Hourquette de Chermentas via Lac de Badet

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This hike will take you to the Hourquette de Chermentas via Lac de Badet. The first part to the lake is very easy, but then becomes more difficult due to the steep gradient, although there are no particular technical difficulties.

Details

n°631057
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.06 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 653 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 661 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,440 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,822 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area: Pyrénées
  • ⚐ District: Aragnouet (65170)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 42.785774° / E 0.156578°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1748ET, 1748ETR, 1748OT, 1748OTR
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Photos

Hourquette de Chermentas
Badet Lake
End of the hike
The hike starts from the small car park where you can leave your car.

Description of the walk

Park in the upper car park at Piau Engaly.

(S/E) Take the tarmac road towards the Mouscadès chairlift. Go through an electric fence, which you must close behind you. Continue to the chairlift.

(1) Continue straight ahead on the ski slope.

(2) At the first bend, leave the ski slope on your left and take the path on the right that leads to Lac de Badet. The path climbs gradually to the lake; it is impossible to take the wrong path. Arrive at Lac de Badet.

(3) After a well-deserved break at the lake, begin the most physically demanding part of the hike. There is a steep climb to reach the Hourquette de Chermentas. Reach the fork at the foot of the pass.

(4) Continue straight ahead and you will soon see the pass above you. The path on the right takes you back to the Piau Engaly resort via a slightly longer but much more pleasant route in this direction. The slope is gradual.

(5) The Hourquette de Chermentas offers a superb view of the Gela valley. The path continues towards the Barroude Refuge (PLEASE NOTE: the Baroude refuge no longer exists. It was destroyed by fire following a storm and has not yet been rebuilt as of May 2018). Return to Lac de Badet via the same route.

(4) Here you have two options:
- retrace your steps as indicated on the trail,
- take the path on the left, which adds 30 minutes to the walk and is well marked with signs indicating Piau Engaly.

(1) Take the same route back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,872 m - Upper car park at Piau Engaly
  2. 1 : km 0.56 - alt. 1,822 m - Mouscadès chairlift
  3. 2 : km 1.63 - alt. 1,926 m - Intersection
  4. 3 : km 3.45 - alt. 2,083 m - Lac de Badet
  5. 4 : km 4.49 - alt. 2,355 m - Intersection. Near the source of the - Neste (rivière)
  6. 5 : km 5.03 - alt. 2,439 m - Hourquette de Chermentas (2439m)
  7. S/E : km 10.06 - alt. 1,872 m - Upper car park at Piau Engaly

Notes

Bring several litres of water. Consider bringing binoculars if you have them.

Worth a visit

During the final climb to the pass, take the time to observe the rocky areas, where you are sure to see marmots.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
25MENAI
25MENAI
• Edited:

Regarding the Barroude refuge, there is good news: it will be rebuilt. I found this information on the national park website. I also saw an interesting presentation of the project, which is perfectly integrated into the site.

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skirandovelo
skirandovelo

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

,

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fougerey
fougerey

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

For the descent, we chose the path that joins the Hourquette d'Héas trail, which is longer but much more pleasant, with more extensive views.

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Britanicus100
Britanicus100

I am delighted to remind you of them.

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25MENAI
25MENAI

Thank you for your video. What wonderful memories!

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Britanicus100
Britanicus100

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very accessible and unmissable hike from the resort of Piau-Engaly.
I made a 4K video with the names of the peaks, which describes the atmosphere of this route and shows the path.
It's here.https://youtu.be/slzohMykEdQ

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CLODO
CLODO

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Few people climb up to the Chermentas pass. For the return trip, I chose the option from point 4 to take the path to the Héas pass and then follow the marked trail to point 1, which offers views of the other side of the valley. It's longer but very pleasant and easy.

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AetG22
AetG22

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Compared to the period, we can say that the route was busy, but nothing more.
We made a mistake at point 2 and had to turn back, but that was partly due to a lack of attention.

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gadan
gadan

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Always a beautiful hike. In June, there is always snow on the way up to the pass.
The return trip via the foot of the Hourquette de Héras and Campbeil is very pretty but interspersed with numerous snowfields, which make it tricky to find your way.
It's an opportunity to see izards, even at midday, at close range, as well as marmots and birds of prey.
Also worth doing in summer, but you need to set off very early to see the animals.
In the afternoon, it is too hot to walk.
Still difficult and long for walkers who are not used to this kind of effort.

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JPGI91
JPGI91

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, but with few places to shelter from the sun along the route.

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Gourguet
Gourguet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, which I completed by climbing up to the Hourquette de Héas and descending via the trail on the other side of the valley. A very interesting route!

Thank you and apologies for my imperfect English!

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saint lary soulan
saint lary soulan

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you, danrando66
I have added this information to the description.

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danrando66
danrando66

PLEASE NOTE: the Baroude refuge no longer exists.
It was destroyed by fire following a storm and has not yet been rebuilt.

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25MENAI
25MENAI

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2004
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A superb hike in September 2004, which I remember with wonder.

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