Circular Mont Né path via the Pic de Montious and Lac de Bareilles

Park in the car park at the Port de Balès.

(S/E) From the Port de Balès, start the hike on a tarmac track heading north-west for about 600 metres until you reach a fork.

(1) Leave the track and take a dirt path that climbs to the left, alongside the fence.

(2) Follow the path. After a few hairpin bends, ignore a path on the left and continue north-west to the foot of the Sommet de Cournudère at elevation 2026.

(3) Turn sharply left to climb the Crête de la Pale, heading due south, and reach Mont Né (elevation 2147).

(4) Descend the ridge, heading south-south-west, to reach the Port de Pierrefite.

(5) Continue due south, ascending via the Crête de Téchouède, then the Crête de la Coume du Lion, to reach the Pic du Lion (elevation 2102) after a series of ascents and descents.

(6) Descend north-westwards to reach the Col du Lion (elevation 2031).

(7) “Here, you can descend to the right, heading north, via the^GRP®, to reach Lac de Bareilles.
To continue the main circular loop, head back up the opposite slope to the north-west along a steep path for a few hundred metres until you reach a fork.

(8) ‘Here too, there are options to descend to the right, heading east, to reach Lac de Bareilles.
To continue the hike described, carry on straight ahead, north-west, towards the Pic du Montious (elevation 2173).

(9) From the Pic du Montious, marked by a metal triangulation point, retrace your steps back to the previous junction.

(8) Descend to the left down the valley to Lac de Bordères or Lac de Bareilles.

(10) Follow the path (^GRP®) which climbs eastwards towards the Port de Pierrefite. Ignore the first path on the right.

(5) Back at Port de Pierrefite, take the tarmac track heading north-east.

(11) Instead of continuing along the tarmac track towards the road, take a path on the left to return to the Port de Balès car park (S/E).

The hike isn’t very difficult, but it is quite long; allow 6–8 hours depending on breaks, and a little less if you’re an experienced hiker.

There are a few steep and technical sections where you’ll need to use your hands on the descent after the Pic du Lion (6) and on the ascent before the Pic du Montious (8).

Check access to the Port de Balès, as the pass is closed in winter.

At the junction at the Port de Pierrefite (5), you can:
- shorten the circular route by taking the tarmac track that leads directly to the Port de Balès (a short circular route of 3 hours 30 minutes from Mont Né).
- head straight to Lac de Bareilles (10) via a return trip.

From Mont Né (4), you can see the Hautes-Pyrénées to the west: the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, the Louron and the Pic de Schrader. To the south lies the Luchonnais massif, with the Aneto further to the east.

Lake Bareilles (10) is visible in the distance from the Crêtes de Pal ski lift. The view is splendid from the Pic du Lion (6), where you can also see the whole of the Oueil and Louron valleys.

But the most beautiful view is from the Pic du Montious (9).