Col and Lac de Soum - Col de Cantau from Marsous

Access: on leaving Lourdes, follow the D821 dual carriageway towards Cauterets and Luz-Saint-Sauveur.
The dual carriageway becomes a road with a speed limit of 90km/h. Turn right at the first roundabout towards Cauterets D821a. At the next roundabout, go straight ahead, then immediately turn right towards Arrens-Marsous. At the next roundabout, turn completely left, 180°, towards Arrens Marsous (route d'Aubisque) D918. Continue along this road. At the entrance to Marsous, at the church, turn left and park in the small car park.

There are a few signposts in good condition along this hike. The old yellow markings, which are not very visible, and small wooden posts can be very useful.

(S/E) Depart from the church. Head west, following a sign for Les Artigaux - Arrens (red and yellow markings). After 100 metres, turn left heading south and follow Rue Canaou, which ends in the summer pasture.

(1) Turn right (end of the red and yellow markings) to follow the track, heading towards Les Artigaux, on the right bank of the Canaou stream.
The hike now begins in earnest and the path climbs continuously (old yellow markings).

(2) After 200m, there is a fork in the path. Take the left fork, heading due west, leaving the track that branches off to the right. Continue climbing up an old, steep, paved track. The slope becomes gentler and the track remains in the woods. At the fork, take the right fork towards the Soum lake area. Pass the altitude of 957m, cross a track and join the road.

(3) Go straight ahead to cross the road leading up to the Col du Soulor (D918) twice and continue climbing. Follow the old yellow markings still visible in places.

(4) You will come to a small road on a left-hand bend. Continue straight ahead, north-west, on a wide path and cross the small road twice. Continue for about 800m. Ignore all the tracks on the right and left and arrive at the 1219m point (path on the right).

(5) Leave the path on the right (return) and continue straight ahead on the track for about 300m, towards Lac de Soum.

(6) Cross a cattle grid (1260m) and arrive at a crossroads. Leave the first track on the right. Climb up the second track, following the direction of Lac de Soum. Use the old yellow markings and wooden posts. Pass a large barn and cross the Hosse stream. Pass under the 1452m altitude and arrive at a drinking trough. Head west and arrive at Col de Soum at 1532m (end of the yellow markings).

(7) Turn right heading due north. Climb up following the Crête de la Serre ridge (red and white^GR®101markings). Lac de Soum is below you on your left. Pass the 1595m altitude then descend towards the pass.

(8) Arrive at the Col de Cantau and the wooden hut (1543m). Turn right, heading due east. Leave the red and white markings. There are no more markings. Pass to the left of the point with an altitude of 1529m. Walk along the rock face on your left. Follow a beautiful path that remains flat. At the end of the rock face, turn right towards a barn below. Stay on the left bank of the Ruisseau de Hosse stream. Simply follow a low stone wall on your left. You will arrive at the point with an altitude of 1407m.

(9) Pass a beautiful barn on your left. Continue downhill until you reach a wide path between two low walls. Continue downhill, following the path along the low wall on your left. You will rejoin the track you took on the way up, where you will find the yellow markings. You will arrive at the WPT cattle grid.

(6) Turn left and take the path back down the way you came up.

(5) Turn left onto a path, crossing the small Canau stream, towards Marsous. The path descends due east, following the left bank of the Caubère stream. At around 1000m, the slope becomes steeper and the path requires careful attention in a muddy area. After a few hairpin bends, you can see the road below.

(10) Arrive at the D918 road. Caution: busy road in summer. Cross this road. Turn right and follow the left-hand side of the road. Caution: at the entrance to the village of Marsous, the road becomes very narrow for a few metres. Arrive at the church and return to the vehicles (S/E).

Please note: this hike requires a good sense of direction.

There is a drinking water source at the start of the hike opposite the church.
Before reaching the Col de Soum, when crossing the stream, there is a drinking trough.

A day of snowshoeing requires mountain equipment. You will therefore need hot drinks, gloves, a hat, poles, snowshoes, sunglasses, warm clothing, a map, a description and a GPS track.

Continuing along the road a little further, you will arrive at Arrens Marsous, which has various shops and accommodation options. From here, in summer, there are many hikes of varying levels of difficulty.

Val d'Azun

Arrens Marsous