Lac de Catchet

This is a short hike that is rarely done, seems unremarkable and does not appear in most guidebooks. However, it is well worth the effort and the lake is magnificent.
Once it's time to go back, you'll want to stay longer. There are very few people, just a few hikers, a fisherman, some marmots and, very early in the morning, some chamois.
For those who like camping, I would recommend pitching a tent here. A day and a night here is pure bliss!

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.72 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 490 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 492 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,226 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,733 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From Lannemezan, take the D 929 towards Arreau, Saint-Lary, Spain. After Aragnouet, continue towards the Bielsa tunnel. After a series of hairpin bends, pass the old customs buildings. Continue along the road for 2 km. Park 280 m after the fourth avalanche barrier. Drive very slowly so as not to miss the turn-off on the left that leads down to a small sheepfold.

(S/E) To the right of the small car park and on the other side of the stream, you will see the path that climbs up to the lake.
Fork left at the sign for "Ruisseau de Pène Abeillère".
Cross the stream using a few stones to steady yourself; the stream is often dry, so this should not be a problem. Quickly enter a forest of mountain pines.
The path climbs quite steeply through the woods in a series of small switchbacks, which makes the climb easier. Leave the woods at an altitude of 1900 metres.

(1) Continue climbing through the heather and approach the Catchet stream.

(2) It is possible to climb up the left bank over the scree by following cairns. The best option is to ford the stream; there are several easy places to cross.
Continue climbing in a few hairpin bends through the grass, cross a little further on a muddy slope caused by late snow and arrive at a grassy plateau.

(3) The slope becomes considerably gentler. Continue along the path through the meadow and you will arrive at the lake, which you will see at the last moment.
To enjoy the beauty of the landscape, walk around it on the left, settle down on the other side and admire the lake with all the peaks of the Bigorre in the background.

(4) Return by the same route to get back to the sheepfold (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,736 m - Small car park
  2. 1 : km 0.63 - alt. 1,886 m - Exit the woods
  3. 2 : km 1.11 - alt. 2,039 m - Cachets stream
  4. 3 : km 1.37 - alt. 2,155 m - Grassy plateau
  5. 4 : km 1.86 - alt. 2,223 m - Lac de Catchet
  6. S/E : km 3.71 - alt. 1,736 m - Small car park

Worth a visit

(4) From the lake, you can climb southwest to a small pass that is clearly visible from the lake. This small pass offers a bird's-eye view of the Saux Valley, the start of the hike and, of course, the heart-shaped lake.
Find the start of the trail beyond the meadow. The very rocky and steep trail is well marked.
Allow 45 minutes for the round trip.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 27 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 2273930

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a hike in the shape of an upside-down V, with hardly any flat sections, but what a reward! And when we arrived at the lake, it was the best! It was a shame there were no animals that day. We didn't think we would enjoy ourselves so much in the autumn, but the weather was perfect!

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User 27021875

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Very beautiful hike. The setting is magnificent and the lake at the end is worth the detour. I confirm that you need to drive slowly at the end to reach the starting point so as not to miss the fork on the left. However, there is now space to park along the road. Finally, I would rate this hike as difficult rather than moderate, as the climb is arduous from start to finish.

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christine.dumouch
christine.dumouch

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk.

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Corbeau12_67
Corbeau12_67

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Thank you for sharing this short but intense hike in such beautiful surroundings.
Just a small comment on the description: it seems to me that the climb is north-east, not north-west. It doesn't matter much, as you follow the path without hesitation.

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Sab2831
Sab2831

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful little hike that is challenging right from the start. A magnificent site that is well worth the detour. I recommend climbing up to the top of the lake to appreciate its shape.
We did the hike under cloudy skies, which was a shame.

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RICOUT
RICOUT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

a short hike to find some cool air. You really need to approach very slowly so as not to miss the descent to the sheepfold on the bend, because coming from the other direction (from Spain), access is not easy. There isn't too much elevation gain, but it's a short distance, so it's quite a climb. Quite a few people around at this time of year.

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Valerie44
Valerie44

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 03/05/2024, probably too early in the season. There was a lot of water in the streams and quite a bit of snow at the top. As a result, we were unable to cross the Catchet stream (stage 2). We continued climbing up the left bank, mostly in the snow... and we never found the lake! So it was rather disappointing and frustrating.
Overall, the climb is very steep and the descent even more so. And with the snow, it was downright dangerous! But the scenery was magnificent.

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janaser
janaser

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A varied and well-marked trail. The small lake in this cirque is the reward after the climb and is well worth the effort. A herd of young chamois at the start and, up above, an aerial battle between two crows and a Egyptian vulture defending its nest.
It was a beautiful day.

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reulet
reulet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A beautiful walk, but be warned: the slope is steep, even very steep, with no flat sections to catch your breath. The view is magnificent all the way up, with beautiful waterfalls.

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DV99
DV99

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Great... even my 4-year-old son did it

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Hameaux Nathalie
Hameaux Nathalie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant short hike. A beautiful view once you reach the lake.
It is possible to climb up to the ridge. Access to the car park is via a bend in the road. Care should be taken when approaching.

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CLODO
CLODO

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A slow climb to avoid getting out of breath, spectacular arrival at the lake with no one else around, no wind, clear reflections on the lake surface. Climbed up to the small pass to see the heart, quite a technical climb. Marmots on the plateau behind the lake. Five people at the lake during my descent (1 p.m.) and met eight others on their way up.
The cheese maker wasn't at his hut in the car park.

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BernardEscalquens
BernardEscalquens

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with very few people (mid-July).
A direct climb without too many breaks.
We had a guide, which enabled us to set off safely despite the fog.
It is essential to be well equipped.
At the top, there is a pretty lake and lots of flowers at altitude (houseleek, saxifrage, Pyrenean ragwort, etc.)!
We also climbed up to the western ridge below the mountain. A beautiful view of the valley (in the clouds).

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zozo1959
zozo1959

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We completed the walk without any problems with a group of 10 people (aged between 56 and 66), including two complete beginners. I don't see what difficulties some people have mentioned: it's a bit steep, it's true, but the path is clear and well marked, and we walked slowly to reach the top in 1 hour 45 minutes. The lake is small and pretty, but nothing special (there are much better ones in the Pyrenees . We were rebuffed by a fisherman who claimed that swimming was prohibited in all the lakes in the Pyrenees (except 12) because of pollution from perspiration; he must have been trying to make us leave, but without success. In the end, there were quite a few people: about forty (including us . So, mixed feelings: it's a long drive to get there, i find the climb to Lake Barroude, which starts a little lower down on the same road, prettier (and full of marmots, whereas here we only saw one, and from a long way away).

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lenuzrac
lenuzrac

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
My wife and I did this hike on 21/0//2022. We are used to hiking in the Pyrenees. We are both 72 years old. Here are our thoughts on this "walk".
- The weather was superb
- Difficult to find the starting point (lots of sheep tracks).
- In our opinion, this hike is not easy and we would not recommend it for children or inexperienced hikers. The ground is slippery in the forest (pine needles, damp in places, large rocks that you have to climb over on all fours). This was confirmed by a couple and two other hikers we met on the way up and down.
- Regarding the descent, we noticed a vertiginous passage after crossing the last ford.
- High "steps". The same ones we had to climb on the way up.

Our conclusion.
We are delighted with this hike, but do not set off blindly and make sure you have good footwear. Be aware that there are some difficult passages (few) and that the last section before the lake is tough.

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