Park your car at the Plateau des Pountas car park (1,459 m) near the Pont d'Espagne. You are in the heart of the Pyrenees National Park, so cars have not been allowed to drive any higher since the late 1990s.
(S/E) The hike begins after passing under or around the Pountas cable car building.
Take the path to the right of the road and follow the signs for the footbridge trail. At the main footbridge over the Gave de Gaube, you can admire the magnificent stone Pont d'Espagne bridge, which also spans the same river. The trail then runs along the side of the rock for a few dozen metres to reach the esplanade in front of the hotel. This is where the trail joins the GR®51 coming from the Lutour waterfall and Cauterets. Then cross the Pont d'Espagne and take the road that descends to the car park.
(1) On the right, you will soon see signs indicating Lac de Gaube, along with the traditional red and white GR® markings. The GR®10 then climbs through the pine and fir forest on the right bank of the river, with a 200 m elevation gain, and crosses several streams that flow into the river.
(2) At the edge of the forest, at 1,666 m, you can leave the GR®10 and take a short detour to the right to reach a wide, long plateau where the small Lac des Huats is located. The trail skirts this small lake and the marshy areas at an elevation of 1670/1690 m. Then rejoin the classic trail markedGR® andfollow it to the right.
(3) Less than an hour after setting off, you will leave the woods and shortly afterwards reach the shores of the lake at 1731 m.
NB: You can reach the southern end of the lake by following the GR® on the left bank, starting from the point (3) (leaving the lake on your left). Return via the same route.
The descent to the Pont d'Espagne is via the same route as the ascent.

