Country:
District:
(S/E) Depart from the Pont d'Espagne car park. Follow the wide path that leads to the Puntas cable car arrival station. Cross the Pont d'Espagne (waterfall). Continue along the path to the Chalet du Clot.
(1) At Chalet du Clot, leave the path, which branches off to the left, and continue straight on to the Plateau du Clot, passing below a ski slope. The path, which is relatively unmarked at the beginning, passes under the ski lift. The path crosses a small wooded area and then approaches the Gave du Marcadau. Follow the river for a good while, passing more or less close to the water, crossing wetlands and meadows where herds of cows sometimes graze. The route is not difficult, either in terms of elevation or orientation, until you reach the Pont du Cayan. Cross the bridge.
(2) Ignore the paths that branch off to the left and take the one in front of you.
Please note: the path is not very well marked for a few dozen metres. Then rejoin the main path. A few dozen metres further on, you will come to a Y-junction. Turn right at the junction with the main path. The path crosses the forest to the Pont d'Estalounqué bridge.
Alternative: you can continue on the main path to the left. The path is longer but less steep.
(3) Cross the Pont d'Estalounqué bridge over the Gave du Marcadau. The stream is now on your left. Follow it for several hundred metres, then the path climbs into the pine forest. Continue on your way until you reach a fork shortly after leaving the forest (footbridge on your left).
(4) Continue straight ahead and ignore the path on your left (you must not cross the stream again). After a short stretch through the woods, you will arrive at the Wallon-Marcadau Refuge.
(5) The return journey follows the same route.
(2) Just before the Pont du Cayan bridge, you can continue along the path that branches off to the right. Both paths lead back to the starting point (S/E).
Visorando member
Difficult 
