Lac d'Ourrec from the Col de Tramassel

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Superb views of the surrounding mountains all along the route and from the Hourquette d'Ouscouaou.

Details

n°3460646
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.71 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 456 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 450 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,871 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,616 m
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Photos

Lac d'Ourrec
View of Lake Isaby
Edge of Lake Ourrec
Pic du Midi

Description of the walk

At the Hautacam ski resort, take the road towards Col de Tramassel. Stop at one of the three car parks at the pass at the end of the asphalted section (inn and observation dome). In good weather, it is also possible to drive up to Col de Moulata.

(S/E) Leave the car park heading south.

(1) Take the path uphill on the left and rejoin the track.

(2) Follow it to the left to Col de Moulata and cross the small car park.

(3) At the end of the car park, take the path on the right.

(4) The path on the right descends to Lac d'Isaby. Take the path on the left, which runs parallel to it at first but then veers away to lead to Hourquette d'Ouscouaou. It follows a contour line for 400 metres, then climbs in successive stages to Hourquette d'Ouscouaou and towards Lac d'Ourrec.

Pass a concrete shelter further on and continue to the nearby Hourquette d'Ouscouaou (pass).

(5) From this pass, you can see the Pic du Midi de Bigorre and the Pic de Montaigu. Descend to the first bend to see Lac d'Ourrec below. Allow 20 minutes to half an hour to descend.

(6) Take the same route back in the opposite direction to return to the car park (S/E).

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Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,616 m - Car park - Parking du col de Tramassel (ou de Buraü) (1615m)
  2. 1 : km 0.11 - alt. 1,622 m - Path on the left
  3. 2 : km 0.41 - alt. 1,679 m - Outlet onto the trail
  4. 3 : km 1.08 - alt. 1,671 m - Car park, path on the right - Col de Moulata (1676m)
  5. 4 : km 1.22 - alt. 1,676 m - Lac d'Isaby fork
  6. 5 : km 4.16 - alt. 1,871 m - Hourquette d'Ouscouaou. Towards the - lac d ourrec
  7. 6 : km 5.32 - alt. 1,669 m - Lac d'Ourerec, source of the - Adour de Lesponne (rivière)
  8. S/E : km 10.71 - alt. 1,616 m - Col de Tramassel car park

Notes

I recommend doing this hike when it is not too hot, as there are no trees. The classic Lac d'Ourrec hike is a circular route starting from Chiroulet in the Lesponne valley. The difficulty here lies in having to descend to reach the lake and then climb back up again, which is not easy after eating, especially when it is hot. There are no major difficulties except for two places (rocky ledges) which can be bypassed.

(1) You can follow the track towards the Col de Moulata or take the steep path on the left, which is what we did.

In Bigourdan: Col (small): courét and Col: hourquette

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Gosgnach
Gosgnach

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very easy hike

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Guizmo91
Guizmo91

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The walk offers beautiful views, with the lake below. We didn't make it to Lake Ourrec because the weather changed. It's a shame.

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Pat FDI
Pat FDI

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The drive up to the Col de la Moulata requires caution if you have a low-clearance vehicle.
A beautiful and enjoyable hike. Be careful, there are many tracks that can sometimes be misleading, so the GPX track is useful.
Do not miss the path that climbs up to the Hourquette d'Oucouaou on the left just after the cairn, otherwise you will end up at Lake Bassias.
The descent to the lake is worth considering the climb that follows...

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skyppyy38360
skyppyy38360

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Parked in car park no. 4 at Col de Tramassel. Above this point, the road is unpaved, so take care with your tyres!
A steep, short climb up a ski slope, then the joy of being on the ridge overlooking the lake.
Due to lack of time, we stayed at the point (5).
Breathtaking view of the surrounding peaks indeed.

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Brigitte2674
Brigitte2674

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, easy walk with magnificent views.

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randodo
randodo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Stunning views of snow-covered mountain passes. We didn't go down to the lake because clouds were rolling in and we didn't want any nasty surprises on the way back up. Nevertheless, reaching the pass was rewarding in itself thanks to the beautiful scenery. Thank you, LeMarcheur 65 😊

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fabrice.gionnet
fabrice.gionnet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike but no shade

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PEXK768
PEXK768

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

No problems tracking the route.
We were lucky enough to be above the clouds... magnificent view of the peaks rising above the sea of clouds.
Lovely lake.
Thanks to the visorandeur.

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Tyty65
Tyty65

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike done this Saturday the 25th, but unfortunately there was a lot of fog so visibility wasn't great. I'll come back when the weather is better.

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GAETAN 64
GAETAN 64

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful round trip from the upper car park of Hautacam station to Lake Ourec.
Thanks to GPS tracking, we avoided going too far and missing the small pass on the left that leads down to Lake Ourec.
We saw dozens of vultures flying low overhead and three specimens perched on a rock, observing their surroundings.
The difference in altitude between the start and the pass (approx. 200 m) is almost imperceptible. The climb back up from the lake is steeper but can be done easily by walking at a leisurely pace and turning around regularly to admire the magnificent scenery.

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