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Go to the "du Pountas" pay car park at Pont d'Espagne via the D920 from Cauterets. Keep your parking ticket. Remember that you must then follow the green signs for pedestrians and snowshoers imposed by the Park.
(S/E) From the car park, head towards the large building. Pass under this Pyrenees National Park building.
This is normally where you can put on your snowshoes.
To start the hike, follow the signs for walkers and snowshoers straight ahead; you will soon pass a footbridge and turn right. You will arrive at the famous "Pont d'Espagne" (which is now closed to traffic all year round). To the left of this bridge, admire the impressive "Pont d'Espagne" waterfall.
(1) Go around the bar-hotel-restaurant on the right and stay on the right-hand side. In the left-hand bend behind the hotel, go up to the right to avoid the snow-covered road that serves as a track. Follow the green markings, staying one behind the other. Pass to the left and below the Puntas cable car station. You will arrive at the Clot refuge car park. ¹
Do not turn left onto the two bridges over the Gave du Marcadau, but continue straight ahead, heading south-west, to reach the edge of the children's ski area.
(2) Turn right behind the nets, head north-west and head towards the forest planted on the mountainside on the rocks. Turn left due west, climbing a small ledge.
(3) When you leave the forest, turn left towards a bridge over the Gave du Marcadau river.
Caution: in this area, you will be walking alongside skiers. ¹
Follow the green markings for snowshoes parallel to the piste. Walk along the right bank of the torrent, leaving the ski slopes behind. The piste describes a large curve to the west.
(4). Continue to follow the piste southwards, still on the right bank. Leave the return bridge on your right.
(5) Join the track, which you should follow as recommended in the Practical Information section, turning right towards the south-southwest. Pass the altitude 1620 m. You will arrive at the end of the track. On your right is the Pont Du Cayan bridge, which you should not cross. This is a large open area at the bottom of the Cayan plateau valley.
Continue left uphill. ¹
(6) After 200 m, turn right through the fir trees onto a very steep path that avoids the track, which is closed to walkers and snowshoers. This path heads south into a sort of valley for 300 m.
(7) Return to the track, turn right, staying on the side and descending slightly to the Pont d'Estalounqué bridge at an altitude of 1715 m.
(8) Caution: cross the Gave du Marcadau via this rather narrow bridge.
This is where the real hike begins. After the bridge, follow an uphill path on the left bank that heads southwest, overlooking the river. A few switchbacks allow you to gain altitude. Continue southwest along this path until you reach a fork at a footbridge, which you will leave on your left.
(9) Turn right and climb a small "rampaillon" or steep slope that leads to the Wallon-Marcadau refuge.
When you reach the refuge, you can rest for a while. It is normally open in winter when there is snow.
(10). To the south, a magnificent view awaits you. To the west, very close to the refuge, there is a chapel.
It is easy to imagine all the hikes that can be done during the summer.
After resting, you will need to think about the return journey, which will follow the same route in reverse.
(9) Continue left along the same path you took on the way up.
(8) Estalounqué Bridge. Go up to the left along the track you took on the way there for 600 m. ¹
(7) At the right-hand bend, turn left into a north-facing valley. After 800 m, turn left towards the Gave du Marcadau river and cross the Pont du Cayan bridge.
(11). Turn right and head north-east, on the left bank of the Gave du Marcadau, along a snowshoe trail that is quite far from the river and passes by an unnamed hut (1,621 m). At around 1,629 m, the trail heads north for 100 m then turns east to reach a footbridge that crosses the river again.
(4) Now follow the right bank trail taken on the way up, crossing the river again. ¹
(3) Continue downhill, leaving the Pontas cable car arrival point on your left. Cross the Pont d'Espagne bridge over the river again, then the small footbridge once more, to reach the cars.
Note: You will need to pay the toll using your ticket when you leave.
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