The Pic des Trois Seigneurs loop

A very beautiful hike on 28 June 2025. There was no trace of snow.

We followed the route suggested by Visorando and I can confirm what has been said in the comments: the hike is more enjoyable in this direction, as the climb up to Lake Arru is more demanding and would be really tough going on the way down.

This hike requires good physical condition because it climbs steeply and is in the sun the entire way. There are a few sections between the lake and the pass that require using your hands, but nothing insurmountable.

We came across some campers who were setting up for the night at the lake, but there doesn't seem to be much flat ground around the lake to pitch a tent. In fact, I don't think there's anywhere else to camp.

In short, a very beautiful hike, rewarded throughout by breathtaking views (the highlight being the arrival at point 4, point 5 and then the entire descent along the ridge).

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A very nice walk with a good variety of landscapes. There are a few sections where you have to put your hands down, so it's not suitable for everyone: avoid for people who are afraid of heights or who are a bit "weak" physically (although for most seasoned hikers there's nothing insurmountable about this hike... less than 1000m ascent + and just over 10km). The scenery was magnificent on 30 May, with lots of pretty patches of snow (which you can walk around without worrying), the Etang d'Arbu, and a cloudless blue sky to admire the Pyrenees! A small negative point: from the étang d'Arbu to the pic des trois seigneurs, the proposed gpx track regularly deviates from the pr trail (yellow). In my opinion, from the pond to the summit it's better to follow the yellow trail (even if it's not always easy to spot). For the return loop, the route is more straightforward, but in any case it's always a pr path (in yellow) that you should follow (from start to finish)! 4h walk (not including breaks)

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I'm appalled by some of the less reassuring comments.
So let me reassure you.
It's important to understand that we're not talking about mountaineering here and that we're still in the realm of hiking, even if we do put our hands in a little.
Our video shows all the passages where we put our hands.
It's here https://youtu.be/LfTpZUY85K8
My wife, who is not very sporty, was 70, so you can do this hike.

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Hike in mid-April, still a lot of snow
Lots of crevasses and difficulty finding your way around because of the snow.
Crampons obligatory in case of snow, I'd be inclined to recommend roping up as the ascent via the ridges is quite difficult/dizzying with a fair number of avalanches.
However, the panorama at the finish is magnificent
The route is a little technical and you'll have to use your hands on some sections!

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Hello, I found this hike rather tough, because of the difference in altitude, and also the technical part from Lac D'Arbu. I regretted this as I wanted to go to the Pic des 3 Seigneurs, which was my goal, but perhaps another time... Despite everything, it's a superb viewpoint and a beautiful landscape.

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Hello, I found this hike rather hard, because of the difference in altitude, and also the technical part from Lac D'Arbu. I resigned myself to not reaching the summit because my legs didn't want it any more, knowing that I still had the long descent to the car park, which I regret because I wanted to go to the Pic des 3 Seigneurs, which was my objective, another time perhaps... Despite everything, it's a superb viewpoint and a beautiful landscape.

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Magnificent and superb hike! I did it by mistake, in the opposite direction to the one indicated (although I'd read the reviews!), and I climbed the cow pasture all the way! and I have to say, it's a steep climb! Passing over the ridge and the first two peaks with a 360° view of the Pyrenees, it's splendid. Great sunshine and very little wind... well worth the climb... then the Pic des 3 Seigneurs, the end of which you never see! But there too, once you've reached the top, you'll be very happy and the photo with the 3 crosses will be a well-deserved souvenir!...SPLEN-DIDE...so it's true that the hike isn't easy, especially as it's downhill on this side, with lots of very large rocks to climb, and descending and sliding down requires a certain level of fitness, it's true... but after all, this hike is classified red, and we've been warned, because it deserves its classification! We wish you all the best...

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Super loop with beautiful views over the valley and the étang de lHers et Massar valley

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One of our favourite walks with my son! Magnificent views all the way! From the lake we followed the yellow markings up to the Pic des 3 Seigneurs, which is a little off the GPS route, but we got to the same place! From the lake onwards, you often have to put your hands in the water, but it's not particularly difficult. My 8-year-old son (who is a regular and good hiker) loved this section! A very busy walk! The markings and route are very good! Hiking in full sun almost the whole way.... leave early in the summer.

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First of all, I'd strongly advise you to do this walk in the direction of this loop if it's your first time, i.e. starting with the descent via the tarmac road and then heading towards Lac d'Arbu. The ascent will be via the most technical part and the descent via the gentlest part, which is safer.

This hike is 100% sunny, so don't leave without your sun block (allow 6 hours in the sun, including breaks).

In dry weather (i.e. no rain the night before, no snow), the walk is generally safe, as you'll be climbing on granite rock, so your shoes will grip well. If you hold on with your hands regularly, you'll be able to climb all the slightly steep sections between the pond and the finish on the ridge without any problems. The out-and-back section to the Pic des 3 seigneurs is also rocky, so don't expect a quiet path like the rest of the ridge on the way back.

In my opinion, the difficulty lies mainly in finding the path between the pond and the pic des 3 seigneurs. There are many tracks and paths but not all of them are good (most don't lead anywhere, so it's quite tricky). So be sure to look out for the (yellow) markers and other cairns. People make the most mistakes in the last quarter of part 3 >> 4, and that's when you have to pay the most attention.

Another thing, I read people saying not to follow the GPS track on the map at the pond, but after doing the hike without looking at the track and just following the yellow markers, the result on my GPS shows me a track identical to the one on this page, perfectly superimposed. So it's good. Perhaps it has been updated in the meantime? Or maybe the gpx file doesn't match the one shown on the map in the visorando smartphone app? Anyway... follow the yellow markers, it's the easiest way.

Finally, regarding the technical and sporting difficulty: it's not family-friendly. To give you an idea, I did the Pic de Cagire 2 days before with a similar difference in altitude, but the Pic des 3 Seigneurs is much more demanding both technically and in terms of cardio. However, you don't need to know how to climb; any adult can climb anything. On the other hand, the falls/slides will be in the rocks, which are unforgiving.
You need an honest cardio workout on the climb between points 3 and 4, so it should be reserved for people with a minimum of physical fitness.
I read a review from someone who was unhappy, finding that the ENTIRE hike was made up of technical sections and not just between points 3 and 4. So... it's clear that if you've only done undergrowth and pastures on dirt tracks, you're in a different category here. The official difficulty rating for this hike is "T3", which is defined as follows:

Level Challenging mountain hike.
- Path / Terrain: path not necessarily visible everywhere; exposed sections may be equipped with ropes or chains; hand support may be necessary for balance; some exposed sections with risk of falling, scree, slopes mixed with rock without a trace.
- Requirements: very sure-footed; good hiking boots; average orienteering skills; basic mountain experience desirable.

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Nice hike. Between the pond and the pass, which is more difficult physically, you have to use your hands from time to time: you sometimes lose the tracks there. But the ridge on the way back to the car park is very nice.

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I'd like to highlight several points to be careful of:
We did it with bivouac rucksacks (around 13kg), the route was quite complicated (points, 3-4-5) at times because of these rucksacks.
There's a lot of climbing between points 3-4-5. You really shouldn't be afraid of heights.
The route is difficult to find from point 3 onwards, but the markers and cairns are fairly regular and help a little.
Between 3 and 4 we couldn't follow the route indicated on the map because we were facing a pass full of rocks that were almost impossible to climb (there weren't even any markers or cairns left). So we followed the yellow route and the cairns on the left (on the map there's the route and just to the left there's another red dotted route that goes a little lower than route 4). However, you need to be extremely careful as this passage involves climbing on the flat rock face with few holds.

From point 5 to 7, the passage over the ridges is not too difficult and the scenery is magnificent.

The route is very popular.

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Superb hike, with exceptional views from the top of the peak. Quite a few people up to the étang d'Arbu (families, bathers, drones...) after that, it becomes more technical and physical, so less frequented. If you're walking on a sunny day, remember to protect yourself as there's no shade at all. The "technical" passages (climbing) may impress those who are sensitive to vertigo. A superb section along the ridge with vultures. The descent is steep and long, but the hike is well worth it!

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In the description of the route, it is noted: "Caution! the first part of the route includes some technical sections..." I would be more inclined to say "most of the route..." because we were surprised (and not just ourselves, after discussions with other hikers) by the difficulties of the ascent (climbing level 2 or even 2+, in my opinion).
Best regards RR/CH

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Follow the signs after the Etang d'Arbu, with a few technical sections.

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