Col, Lac and Refuge d'Arlet from Aubise

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This hike will take you to a wild area where you can discover Lac d'Arlet and Refuge d'Arlet, then to the border pass, which offers a splendid 360° view of both sides.
On the French side, you can admire a magnificent panorama, including the Pic du Midi d'Ossau.
On the Spanish side, there is a view of Aragon with the easily recognisable Castillo de Acher, the Pic de Bisaurin, and the magnificent green valley of Aguas Tuertas.

Details

n°2194851
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.99 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,003 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,002 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,094 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,156 m
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Photos

View of the valley and the Gave du Baralet river.
Lac d'Arlet
Waterfall
Landscape before the Pacheu hut

Description of the walk

(S/E) Continue along the small road after the house.

(1) At the EDF dam, take the path that climbs to the right.

(2) Pass in front of the "Pacheu" hut. Very good cheese is sold there.

(3) Cross a small bridge. The path then becomes rockier and climbs more steeply to reach the top of the cirque. The path then becomes less steep. Cross the Gave du Baralet.

(4) Pass by a beautiful waterfall.

(5) Pass the Gourgue Sec hut. The Laquet de Gourge Sec lake is behind it, but is not particularly interesting. From the hut, you can see the Lurbé Nord-Ouest hut.
Caution: you will naturally be drawn towards this hut. Do not head towards it.
Follow the path due west, which remains high up and passes well above the hut on the left. At the fork further on, continue to the right.

(6) Pass to the right of Lac d'Arlet to reach the refuge. To reach Col d'Arlet, pass to the left of the refuge and follow the good path leading there due west. The path then turns south-west. Col d'Arlet, clearly visible, is located between Pic d'Arlet on the left and Pic d'Aillary on the right.

(7) At Col d'Arlet, turn around and descend via the same route until you reach (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,183 m - Departure from the car park at the house known as "Lamourane".
  2. 1 : km 1.27 - alt. 1,209 m - EDF water intake. Take the path on the right.
  3. 2 : km 3.25 - alt. 1,437 m - Pacheu Hut
  4. 3 : km 3.36 - alt. 1,446 m - Bridge
  5. 4 : km 4.96 - alt. 1,803 m - Waterfall
  6. 5 : km 5.33 - alt. 1,838 m - Gourgue Sec hut
  7. 6 : km 7.61 - alt. 1,992 m - Arlet Refuge - Lac d'Arlet
  8. 7 : km 8.36 - alt. 2,093 m - Col d'Arlet
  9. S/E : km 16.99 - alt. 1,183 m - Departure from the car park at the house known as "Lamourane".

Notes

To reach the starting point, leave the RN134 before the Urdos bridge, on the right.
The road passes under a bridge. Ignore the first turn-off on the left and continue straight on towards Aubise.
Please note: the road is very narrow and cannot accommodate two vehicles passing each other. Look out for the (few) passing places.
Continue to the house known as Lamourane. There is a small car park on the left where you can park.
Arrive early: during the season, the (very) small car park fills up quickly.

Additional information:
From the Col d'Arlet (7), follow the ridge on the right to climb to the summit of Pic d'Aillary.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
cantagrel
cantagrel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike (completed in just under 4 hours!) in stunning surroundings. I only encountered one group of three people on the way down.
As recommended in several comments, I returned via Belonce Wood to make a circular route rather than a return trip.
The route is easy to follow, and in my opinion, it's impossible to get lost.
The only slight hiccup was that a large area of land on the descent had been dug up (by wild boars?), including on the path, and I twisted my ankles three times without consequence, despite being careful.

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Margotic
Margotic
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, not very busy, swimming in the lake at the end. Encountered most of Noah's Ark (sheep, pigs, horses, cows, donkeys, vultures, chamois...)
I did it over two days, camping near the refuge. Like others, I did a circular hike, returning via the Belonce valley after climbing Pic d'Arlet. The hike is perhaps a little short for two days, but it was a wonderful way to get back into shape!

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thaxac
thaxac

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, pleasant and relatively easy up to the refuge and Lake Arlet.
We set off from the Aubise car park, and as "CCDP" advises below, I also recommend doing a circular route and returning to the car park via the other side (see the website www.pyrenees-bearnaises.com. Tour no. 68 entitled "Tour du lac d'Arlet" (Tour of Lake Arlet).

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CCDP
CCDP

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike is one of the most beautiful in the Aspe Valley! However, the yellow markings (except at the very beginning) are virtually non-existent. There are a few cairns and sections of the GR trail, but it is easy to get lost.
Furthermore, rather than doing a round trip, I recommend doing a circular route; at the Arlet refuge, instead of retracing your steps, a path descends through the wild Belonce valley. This makes the distance 17.2 km and the total elevation gain 2074 m. For your information, the refuge has reopened.
Like Étienne, I recommend consulting the website www.pyrenees-bearnaises.com. This is tour no. 68 entitled "Tour du lac d'Arlet" (Arlet Lake Tour)...

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Latoulousaine
Latoulousaine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A hike I do every year without ever getting tired of it. Magnificent.
Option to do a circular route via the Belonce Valley.
Dogs are not allowed as it is a national park and out of respect for the shepherds.
Please note
The Arlet refuge is closed for the 2022 season due to renovation work!

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bthalamas
bthalamas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant and easy walk, well signposted.

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didier.lama
didier.lama

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Varied and beautiful landscapes. The climbs are gradual and pleasant. In addition, you have the option of climbing the Pic d'Allary.
We saw very few people.

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