Cier-de-Rivière - Loop via the Couret and Lauach passes

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This hike in the Haut Comminges is pleasant, with little elevation gain, no difficulty and well marked. Most of the route is in the woods, so it is particularly recommended in summer or autumn. In addition, if you want to take a break, there is a picnic table at the Col de Lauach.

Details

n°860955
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.42 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 242 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 247 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 601 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 423 m
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Photos

Panoramic view towards the Lauach Pass
Stone bridge
A reminder of the past
The Dinosaur

Description of the walk

Town hall car park.

(S/E) Take Rue Taoule opposite for 100 metres. Cross a small square (do not turn right) and continue for 50 metres.

(1) Take the small road on the left and follow the yellow markings. Stay on this main road.

(2) At the three-way junction where the road turns into a path, turn left

(3) Turn left (note that the markings are not very visible at this point) and continue to the junction with the D33L.

(4) Turn left (yellow markings) and follow the road for 400 metres (be careful, the road is busy).

(5) At the sign for "Forêt Domaniale de Cier de Rivière", take the path on the right and immediately turn right. Follow the path through the woods and the sign for "Col de Lauach" (yellow markings). Cross the Col de Couret.

(6) Take the path on the left towards "Col de Lauach". From this fairly long path, you can see the peaks of Gar and Cagire on your right.

(7) Take the path that climbs slightly to the left towards "Col de Lauach" and continue to the pass.

(8) At the pass, follow the path that climbs to the left for about 150 metres.

(9) Turn sharply left onto the path that leads in the opposite direction. Stay on this path, ignoring the paths that branch off on either side.

(10) Take the small tarmac road on the left towards Cier-de-Rivière for 400 metres.

(11) At the T-junction, turn right and follow this road until it crosses the D33L. Continue right for just over 200 metres. At the entrance to Cier-de-Rivière, turn left. The last 100 metres before the town hall car park are quite steep (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 451 m - Town hall car park
  2. 1 : km 0.21 - alt. 453 m - Yellow markings on the left
  3. 2 : km 1.49 - alt. 469 m - Three-way junction, left
  4. 3 : km 1.67 - alt. 464 m - Junction, on the left
  5. 4 : km 2.33 - alt. 453 m - Turn left onto the D33L
  6. 5 : km 2.74 - alt. 449 m - Sign, path on the right
  7. 6 : km 4.37 - alt. 489 m - On the left: Col de Lauach
  8. 7 : km 6.54 - alt. 570 m - On the left: Col de Lauach
  9. 8 : km 6.65 - alt. 580 m - Col de Lauach (581m)
  10. 9 : km 6.79 - alt. 601 m - On the left opposite
  11. 10 : km 8.46 - alt. 457 m - Turn left onto the tarmac road towards Cier-de-Rivière
  12. 11 : km 8.87 - alt. 463 m - On the right, take the tarmac road
  13. S/E : km 10.42 - alt. 451 m - Town hall car park

Notes

Access from Toulouse or Tarbes:
- A64 exit 17 (A645) for 6 km until you reach the large roundabout.
- Large roundabout: take the 4th exit towards Saint-Gaudens for 1.5 km.
- Turn right (D8b) towards Cier de Rivière, drive through the village to the town hall, which is easily recognisable as it is an imposing late 19th-century building. This is one of the few places to park.

Standard hiking equipment, no water source.
Please note that between points (4) and (5), you will be walking alongside the D33L for 400 metres. The road seems to be quite busy, so please be careful.

Worth a visit

Curious town hall-school in Cier-de-Rivière and visit to the village.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 20 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
3.9 / 5
User 18099540

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Very well-described route. Hike as described.
Be aware that it is very long between points 1 and 2 and there are few markings: you walk along a street, which eventually leads to the forest, passing houses and lodges.

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User 2459813

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

good description, but the tags on the trees need to be refreshed

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Jasper399
Jasper399

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The tour was conducted in very hot weather, and the shade was greatly appreciated. The suggested time of 3 hours and 40 minutes is quite generous.

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patou09
patou09

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

great hike, enjoyable for the whole family, no major complications.
beautiful forest crossing

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Bolda
Bolda

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

An easy hike through the forest, a bit monotonous but very pleasant as it was done in hot weather.

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egres34
egres34

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It's a pleasant hike through forests, so it's 90% shaded. It must be nice when it's really hot.
We did it in early October 2022 and it was great, and we didn't meet anyone else.
I recommend it for people who enjoy the undergrowth.

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bartoche
bartoche

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, well-marked route that is easy to follow, shaded for almost the entire length and really not difficult.
on the other hand, with little elevation and few hills, with deciduous trees and at this time of year, there are no mountain landscapes or panoramic views to enjoy.
The only downside is the section along the busy road, which has curves and does not have a wide enough shoulder to walk on; when two cars pass each other, it can be dangerous!

With a break at the Lauach pass (picnic table), the circuit can be completed in 3 hours.

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Sab!
Sab!

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike undertaken in intense heat, nothing special to see but we enjoyed this mainly shaded route.
The GPS file was very useful as we reversed the direction of the walk. We extended the walk with a swim in Lake Montréjeau, not far from Cier-de-Rivière.

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bardoumagniez
bardoumagniez

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Reliable signposting! A very pleasant hike in every respect. In hot weather, it's ideal on a wooded trail.

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jlucnet
jlucnet
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The walk is mainly through woodland, as indicated in the description, and is perhaps best done in autumn to enjoy the colours and chestnuts.
No real difficulty, some areas still wet in mid-May 2022 and great caution required on the roadside (5 cars encountered).

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Fifi59
Fifi59

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very pleasant outing despite the descent from Col de Lauach being very muddy due to the weather conditions of the previous days.

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Patrick A
Patrick A

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route, best done in spring or autumn as it is mainly in the forest and therefore rich in flora.
very true to the description.

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lecbalcaz
lecbalcaz

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Good, very good route, well signposted

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JL Guionie
JL Guionie

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant woodland route on this warm day. No difficulty!
True to the description.
Thank you for this information sheet.
Kind regards.

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dionyzik
dionyzik

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A fairly easy hike (not too steep) but one that deserves its medium rating due to its length and the long straight stretch that climbs up to the Lauach Pass. At the top, there is a table where you can stop for a very pleasant picnic. There are no extraordinary views, but it is ideal in summer as there is plenty of shade.

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