Cirque de Garbettou and Étang du Garbet

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The rocky section between the Gardettou cirque and the Gardet pond is long and very difficult.

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Date of your route : Jul 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A friend and I hiked this trail, "Cirque de Garbettou and Étang de Garbet," on 30 July 2025. It is a very beautiful hike. On that date, it was very humid and therefore slippery. The trail is well marked. At the start of the circuit, as you climb into the beech forest, the trail is difficult to follow due to the numerous gullies created in early spring. On the second part, after crossing the Garbet, the trail climbs up to a very steep section with numerous boulders. The trail is particularly difficult and technical until you reach the ridge and the Étang du Garbet.

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Date of your route : Jul 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Difficult, but we were rewarded once we arrived.
Completed in 4 hours

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Date of your route : Nov 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, the markers are quite visible
The climb up to the cirque at the lake is technical (large rocks, so a bit of climbing) and it's very wet + black ice and snow
Magnificent view with snow-capped mountains

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Date of your route : Oct 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike!
As indicated, the time of 3 hours and 35 minutes is ambitious; add a good half hour for the return trip.
The markings may be faded or obscured, so be careful on the climb.
Without a doubt one of the most beautiful spots in the area!

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Hello Raymon2A,
Thank you for this information. We have just added a message in the introduction regarding the time required for this hike to warn Visorandonneurs following the various comments left on this route.

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Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

as I am a good walker in the mountains, I would add 30 minutes to the times to give a more accurate schedule for walkers, otherwise it's perfect

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Date of your route : Jul 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike! We started at 10 a.m. and didn't see anyone else on the entire climb, only a few people on the way down around 4 p.m. The first part in the forest is nice, the cirque is superb, as is the pond. I didn't find the trail that difficult. On the way, you can also walk along the river for a while and sit by a small waterfall, which is really pleasant, especially in sunny weather! There are lots of lovely places to stop for a break or a picnic in peace and quiet.

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Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The difficulty rating is underestimated because in some places it is almost like climbing on large slippery boulders, especially as it was raining on the day.
The Couserans tourist office classifies it as a challenging route.
A very beautiful hike, starting through rounded, moss-covered forests, with an interesting cirque at Garbettou (but significant snow melt) which we were able to glimpse on the way back!
There was a lot of fog and rain during the Whitsun holiday, so we gave up shortly before the lake, but visibility was too poor to assess. We were soaked and dreaded the descent after the difficult climb.
To be repeated with sunshine and blue skies!

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Following various comments posted about this hike, its difficulty has been changed from Moderate to Difficult.

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Date of your route : Apr 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

I agree with the previous reviews. The first half of the route, up to the Cirque, is moderately difficult. However, the section from the Cirque to the Etang du Garbet is difficult and technical. It's more like scrambling than hiking. You should also allow an extra 50 minutes for the climb from the car park to the lake.
It would be good if this information could be corrected.
Otherwise, it's a very pretty setting.

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Date of your route : Feb 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very well marked trail (except for the snowy sections).
The difficulty rating does not reflect reality. A large part of the hike is really difficult and very technical. The elevation gain also seems greater than stated on the website. Furthermore, do not rely on the weather forecast. One hour from the cirque to the lake is impossible; you should allow almost twice as long.
I couldn't get to the lake because the area was snowy and I wasn't equipped for it. If you want to do this hike in the next few days, remember to bring your snowshoes!

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Date of your route : Oct 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful, varied and well-marked walk. It starts in the woods, then gradually becomes more challenging with some rock walking. Magnificent views.

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Date of your route : Oct 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The average classification of the hike is not correct for the second part from the Garbettou cirque, which can be described as difficult both uphill and downhill because the rocks are large and can be slippery.
Do not take children or people with balance difficulties.

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Date of your route : Aug 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike.
The cirque is magnificent and the lake is very nice.
The first climb (up to the cirque) is fairly easy, the second is a little steeper.
It was on the descent that I really felt the difficulty of this hike (your knees really get a workout
A must-do!

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