Etsaut walks

The work carried out by the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department and the Haut-Béarn community of municipalities to facilitate access to the Fort du Portalet, as well as the route through the upper Aspe valley for hikers and pilgrims (GR®65), has been completed and now allows visitors to discover this exceptional site in the best conditions of visibility and safety. Let's make the most of it!

One of the best-known paths in the Pyrenees, carved into the steep rock above the Gorges d'Enfer. The Chemin de la Mâture still echoes with the blows of the pickaxes of the convicts who dug it. An unforgettable page of history!

A short, well-shaded loop to explore the village of Lees and its surroundings. No difficulty except for carefully following the route at the numerous junctions and crossroads. Don't forget to look up, as the view over the Bedous valley is vast and picturesque! The starting point is easily accessible: the bus stop (on the N134) is very close by.

From Lescun, discover the Aiguilles d'Ansabère and the superb landscape of the Aspe Valley!

The not-to-be-missed Lacs d'Ayous, deep in the Ossau valley, with a magnificent view of the Pic du Midi d'Ossau.

Why Grand Tour? Because you have to pass by the Ayous Refuge in a setting that is, how can I put it? Sublime...

Ascent to Lac de Montagnon via the Cure det Cam hut. ⚠️ 02/07/2025: Parking in the car park is compulsory and subject to a fine:reservations are compulsory and free from 2 April to 30 November. See practical information. ⚠️ 22/05/2025: Departure car park changed following a municipal by-law.

This hike climbs steeply over a short distance but the path is passable. The hike takes you to Lake Escalar and the Col des Moines. It offers a variety of viewpoints.

A relatively short route to one of the best viewpoints in the upper Canfranc Valley, offering views of both Canfranc-Gare international station and the Candanchú ski resort.

This loop in the Ossau Valley offers a wide variety of peaks, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, aerial passages and remarkable 360° views. It is a challenging hike due to its significant elevation gain and passages where you need to use your hands, but it is not one you will forget. It adds difficulty and also enjoyment to the traditional loop by passing through the famous Passage d'Orteig, the Pic d'Arrious and the cliffs of the Barre d'Arrious!You will be following in the footsteps of Henry Russel, who climbed the Arriel via the normal route in July 1874 and gave a faithful account of his ascent in the Bulletin de la Société Ramond, under the title "Explorations pyrénéennes" in October 1874.Writing a description yourself forces a certain amount of humility, as his style, always generous, often lyrical and sometimes emphatic, commands respect! All this with the limited technical means of the time!

This loop in the Ossau Valley offers a wide variety of peaks, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, aerial passages and remarkable 360° views. It is a challenging hike due to its significant elevation gain and passages where you will need to use your hands, but it is sure to leave a lasting impression.You will be following in the footsteps of Henry Russel, who made the ascent in July 1874 and gave a faithful account of it in the Bulletin de la Société Ramond, under the title "Explorations pyrénéennes" in October 1874.Writing a description of it yourself requires a certain amount of humility, as his style, always generous, often lyrical and sometimes emphatic, commands respect! All this with the limited technical means of the time!

A lovely loop from Gourette that takes you past numerous lakes. Best undertaken in good weather. Part of the route is unmarked. The GPX track may prove very useful.Follow the directions in this description. You must ascend via the water channel.Classified as difficult due to a tricky (but safe) section on the old penstockReported on 08/09/2024: very recently, a handrail (chain) has been installed along the entire length of the penstock

Hike from the car park at the Fomigal Zona Anayet resort towards Lake Anayet. Follow the GR®11 trail. Pass through the Garganta and continue on to Lake Anayet. Once at the lake, the view of the Pic du Midi d'Ossau is magnificent, as are the setting, colours and reflections. You can also climb the Cuello de Anayet pass (2,414 m) and then the Punta del Garmo (2,555 m), which are off the trail.

Magnificent views of the French (Pic de Peyrelue, Soques, Balaïtous) and Spanish (Foratata, Sabocos, Pala de IP...) peaks of the Pyrenees on this moderately difficult loop trail, which goes around the El Forato massif, a group of several peaks very close to each other. Difficult if, like me, you choose to climb the peak from the landmark. Walking sticks are highly recommended for the descent. Lots of marmots along the route.

The Camino de Santiago (or "Camino francés") leaves the mountains here and follows the Aragon valley towards the stopover town of Jaca. Between the two villages mentioned, the route is easy but picturesque, with beautiful views of the peaks and forests... and a convenient train to return to the starting point. The route can easily be done in reverse, which may or may not be convenient depending on train timetables. With a few adjustments at the start, the route can be done by mountain bike.

Version 2 updated on 30/04/2023 When the weather is bad in the Aspe Valley, it may be wise to go through the Somport tunnel and look for routes a little further south, where the sun may be shining. Here we present a fairly short, unpretentious but very accessible and frankly pretty (in our opinion) loop.El Paco is the cooler, wooded northern slope of a mountain, covered here with a protected pine forest, and La Fuente is a spring (fountain).

A beautiful loop starting from Piedrafita de Jaca with a visit to a geological curiosity, the Sarronal Arch.