Etang d'Ayes, return via the Col d'Auèdole

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed in reverse. As a result, the initial climb is quite steep but relatively easy and, above all, shaded by the forest. The arrival at the pass and the descent to the lake offer magnificent scenery.
Please note that swimming is prohibited by municipal decree on all high-altitude lakes.
The descent to the cirque and its waterfall does not present any particular difficulties.
The end of the hike along the forest track allows you to finish at a leisurely pace.
This is a fairly busy route. Take care on the return track, which has a lot of traffic up to Lake Bethmale.

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Date of your route : Aug 26, 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.
Check the elevation gains in the cumulative elevation profile

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Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant hike, perhaps better to do it in the opposite direction.

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Date of your route : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Better signposting for the first part up to the lake than there was about a year ago.
Not too crowded for this time of year.
Nice swim in the lake after the climb.

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

we went on a hike on a foggy day and had trouble seeing the pond, but once it came into view, the place was very beautiful and pleasant.
the route is very varied and well worth doing.

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Date of your route : Feb 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route completed in winter weather and in the opposite direction.
The road was closed after Bethmale Pond (car park completely snowed in). We followed the route described in the hike "from Bethmale Lake to Ayes Pond", which is circular in the opposite direction. It takes about 2 hours longer without any significant difficulty.
Starting from Lake Bethmale, you can take the path that climbs into the forest or the track. The path is not recommended in winter conditions, but it was very passable for us with good hiking boots and poles (very, very useful). It climbs fairly gradually with a few switchbacks on a beautiful shaded slope. You join the circular at point 6.
When we reached point 6, our path was almost entirely covered with snow (10-20 cm, quite soft), so we found it easier to go via the pass before heading to the lake. On the way back, the climb up the forest track is gentler, which is pleasant on the return journey.
This hike is accessible and offers beautiful panoramic views (panoramic view at the pass, snow-covered Lake Ayes and icefall for us). The only difficulty we identified was the passage over a snowfield at the Auédole pass, which could have been complicated if there had been more snow. The short passage between the Eliet hut and the pass seems to be at risk of avalanches in the event of unstable snow cover. Be careful and turn back if necessary! And don't forget your sunglasses and sunscreen if you're hiking in snowy weather. Enjoy your walk!

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Date of your route : Jul 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route from the CAMPULS cirque, very pleasant lake
The path from the CAMPULS hut is not easy to find

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Date of your route : Sep 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a stunning mountain lake with emerald waters that is definitely worth a visit.
we got lost on the climb just after the Campuls refuge. The signposting is poor or even non-existent. We went straight on along a pseudo-path that was quite steep and stony, and a little dangerous, but we quickly found the normal route again.
quite a steep ascent and descent.
occasionally there were cows in the middle of the path.

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Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It took us 5 hours to complete the route, which is supposed to take just over 3 hours.
The swim in Hayes Pond is very refreshing after the climb to get there!

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Date of your route : Aug 19, 2023
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 done with the family, including children aged 4 and 9, with a camp at the lake. Children need to be good walkers because it's a steep climb to get to the lake.

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Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike, very easy to do. Don't hesitate to take a short detour to see the waterfall up close. The lake is a bit crowded, but people are scattered about.

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Date of your route : Nov 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The directions weren't clear enough, so we got lost several times. From 1 November, you can't drive to the car park. You have to leave your car at Lake Bethmale and walk. This is where you might take the wrong road. What's more, the signposts aren't everywhere, and in foggy weather you can't see where to go next.

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

A lovely route, easy in dry weather, with a very pleasant swim (even if the water was starting to get a bit chilly). Done during the week, but still quite busy at the pond as the GR10 trail passes by there.

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Date of your route : Sep 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, easy hike with a lovely view upon arrival at the lake.
No particular difficulties, the climb from the Cirque de Campuls is a little steep but not too long. We extended the day by about an hour, heading to the Eychelle lake from the Col d'Auèdole. It would be a shame to miss this detour! What's more, you can take two different paths to and from this second lake, offering very varied landscapes.
The descent from the Col d'Auèdole is the least interesting part of the outing (in the middle of the trees), but it is not particularly difficult.

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Date of your route : Sep 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed on a Sunday at the end of August. Lots of people at the lake. The climb is short but steep – I recommend using walking poles for the descent.

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