Gouffre and Ru d'Enfer

de fr

A shady walk that takes in a splendid canyon and wonderful waterfalls.

Technical sheet

n°7024
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.46 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 627 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 619 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,598 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,127 m
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Photos

Small bridge
Cascade d'Enfer
Chasm of hell
One hell of a waterfall

Description of the walk

Park in the Gorges de Bourdolés car park.
(S/E) Head towards the cascade d'enfer (you can go to the end of the road to see it and then retrace your steps).

(1) Before the end of the road, take a path on the right towards the Gouffre d'Enfer (route no. 43). Cross the Ruisseau d'Enfer on a bridge and begin a series of switchbacks to reach a crossroads of paths.

(2) Take the path on the right towards the Gouffre d'Enfer.
Climb up to the promontory for a superb view of the Gouffre d'Enfer (a tricky climb, but made easier by the handrail on the way down).
Continue uphill, crossing the stream again on the upper bridge. Reach the Mine de Crabioule crossroads. Continue straight on, leaving the track on your right. Arrive at the Ru d'Enfer, cross it to get a view of the Gorges du Ru d'Enfer (go to the middle of the ru on stones to get the best view of these gorges).

(3) Return to the Gouffre d'Enfer crossroads.

(2) Turn right towards Prairie de l'Artigue (path no. 42). Be careful as the signs in this direction are not very visible. Reach the meadow just after the footbridge over the Houradade stream.

(4) Turn left onto path no. 40 towards the Vallée du Lys. Begin a series of steep switchbacks to arrive opposite the Cascade du Coeur.

(5) Continue downhill along this path back to the start car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,132 m - Gorges - parking des gorges de bourdolés
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 1,151 m - End of the road
  3. 2 : km 1.46 - alt. 1,357 m - Gouffre d'Enfer crossroads
  4. 3 : km 3.04 - alt. 1,598 m - Ru d'Enfer
  5. 4 : km 5.71 - alt. 1,405 m - Prairie d'Artigue
  6. 5 : km 6.58 - alt. 1,226 m - Cascade du Coeur
  7. S/E : km 7.46 - alt. 1,131 m - Gorges de Bourdolés car park - Lis (cours d'eau) - Affluent de la Pique

Practical information

It is important to have good shoes for this route (no trainers). If the weather is fine, take a snack and eat at the Ru d'Enfer, with the sound of the water in a superb setting. I recommend taking hiking poles.

In the nearby area

At the end of the walk, you can refresh yourself or eat at the inn next to the car park.
On the way back in the car, stop off at the village of Oo for a visit (pretty village with flowers).

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 108 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Adeline3134
Adeline3134

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

A gentle hike with some magnificent waterfalls! Really impressive. A lovely forest walk overall. But the trail is almost completely in the shade: very practical in summer, but less so if you want to make the most of the last warm autumn days. And there's no view of the mountains; the whole walk is in woodland (with a very quick passage through a meadow).
Hiking boots are essential, as you cross streams and some parts of the path are quite wet.

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Jack 31800
Jack 31800

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful tour in fine weather.

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Pycay
Pycay

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Lovely walk, most of it in the forest, much appreciated on a very hot day.
Lovely view of the Gouffre d'Enfer from a promontory, and the Ru and its gorges are a great place for a picnic by the water.
Can be done as a family with children who are a bit fit and have good shoes.
A little too crowded in summer, but still a must-do in the Luchon area.

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Cathy_m16
Cathy_m16

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A breathtaking hike from waterfall to waterfall. I loved it. Even my 13-year-old son really enjoyed it. However, my watch gave me a time of 10km instead of 7km, but we still did it in 3.5 hours.

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P LARRIEU
P LARRIEU

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very pleasant walk with magnificent waterfalls. As far as possible, it's best to set off early in the summer to avoid the crowds.
We did the loop in the opposite direction to the one you indicate, which enabled us to cover the entire difference in altitude in the beech and black pine forest.

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JP3166
JP3166

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

top

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Kricri
Kricri

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

This is a magnificent walk, with a shady route that's ideal in the summer heat. There are some magnificent waterfalls and, for the more adventurous, 2 pools where you can swim. Between the photos, the picnic and the "we're not at the coins" mode, it took me just over 5 hours.
I was a little worried about the return loop, as the route was above the red line, but it recovered on its own after the fork to the refuge.

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dodine
dodine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice walk, with plenty of shade.
A popular route in summer.
Breathtaking abyss and Ru.

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Laplante cedric
Laplante cedric

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Superb hike
The most beautiful I've ever done breathtaking waterfalls the splendid chasm for the lunch break
I really enjoyed it 👍👍

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Vava31
Vava31

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

This loop is accessible, varied and very enjoyable. It alternates between uphill, flat and downhill sections, allowing you to appreciate the effort required and to vary the demands made on you. Most of the route is in the forest in the shade.
We didn't see many people, but that was certainly due to the gloomy weather.
The views are splendid, the chasm impressive and the Ru magnificent.
The route is easy to follow.
You could take advantage of the coolness of the Ru d'enfer for a picnic.
An easy hike, ideal for discovering the beauty of the Luchonnais.
Do it again and again.

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Fred Pessac
Fred Pessac

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

A pleasant, easy walk under the cover of trees, which is appreciated on hot days. The chasm and its waterfall are impressive.

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Vendinielle
Vendinielle
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A breathtaking hike
This route is a delight. The water accompanies the entire route in a multitude of scenes, each more beautiful than the last. There's plenty of shade without obstructing the view, and the climbs are easy. Shortly before (4), we climbed through the Pré de l'Artigue to the Coume waterfall. The view of the summits is splendid.
One of my best hikes in the Pyrenees.

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davidovitch
davidovitch

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Superb hike with the opportunity to dip your feet in the torrent at the top.
However, it was 9km according to my GPS watch and not 7kms as indicated by the app.
To be done with the family.

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bouchard claude
bouchard claude

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice hike with beautiful waterfalls not too complicated to do but have good shoes because a lot of moisture....

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Cris013
Cris013

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Please note that the start is from Cazeaux de Larboust and not Castillon de Larboust.
Very nice shaded hike and original chasm

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