Etang d'Appy via the Monts d'Olmes

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2025
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, I recommend it.

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Date of your route : Aug 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with magnificent scenery, but the slogan for the Ariège region, "it goes up and down", is very apt.
Right from the start, there's a 500 m climb over 4 km in the heat. The arrival at the Appy lake is magnificent.
The descent from the Appy pass is difficult with large steps and a steep slope.
Of course, once we arrived, despite the difficulties, we had a wonderful day. We left feeling enchanted.

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Date of your route : May 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The first part of the hike to the Cadène Pass is not very interesting, as it follows a ski slope, but the section from the Cadène Pass to the Etang d'Appy Pass is much more enjoyable. As indicated, the climb from the lake to the pass is a little steep but not particularly difficult.
Be careful, however, as we did this hike on 08/05/2025 and there was still quite a lot of snow, so make sure you have good footwear or crampons to avoid sliding down on your backside

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Date of your route : Jul 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with beautiful views of the lake. This is the main attraction, along with the view of the magnificent Mont d'Olmes.

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Date of your route : Jul 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

When the resort opened, the footpath through the woods was replaced by a track reserved for mountain bikes.
Pass under the ski lifts.

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Date of your route : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike with incredible views of the Pyrenees (on a clear day).
It's worth making a detour to the Pic du Han once you reach the Cadène Pass.
For the more adventurous, it's very pleasant to take a dip in the lake, but be careful, it's still quite cold!
I definitely recommend this hike 🙂

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Date of your route : Sep 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A few hesitations at the start due to a lack of landmarks. But in the end, we quickly found our way.
A beautiful hike offering magnificent views of the Ariège despite the overcast sky.
Be careful of the (very) strong wind when crossing the Cadène and Appy passes.

The start of the descent from the Appy pass towards the Fage-Belle lake is really steep and requires your attention. Don't rush.

I wouldn't recommend this route in wet weather.

Superb hike, thank you.

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Date of your route : Jul 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike with beautiful views. We started at the last car park at the resort, which is a little higher than the indicated starting point, and followed the marked trails. There were a few people at the pond (humans, donkeys and horses!), but otherwise it was a peaceful hike. At the Cadène pass, we pushed on to the Pic du Han for a picnic without any problems! The view is magnificent and we were lucky enough to see a bearded vulture up close as it was riding an updraft. The first part of the return trip is steep, so you need to be careful, but after that it's a pleasant walk. A magnificent hike!

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

Very nice hike! Two beautiful views of the Appy pond from the passes. There were people at the pond but not many on the trail. You have to watch where you walk on the descent after the Appy pass.
We did the hike with a dog (plus a local shopkeeper's dog who followed us) without any problems. We came across a large flock of sheep after the Cadène pass, with no guard dogs, so make sure you keep your dog on a lead.

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Date of your route : Jan 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Route completed today: 12/01/2022 - Hiking / Snowshoeing.

General: Superb route, varied, with superb views both to the north and south... Especially to the south!

Snow conditions: packed and hard on the first climb up to the pass. Then it gets worse. After the pass, you cross the slope with gradients of around 50° and no tracks.
As a result: GPS is essential and you need to be sure of your footing with around 30 cm of crusty snow.

Once above the lake, as described in the summer guide, the descent is steep. With the snow cover, you have to commit to the slope, but it is possible to make progress today with the same snow cover.

At the bottom, we had something to eat and admired the view.

Next, we climb towards the pass, heading due north. On the climb, still without any tracks, there is more snow and we sink in, up to about 50 cm. So we put on our snowshoes for greater comfort, even though the climb is not difficult, we can make out the path and it is not exposed.

Once at the pass - /!\ - snowshoes are required to descend at this time of year. The path is invisible and the slope is steep, ≥ 50°.
Until now, everything could be done more or less without snowshoes, but here they are essential to proceed safely and responsibly.

The first third of the descent is steep with several layers of solid snow, but even with snowshoes you sink in without warning.

The rest is relatively easy going, with a quick arrival at the starting point.

Essential equipment: 2 walking poles, GPS watch, snowshoes.
Thanks for the description, great route.

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Date of your route : Sep 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very enjoyable hike despite some steep sections. Very steep climb from the start, had to search for the first signpost, finally found it at the top of the ski lift, then everything was well signposted along the route. Superb views and the Appy lake is a great place to stop for a break. Just worth noting that there is no shade along the route. I did it in dry conditions, but some sections must be more technical in wet conditions.
Superb hike

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Hello,

i have a question: is this hike feasible in winter when the ski slopes are open?

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Date of your route : May 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb walk.
Be careful of snow on the way down to the Monts d'Olmes

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Date of your route : Sep 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for the lovely walk.
Best regards.
Lardenne.

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Date of your route : Sep 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that starts with a fairly steep climb and little of interest as you cross the ski resort... This section is not signposted, so you really have to cut across the fields to find the trail again higher up. After that, it's difficult to get lost as the trail is well signposted.
The Appy lake is a magnificent spot, but at the end of the season, the Etang de Fage Belle is almost dry! The hike is still very pleasant and the scenery is well worth the effort!

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