Lac de l'Oule and Lac Inférieur du Bastan

Discover the Néouvielle Reserve. This hike offers superb views of the lakes and the opportunity to climb up to the Bastan refuge (allow an extra 1½ hours for the round trip).

Details

n°1204504

Creation:
06 Jun 2018

Last update:
10 Jan 2024

Last review:
05 May 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 14.00 km
Average duration: 5h 55
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 666 m
Descent: - 663 m
Highest point: 2,150 m
Lowest point: 1,593 m

Country: France
Areas: Pyrénées, Massif de l'Arbizon, Massif du Néouvielle
District: Aragnouet (65170)
Start/End: N 42.81921° / E 0.190121°
IGN map(s): Ref. 1748ET, 1748ETR
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Description of the walk

(S/E) Artigusse car park. Cross the stream and turn right, on the left bank of the Nest de Couplan.

(1) Altitude at 1592m. Turn left. A wide path climbs gently up the mountainside and enters the forest further on. Follow this path, which climbs gently, winding its way up several hairpin bends.

(2) Turn left to continue along the path, which descends and climbs through the forest and soon approaches the Oule dam. See Practical Information Note.

(3) Lac de l'Oule dam (1,810 m). Continue straight ahead along the lake, on your right. Continue along the lake on the^GR®10, marked in red and white

(4). Leave the^GR®10, which branches off to the left towards the Col d'Estoudou and Lac d'Oredon.
Take a break to read the information about the Néouvielle nature reserve and its 3,000 lakes and ponds

(5) Cabane de l'Oule (1,825 m). End of the lake. Turn right as if to go around it to the Cabane de la Lude (1,818 m, closed).

(6) Continue left along the path that climbs steadily on the^GR®10. The path heads south-east, above the lake. Leave a path on the left.

(7) Take a sharp left turn and continue on the^GR®10. The path heads north as it climbs. Pass the Bastan hut (closed).

(8) Turn left onto the^GR®10C, towards the Bastan refuge. Leave the^GR®10, which branches off to the right.
Please note: Always follow the red and white markings.

(9) Lower Bastan Lake (2160m). Enjoy a well-deserved picnic break. If the weather and your physical condition allow, you can climb up to the Bastan refuge (2248m).
Remember to plan your return journey.
Turn around and follow the same path downhill to the intersection you passed earlier at the Cabane de la Lude.

(6) Turn left and pass in front of the Cabane de la Lude to walk along the lake on your right. Follow this path, passing a few streams, to the chairlift at the Saint-Lary resort. Leave the paths on your left.

(10) Chalet - Refuge de l'Oule (1820m). Turn right at the dam towards the Barrage du Lac de l'Oule.

(3) Continue left along the path you took on the way up, descending to the Artigusse car park (S/E).
See note in the Practical Information section.

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,618 m - Artigusse car park. Cross the - Neste de Couplan (rivière) - Affluent de la Neste
1 : km 0.34 - alt. 1,593 m - Wide path on the left
2 : km 1.99 - alt. 1,743 m - Fork to the left
3 : km 2.63 - alt. 1,815 m - Straight ahead on the way there. - Lac de l'Oule
4 : km 3.51 - alt. 1,823 m - Along the lake, leaving the GR
5 : km 4.54 - alt. 1,829 m - Turn right towards the Cabane de la Lude.
6 : km 4.7 - alt. 1,818 m - Turn left on the way there.
7 : km 5.49 - alt. 1,953 m - Turn left
8 : km 6.35 - alt. 2,113 m - Turn left onto the GR10C
9 : km 6.71 - alt. 2,143 m - Lower Bastan Lake
10 : km 11.05 - alt. 1,816 m - Refuge de l'Oule
S/E : km 14 - alt. 1,618 m - Artigusse car park

Notes

There is no water or shelter except at the refuge.
Difficult due to the length of the hike if you climb up to the Bastan refuge (well worth the detour).

Note: It is normally possible to connect the Oule du chalet-refuge (10) to the (2) and vice versa.
Check with the refuge, as this may not be possible after heavy rain, in snowy conditions or when the dam is releasing water.

This is a mid-mountain area. So, as you should, you will need: rain gear, water, snacks, route map, description, map, GPS, camera, good walking shoes, and a walking stick.

Worth a visit

Saint-Lary du Soulan resort
The Neouvielle Nature Reserve
The lakes of Oredon, Aubert, Aumar and the most impressive
Lac du Cap Long, which took three years and 7,000 men to build.
Hike completed on 6 June 2018

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5

Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5

Ease of following the route
5 / 5

Route interest
4.6 / 5

Antiche

05 May 2025 at 11:30 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike accessible to people who do a minimum amount of walking. Each climb revealed magnificent scenery with superb lakes. The path is well marked. I think it must be very popular in the summer.
Enjoy your hike!

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jceline

06 Aug 2024 at 07:19 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike. Accessible to many people with a good pair of shoes and a bag for water. I was surprised to see many families (including children) doing it. Lake Bastan is simply magnificent. There were many people at the top that day.
I find the behaviour of some people who treat the lakes like public swimming pools to be unfortunate and inappropriate... there is little chance of encountering wild animals at this time of year. This is my opinion and mine alone.

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Mister Chris

07 Aug 2023 at 21:45 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Lake Oule is empty (construction work)

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REG&JJL

08 Sep 2021 at 15:10 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike from the Artigus car park. We went as far as the upper Bastan lake. No technical difficulties. A few people from the junction with the path coming from the Portet pass, but no crowds around the lakes. We spotted a few vultures above the lower lake.

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isabot

08 Jul 2021 at 11:32 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely warm-up hike for walkers who are used to flat terrain! Beautiful views of the Néouvielle mountain range when you reach the first Bastan lake. We enjoyed the scenery, the flowers and the tranquillity of this season.

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Fluryjc

06 Jul 2021 at 10:27 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful mountain hike. No technical difficulties. Take the distance into account. Allow 5-6 hours.
The view at the end of the lower lake is fantastic.
It was the first time I had seen a hike so popular with fishermen! There were 50 pairs of fishermen doing a 3-day trail. And few fishermen are hikers! We cheered them on and they didn't take offence!

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Dominique Gente

23 Aug 2020 at 15:32 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great hike, no major difficulties, completed in 5½ hours including breaks.
Personally, I would classify it as moderately difficult.
We debated whether to climb up to the Bastan refuge, but if you don't leave too late, it's entirely feasible. Allow an extra hour or so.

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Petestar

11 Jul 2020 at 21:21 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I found the hike easier and shorter than advertised. 3 hours 45 minutes excluding the extension to the refuge.
The first part is very easy, with a wide path, and the climb to Lake Bastan is also easy, although the path is a little narrower.
The detour to the Bastan refuge took 50 minutes there and back instead of the 1 hour 30 minutes advertised.
Do not hesitate to make this detour as the view is magnificent.

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serge F

31 Jul 2018 at 08:07 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful, easy hike to Lac de l'Oule, ideal for a good warm-up.
Continue for 10 minutes after the refuge to reach the upper lake.

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grandin

13 Jul 2018 at 19:23 7200

That's fine. Thank you for thinking of Visorando to share the hikes you enjoy!

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Jean-Bernard

13 Jul 2018 at 14:12 7200

Sorry, but I hadn't seen it; I did it in the summer of 2011 as a circular from Bareges and wanted to do it again with friends when we were in St Lary, hence the departure from the Artigusse car park (without consulting Visorando!).

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grandin

13 Jul 2018 at 11:33 7200

Actually, it's a duplicate of your hike. It slipped our minds...

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Frandu49

13 Jul 2018 at 10:06 7200 • Edited: 13 Jul 2018 at 10:06 7200

Superb hike but duplicates the "Bastan Lakes via Lake Oule" hike posted in 2017.

The hardest part is the climb from Lac de l'Oule to the lower Bastan lake. It's a shame to stop there, I recommend continuing on to the middle Bastan lake near the refuge.

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Author

Jean-Bernard
40 Walks

Visorando member

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