The Ars Waterfall

A fantastic getaway leading to one of the most beautiful and largest waterfalls in the Pyrenees.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.54 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,726 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,726 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,938 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,513 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the small hairpin car park before the village of Aulus-les-Bains on the road to Col de Latrape.

(S/E) From the hairpin bend, head south-east in the direction of the Cascade d'Ars.
This is a fairly easy section on a forest track with an elevation gain of about 200 m until you reach the junction of two tracks.

(1) Continue straight ahead to a junction of trails where you will rejoin theGR®10(red and white markings) coming from Aulus-les-Bains on the left.

(2) Continue straight ahead on theGR®10. Further on, at the junction, turn left (signposts). The track gradually ends and turns into a path just before the Pont d'Artigous.

(3) Cross the Rivière d'Ars via the bridge and continue on theGR®10. Climb gradually through the woods, and the waterfall will come into view. Further on, you will reach a junction.

(4) Take theGR®10on the left (or take the waterfall trail opposite. If you choose this option, be extremely careful as the trail is not well maintained and can be slippery when the waterfall is flowing strongly).
After several hairpin bends, you will arrive at thesecond waterfall (the most impressive) about a hundred metres further on.

(5) Be very careful when the water flow is strong
Take the Ars footbridge route, which is less than 1 km away. The climb is quite steep on thefirst section (be careful of snowmelt, which can make this section difficult).
Thesecond part is easier, on flat ground, before descending a few metres to reach the Ars footbridge.

(6) Retrace your steps back to the car park at Aulus-les-Bains to complete this fabulous discovery hike (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,513 ft - Hairpin car park on the D8 - Garbet (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 1.05 - alt. 3,123 ft - Trail junction
  3. 2 : mi 1.23 - alt. 3,169 ft - GR 10 route
  4. 3 : mi 1.82 - alt. 3,507 ft - Artigous Bridge - Ars (rivière) - Affluent du Garbet
  5. 4 : mi 2.51 - alt. 4,186 ft - Intersection GR10/Sentier Cascade
  6. 5 : mi 2.82 - alt. 4,531 ft - Cascade d'Ars (Ars Waterfall)
  7. 6 : mi 3.27 - alt. 4,885 ft - Ars footbridge
  8. S/E : mi 6.54 - alt. 2,513 ft - Hairpin car park on the D8

Notes

Video of the hike at the following link https://youtu.be/gGonVxkU6fE?si=KK3Wc8j9...

Do not underestimate the short distance, as the elevation gain is quite significant for such a short distance.

Walking sticks are recommended for the descent.

Route taken in May, beware of snowmelt, which makes the trail slippery, especially between the waterfall and the footbridge.

Do not get too close to the waterfall when the flow is strong.

Worth a visit

Aulus les Bains, a spa village.

You can start the hike directly from the village of Aulus-les-Bains by following theGR®10trail

At (6), you can do a circular route via the Étang de Guzet (GR®10).
Ars Waterfall and Guzet Lake

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 28 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 7564110

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
A lovely walk – I’d recommend taking the route round the lake (12 km) rather than the return route. On the way up, the waterfalls and cascade look absolutely stunning from a distance.
It’s worth noting that you can see the falls quite closely, but the waterfall itself remains quite a distance away if you stay on the path. I’d expected to see it from closer up.
A lovely day

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User 24897596

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

No complaints – the route was well signposted

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User 29462846

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Set off early to avoid the crowds. We took a route along the river – it was tough (very steep) but much less busy. The scenery was magnificent. I recommend doing the full route, including the descent to Lake Guzet...

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raylann
raylann

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk. The first section follows a wide, even forest track and is very peaceful. The second section, after the metal bridge, is a bit steeper but nothing too strenuous. You just need to adjust your pace to manage it without any particular difficulty. The view of the waterfall is fantastic.
The route was already very busy; in summer it must be very crowded.

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Core In
Core In

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely little hike, easy for the first part, then through the forest for the second part, which is the steepest but not overly so. There was a lot of snow as it was 1 January 2026, so crampons were essential due to the amount of ice. The waterfall was frozen, which made for a nice backdrop for a picnic.
The hike normally continued to the footbridge that leads to the other side and Lake Guzet (which I had done the day before), but the climb was completely iced over by water from the waterfall that spreads over the edges and therefore over the path to the top...About 50 metres from it, and despite my crampons, I thought it would be better to return safely than to call the fire brigade on New Year's Day... but some people went on... it's up to each person to decide...

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Vendinielle
Vendinielle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Already magnificent autumn colours at the beginning of October. It's really worth going all the way to the end, the view is magnificent.

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helene.bernaldez
helene.bernaldez

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent waterfall, we were lucky because it had rained the day before, so it was really impressive!

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Kevin_frss
Kevin_frss

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great trail, perfect for beginners, the views of the waterfalls are magnificent. Very busy, especially during the summer.

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User 2782917

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very good route. Hike accessible to all. We completed it in 5 hours with a picnic stop with our feet in the water. A breathtaking view once you reach the top, well worth the effort.

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User 22605797
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, cool thanks to the forest
And a great little river to dip your feet in at the footbridge, where very few people go

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Efyx
Efyx
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 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!

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Véronique Haensler
Véronique Haensler

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The climb to the waterfall begins with a trail that ascends steadily, then we arrive at a narrower path with rocks and steep, stream-covered passages. Good shoes are necessary to climb safely.
The view from the edge of the waterfall is magnificent. The trail is well marked throughout.
A beautiful hike, especially at this time of year as there is plenty of water. A very beautiful hike.

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VVRNR
VVRNR

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk that we had wanted to do for a long time, at the recommended time of year (May-June, after the snow has melted).
The car park was full at the start, but in the end it didn't feel crowded along the way.
The climb was very pleasant in the shade on a beautiful day.
The view of the waterfall was spectacular, just as we had hoped!
We had a picnic above the waterfall, on the Ars footbridge trail.
We had a leisurely walk back down, chatting. Six hours in total.
We were two people in their fifties and two in their thirties, not really sporty: no pushing ourselves, 100% enjoyment.

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LOUBET maurice
LOUBET maurice

Hike completed on 17 March 2025 in snowy conditions. A very beautiful hike, which I have now completed four times in all seasons.

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raballas
raballas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed in 30 cm of snow. No real difficulty. Route well marked, obviously with GPS guidance, as we couldn't see the path.

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