From Orlu to the Refuge d'en Beys

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Hiking along the Oriège River to the Refuge d'En Beys.

⚠️ You are entering the Orlu National Hunting and Wildlife Reserve, where regulations must be observed. See practical information.

Details

n°2197370
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.95 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 880 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 872 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,968 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,137 m
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Photos

The Refuge d'en Beys
En Beys Pond
Arrival at the Étang d'en Beys before the refuge
On the final climb ;-)

Description of the walk

Departure from the Fanguil-Chalet, free parking.
Turning around, you will see the Pic de Brasseil, commonly known as the Dent d'Orlu, to the north-west.

Yellow markings

(S/E) From the car park, turn right to cross the Oriège. Continue uphill on the left bank.

(1) Continue right along the track and go through the cattle gate. You will arrive at Jasse de Justiniac. Continue uphill along the track.

Red and white markings

(2) At Jasse de Justiniac, leave the footbridge on your left. Keep following the same left bank, now on theGR®® 7.

(3) The Jasse du Printemps marks your arrival in a small valley. Keep your eyes open!
You may see marmots, chamois and even trout in the Oriège.

(4) Turn left and cross a footbridge to reach the right bank of the Oriège.
The slope becomes steeper. The first part of the path is in the forest. Watch out for roots. Pass through some earthy sections and finish on a scree slope.

(5) Snowfields may still be present at the beginning of the season. Be careful, it is quite steep.

(6) You can finish the hike in the old irrigation channel. This is easier than the path, which has been covered with stones over a large section.

(7) At the Étangs d'en Beys, the refuge is only a few metres away. Enjoy the scenery! On a clear day, it's magnificent!

(8) Return to the Fanguil car park via the same route (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,137 m - Fanguil car park - Oriège (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.76 - alt. 1,187 m - Keep to the right. Track
  3. 2 : km 2.41 - alt. 1,306 m - GR 7. Continue climbing up the left bank.
  4. 3 : km 3.25 - alt. 1,390 m - Jasse du Printemps
  5. 4 : km 4.88 - alt. 1,443 m - Cross the small bridge.
  6. 5 : km 7.28 - alt. 1,930 m - Presence of snowfields at the start of the season.
  7. 6 : km 7.44 - alt. 1,966 m - Old water supply canal
  8. 7 : km 7.71 - alt. 1,957 m - Étang d'En Beys
  9. 8 : km 7.98 - alt. 1,964 m - Refuge d'en Beys
  10. S/E : km 15.95 - alt. 1,137 m - Fanguil car park

Notes

The hiking trail is wide and well marked. The climb to the refuge takes approximately 3 hours and 25 minutes.
Walking sticks are recommended in summer and at the start of the season.
Rocky terrain and snowfields.

National reserve: rules to follow

A national reserve is a protected natural area. Its regulations, adapted to the local context, are designed to preserve this exceptional area for future generations. They are based on common sense and good citizenship.

It is forbidden to:

  • leave the marked trails,

  • light fires,

  • litter,

  • fly drones,

  • pick plants,

  • camping (only bivouacking is permitted between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m.),

  • walking with dogs, even on a leash,

  • hunting (prohibited),

  • fishing (strictly regulated).

All these prohibitions are set out inthe prefectural decree of 1 September 2020.
👉 Failure to comply is punishable by a fine of €135 (4th class offence).

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 19 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
DORANHE
DORANHE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, although it is indeed very hot in the scree on the last section, with no shade at all before the old canal.
we saw five izards on the way back.

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User 3291909

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike. However, the trail is a bit boring on the way there and back. Magnificent refuge

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User 3104495
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with our 9-year-old son. Note: Parking cost €2.50, cash only.
We saw marmots (it's best to have binoculars) but no chamois. The trail was very well marked with beautiful scenery. The climb took 3 hours and the descent 2½ hours. Thank you for this hike!

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User 9148981

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike, clear explanations, thank you to your website!

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jean marc 31
jean marc 31

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Beautiful hike. Encountered marmots and chamois as promised. No difficulties

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Seb406
Seb406

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike on Saturday. After an hour's walk, we saw marmots and chamois. The route was very good, with no difficult climbs to the refuge and magnificent views.

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jean marc 31
jean marc 31
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

on the way back, at Jasse du Printemps, we encountered marmots and chamois, as promised. A pleasant hike, partly shaded, which is appreciated in hot weather
Please note that the refuge is closed out of season, but parking is free

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Jacques-Olivier G.
Jacques-Olivier G.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We set off from the Maison des Loups in Orlu and it took us four hours to reach the Refuge. If the sky is clear and it's very hot, it's best to set off in the morning as the second half of the hike is mostly in direct sunlight (except for the start of the climb, which is in the forest). Check the weather forecast: we were caught in a thunderstorm an hour before we were due to arrive
A magnificent, relaxing setting. Descent via Lake Fanguil: the start of the climb is steep but perfectly doable if you take your time. Descent to the dam: pleasant to very pleasant, in a sumptuous setting. The end of the walk in the forest is less enjoyable but overall, this is a hike to recommend and definitely worth doing

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Timmy
Timmy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Family walk, well frequented, encounter with marmots in an idyllic setting.

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Stendhale23
Stendhale23

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I did this hike alone, at my own pace, and it took me three hours to climb up.
The descent took a little less time, and I enjoyed watching the marmots on the way back.
The terrain can be slippery in places.
This hike is best done in the morning, as the route is mostly in the shade.

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CG2513
CG2513

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike that requires considerable effort but is entirely feasible
Very busy, the refuge was fully booked and there were lots of tents pitched around it, but the place is well worth it.

No need for a description of the hike, easy to follow and well signposted

It took us 3.5 hours to make the climb with two young people (aged 12 and 15) and our trekking bags in very hot weather.

We came back down the next morning with ahttps://www.visorando.com/randonnee-refu
The two hikes combined are 23 km, with an elevation gain of 1,300 m, and take about 10 hours including breaks. Be careful, you don't arrive at the starting point! (There are about 3 km left to reach the Fanguil car park where we parked.)

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Caballero
Caballero

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, completed in 6 hours

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Pierrette.L
Pierrette.L

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

''A very beautiful hike, with a long climb but well worth the effort when you reach Lac d'En Beys. You need to allow more time than planned, especially if you only go hiking once a year. Unfortunately, we only had time for a picnic before a storm threatened to drive us away from this peaceful spot. We'll be back!

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Gom
Gom

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A beautiful hike, even though we took a slightly different route. We followed the directions for the outward journey, camped at the end of the En Beys lake (after the refuge) and returned via the Naguilles lake to complete the loop. This made it much longer (and more difficult)
In any case, the hike to the refuge is well worth it. The entire first part, which is sheltered, is very pleasant, thanks in particular to the presence of water throughout the climb (or almost) and all the way to the refuge. Good to know: there is a spring on the climb well before the refuge, ideal for filling your water bottles with fresh water. And blueberries everywhere! We also saw quite a few marmots (but no chamois, sniff). In short, it was nice.

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bauti
bauti

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A classic, but every hiker should experience the Orlu Wildlife Nature Park. Sumptuous landscapes. To get to the lake and the refuge, allow about 3 hours. The first part is a false flat, so it's fairly easy, but the second part is a real mountain hike, but it's well worth the effort! I'd say it's moderately difficult. Go for it!
We returned by the same route, but there are other options!

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