Gaube lake and Oulettes de Gaube refuge

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Departing from Le Pont d'Espagne, this moderately demanding hike will take you into the Pyrenees National Park to discover Lac de Gaube and the Oulettes de Gaube refuge, from where you can admire the Vignemale, the highest peak in the Pyrenees at 3298m. If you're lucky, you might even spot some marmots.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.58 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 710 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 709 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,151 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,467 m
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Photos

View of Lac de Gaube from the Oulettes refuge
The Vignemale
Lake Gaube
Along the way

Description of the walk

Park your car at the Pont d'Espagne car park at an altitude of 1460m.

(S/E) Start by taking the winding road.

(1) Turn quickly left towards Lac de Gaube. This is also the route of the GR®10, which you will follow to the Refuge des Oulettes de Gaube. The path is quite steep at first, but then the gradient eases.

(2) Pass by Lac des Huats at 1666m and continue to Lac de Gaube at 1730m.

(3) You walk along it on the right as you climb (left bank). Lac de Gaube is a very clear blue lake. The path crosses scree and begins to climb again shortly after the lake.
There is still a long way to go and the path climbs in stages. However, the gradient is never too steep. You cross the Gave des Oulettes twice. The forest has now disappeared and you can start to see the peaks of the Vignemale in particular.

(4) Take a break at the Oulettes de Gaube refuge at 2151m, then take the same path in the opposite direction to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,467 m - Pont d'Espagne car park. Close to the - Gave de Cauterets (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.27 - alt. 1,491 m - Pont d'Espagne
  3. 2 : km 1.19 - alt. 1,669 m - Lac des Huats
  4. 3 : km 2.34 - alt. 1,729 m - Lac de Gaube
  5. 4 : km 7.79 - alt. 2,151 m - Refuge des Oulettes de Gaube
  6. S/E : km 15.58 - alt. 1,467 m - Pont d'Espagne car park.

Practical information

Access to the Pont d'Espagne car park is subject to a charge (€6.50 in 2018).

For this walk, bring decent walking shoes, some provisions and water.

Always bring something to cover up in case the weather turns for the worse. Temperatures can quickly become chilly at these altitudes.

Finally, a chairlift gives you easier access to Lac de Gaube, saving you 200m of ascent.

In the nearby area

Don't forget to take a short diversions to admire the Pont d'Espagne! (follow the signs from the car park).

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

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

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Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 80 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 21653461

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Breathtaking scenery, the Vignemale and its north face are majestic - a hike to be made on a clear day to take full advantage of the view, so it's essential to set off early in the morning and avoid the afternoon clouds.

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phlrando
phlrando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

On the advice of our host, we made a very nice hike. Very few people and lots of sunshine.

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clem1606
clem1606

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Magnificent scenery, a little crowded as far as the lake, but it calms down as we climb to the refuge.
Highly recommended!

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Al49
Al49

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

The scenery is magnificent, but it's so crowded... Despite leaving the car park at 8am, there were sometimes 3 of us abreast on the ascent to the Oulettes refuge. Back at the lake, the crowds of people on the chairlifts, screaming children and the scent of sun cream were a horror! The climb up through the rocks is tiring, and the descent is hard on the knees. I recommend returning via the ski slope (at the lake on the left); it's quieter and makes a change from the steps on the way up.

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Camboune34
Camboune34

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Magnificent walk.
Only disappointment: the "pseudo-hotel" at Lac de Gaube. Discouraging prices, and ropes and signs everywhere. I'll sum up our feeling: everything that's not forbidden is compulsory and vice versa.
Quite the opposite of the refuge des houlettes, which is very welcoming.

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romain reynaud
romain reynaud
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

It's a magnificent walk! Allow 5h30 for the return walk

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Thierrydu47
Thierrydu47

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Do it early to avoid the late arrivals and enjoy the magnificent panorama.

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terapsag
terapsag

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Walked on a Sunday with average attendance. The weather was cloudy with sunny spells, but very overcast and cold at the foot of the Vignemal. The route follows the Gave de Cauterets with magnificent waterfalls all the way to Lac de Gaube and then to the Oulettes refuge. On the way up, I met 3 skiers coming back down with their skis on their backs: there was still quite a bit of snow at the foot of the Vignemal but only 2 or 3 snow-covered sections as far as the refuge.

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Petidege
Petidege

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A superb two-day hike, with an overnight stay at the Oulettes refuge. The scenery is magnificent, the path was fairly well signposted, the weather was great, which could be risky in November, but the snow-capped mountains were magnificent!

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Lisaa
Lisaa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk with beautiful scenery.

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alainbrusson
alainbrusson

left too late to go all the way!

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Tyty65
Tyty65

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Apart from the fact that the path from the Pont d'Espagne to the refuge is very stony, there are no particular difficulties.

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Mariedu27
Mariedu27
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A long, magnificent hike, more popular up to Lac de Gaube, less so afterwards. Our efforts were superbly rewarded when we arrived at the Oulettes refuge, set in a magnificent cirque, where we would love to stay... The description is accurate: a step-by-step climb, but never too steep. I agree with the comment of 18 September 2022 about avoiding the passage through the large boulders (avoided on the way back).

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Flavie M.
Flavie M.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A magnificent hike with varied scenery. The first part up to Lac de Gaube is very easy (especially if you take the gondola and chairlift =] . ) and is therefore very popular, but the rest is more challenging and less popular. It's really very beautiful.

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Tigram
Tigram

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very nice, well-marked walk with some pretty stages: the Lac de Gaube (very busy with hikers arriving from the chairlift) and then the quieter stretch to the refuge. But it feels like summer and the school holidays, with lots of people and families. The entire route is stony and requires concentration at every step. Beautiful waterfalls along the way and, of course, the magnificent panorama of the Vignemale once you reach the refuge! We took our time and with 3 breaks (at Lac de Gaube, for a picnic and at the Oulettes refuge) it took us 7 hours 30 minutes to get there and back.

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author. Do not copy them without permission.