889

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

An interesting route, as the circular route offers a lovely high-altitude view on the way out.
The return leg is more on lower ground. It offers a different perspective on the stream and the waterfalls. It’s therefore a varied walk, with the lake as the destination of the hike.

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User 12329310

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very busy, with a return journey that’s very different from the outward one, set against a magnificent backdrop

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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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