Houer Lake

de fr

Lac de Houer is very quiet, as hikers prefer to head towards Lac de la Pombie from Cabane d'Araille.
In summer, this walk allows you to admire the equally beautiful landscapes far from the crowds, surrounded by pastures and herds of cattle.

Details

n°3163305
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.40 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 529 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 532 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,245 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,713 m
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Photos

Lac d'Houer
Pic du Midi d'Ossau to the Houer lakes.
View from the Col de Houer
View of Ossau from the Lacs d'Houer

Description of the walk

In Laruns, take the D934 road towards the Col du Pourtalet. Pass Lac de Fabrège. Continue for 9 km to the Cabane de l'Araille, 1.2 km from the Spanish border. Park in the car park at the side of the road.

(S/E) Cross the road and take the track between the road and the Gave de Broussey. This marked path leads to the Refuge de la Pombie, the starting point for climbing the Pic du Midi d'Ossau. Cross a footbridge.

(1) Leave the path to the refuge on your right and continue along the track that turns left. It passes to the right of a pastoral centre.

(2) Enter a small valley that opens onto a vast plateau, the Plaa de la Gradillère.

(3) The path passes to the right of a more or less dry pond and climbs about 200 metres to reach the Col de Houer.

(4) Descend due west to reach the Lacs d'Houer lakes.

(5) After enjoying the site, return via the same route to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,720 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 0.43 - alt. 1,714 m - Fork at the Refuge de la Pombie
  3. 2 : km 0.7 - alt. 1,733 m - Pastoral centre
  4. 3 : km 3.31 - alt. 2,060 m - Plaa de la Gradillière
  5. 4 : km 4.43 - alt. 2,242 m - Col de Houer (2220m)
  6. 5 : km 4.7 - alt. 2,229 m - Lac de Houer (2253 m)
  7. S/E : km 9.4 - alt. 1,720 m - Car park

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

(4) From the pass, you can climb Pic de Canaourouye by following the ridge southwards.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 17 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Hameaux Nathalie
Hameaux Nathalie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike, with few people around on this September day
Marmots
You can't get lost
No one at the lake

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Gaël_Brest
Gaël_Brest

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Magnificent hike!
The lake itself is nothing special (especially in summer), but the route is truly splendid!
We did it in the middle of summer, but we didn't see many people on the trail.
Don't hesitate to climb Pico Baguer, which doesn't require much extra effort and offers superb views.

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Loulou64
Loulou64

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with two children aged 8 and 9. A feast for the eyes, between the landscapes and the family of ibexes practically at our feet by the lake... 👍

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Jojo marcheur
Jojo marcheur

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very good hiking advice, exceptional environment, not very busy.
However, the description is too brief, as there are many intersecting paths. Fortunately, there are cairns to guide us to the pass.
Thank you for this choice in any case.

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Pascal donard
Pascal donard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike at the bottom of the valley, with the option of camping before climbing up to the lake and waking up alone in the mountains!
Beautiful lake, don't hesitate to climb to the peak of Canaourouye

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MONEIN131
MONEIN131

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk in beautiful surroundings, with few visitors. Keep an eye out for marmots on the plateau. A pastoral setting with flocks of sheep, magnificent Blonde d'Aquitaine cows and horses.

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gpsb
gpsb

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike not marked or signposted. Very little traffic. Steep climb, few switchbacks.
Beautiful view, easy to find at the end as the cairns point to other valleys.
No worries with the GPX track, which allows you to find the right direction straight away.

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Titus33140
Titus33140
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Nice hike, the drought has significantly reduced the lake and the ponds are completely dry. We were lucky enough to see a marmot. It's quite a climb right from the start. I thought my 7-year-old son was going to give up, but the lunch break gave him new energy and he managed to make it to the lake. Watch out for the herd of cows that charged a hiker who was taking a break.

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pamoncla
pamoncla

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The Lac de Houer walk is easy and a good way to test your fitness.
The scenery is magnificent, with a view of the Astun resort at the end.

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PatGilles34
PatGilles34

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Magnificent hike. Beautiful scenery. No particular difficulties, apart from the intense heat that day. We were lucky enough to see several marmots. View of the Pic du Midi. Simply sublime

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retriever33
retriever33

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, everyone

An excellent route, far from the crowds, leading to lovely little lakes and a magnificent ridge offering stunning views.
I highly recommend it. You can camp around the lakes and there are a few accessible peaks in the surrounding area.
What a joy! Thank you for this guide.
retriever33

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chantal64000
chantal64000

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

it was wonderful to discover this little-known lake, surrounded by smaller lakes, with a superb view of Ossau and the surrounding peaks, easily accessible

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LeGilou
LeGilou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A fairly easy hike. In October, the herds come down from their summer pastures, offering hikers a vast area to explore between Ossau and Spain.
For those interested in geology, the hike takes place in Paleozoic terrain dating from the middle of the Carboniferous period (330-320 million years ago). This terrain was deposited in a marine environment when the first mountain range began to form (Hercynian orogeny). As you climb, you can see small folds affecting the geological layers within the limestone bars rising up on your right. These are evidence of the formation of this first Hercynian mountain range. The Ossau, as well as the Anayet on the Spanish side, are the remains of volcanoes that, on the contrary, bear witness to an extension of the Earth's crust which, together with natural erosion, contributed to the dismantling of the Hercynian chain.
Some 250 million years later, when the seas had once again submerged the region, a new mountain range was formed: the Pyrenees as we see them today.
In good weather, don't miss the view from the Pic de Canaourouye, which is very easy to reach from the Col de Houer. A magnificent 360° panorama.

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Pat2965
Pat2965

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike among herds of cows and sheep watched over by marmots. Once you reach the lakes, you'll enjoy superb views of the Pic du Midi d'Ossau and the Spanish mountains.

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stefaix
stefaix

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike accessible to all. Beautiful view of the rear of the Pic du Midi d'Ossau. A few vultures skimming the peak of Canaourouye.

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