Lac de Maucapéra circular

A circular hike, much of which follows old shepherds' paths.
A good sense of direction is necessary on the climb up the left bank of the stream.
The GPX track can be very useful from (S/E) to (4).
This circular can also be done in the opposite direction.
Please close electric fences and cabin doors. Thank you.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.51 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,454 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,457 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 7,592 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,154 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Go to Luz-Saint-Sauveur (D921). Head towards Col du Tourmalet, Barèges (D918). After 200 m, turn right towards Astes (D146). At the edge of the village, the road becomes an unpaved track. Leave the forest and continue along this track, which winds through the summer pastures, past beautiful restored barns. At around 1,640 metres, stay on the same side of the track and continue in the same direction at the next left-hand bend. The car park is marked on the OSM map. Take care not to encroach on the track.

(S/E) At this bend, do not descend towards the bridge. Retrace your steps and turn left, passing through and closing an electric fence. Look for the path that remains on the left bank of the Ruisseau de l'Yse. The path is marked on the ground in places. Continue climbing along it.

(1) Fork (altitude 1,670 m). Turn right, heading south-east, into the Coueyla de Peyrahitte valley (see practical information). Do not cross the Yse. Follow the cairns. The path is not very well marked on the ground, but it is visible. Climb up this coume, simply following a tiny stream that is not marked on the IGN map. You will arrive at an area overlooking the Aygues Tortes summer pastures and the Peyrahitte hut (the return path is visible).

(2) (1900 m). Head right, due south, following the cairns. The path, clearly marked on the ground, climbs very steeply up the summer pasture. Continue climbing and leave Campanal, altitude 2152, on your right. Go around it, following a path that is clearly marked on the ground and cairned, which turns right, heading due west. From this point, a hut is visible high up, due east. This is your destination.

(3) Fork in the path. Open area below the rock face. Take the left fork, heading south-east. Climb up this clearly visible path, which ascends through the scree (see practical information). Cross a stream (unnamed) and then the Ruisseau de Maucapéra. The path climbs very steeply through scree and an avalanche zone. It then becomes less steep and heads due east towards the hut.

(4) Maucapéra hut (2210 m). This is a very beautiful spot. The hut is small but in very good condition. Continue east towards the reservoir.

(5) Fork in the path, altitude 2216 m. Take the right fork, heading southwest, passing at the foot of the reservoir. The path, well marked on the ground and cairned, climbs up into the summer pasture. Continue towards the large rock face where the lake is located.

(6) Lake Maucapéra (2305 m). This is a beautiful spot where you can take a well-deserved break.
Turn around and descend to the previous fork at altitude 2216.

(5) Continue straight ahead. A yellow marker will help you find your way. The path descends slightly for 300 m, then turns left towards the north-west, descending via numerous hairpin bends. The slope is steep. Simply follow the well-marked path without trying to cut across. The path then turns north, then east. Pass through a flat area (EDF window) with a closed hut.

(7) Fork (altitude 2029) with signposts. Turn left, heading north-west, continuing downhill. The path then heads due north, then north-west towards a hut, clearly visible below on a flat summer pasture area.

(8) Peyrahitte hut (altitude 1,820 m). This is a very beautiful spot, the hut is in very good condition and there are also many marmots.
Continue the descent, heading northwest, along a grassy track. You will arrive at a hut with an enclosure (Le Pla Grand). Turn completely left, southeast, continuing down this grassy track. Cross the concrete bridge over the Ruisseau de l'Yse, at altitude 1574, and you will return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,171 ft - Parking in the bend
  2. 1 : mi 0.32 - alt. 5,486 ft - Fork in the road (1670 m). Take the right-hand path.
  3. 2 : mi 0.89 - alt. 6,257 ft - Head right, due south
  4. 3 : mi 1.31 - alt. 6,893 ft - Fork in the road. Take the left fork.
  5. 4 : mi 1.71 - alt. 7,211 ft - Maucapéra hut (2,210 m).
  6. 5 : mi 1.79 - alt. 7,277 ft - Fork in the road, altitude 2216. Return trip to the lake
  7. 6 : mi 2.09 - alt. 7,579 ft - Lake Maucapéra (2,305 m).
  8. 7 : mi 3.22 - alt. 6,650 ft - Fork in the road (altitude 2029). Take the left fork.
  9. 8 : mi 4.06 - alt. 6,014 ft - Peyrahitte hut (1,820 m).
  10. S/E : mi 5.51 - alt. 5,164 ft - Parking in the bend

Notes

There are two open huts along the route at (4) and (8).
There are water sources along the route.
In Bigourdan:
Coume: valley, depression, combe
Cuyéu, cuyela, coeyla, courtau: sheep pen in the high mountains
Raillère, ralhère: scree slope

This is a mountainous area. The car is not far away. But you will need: rain gear, water, snacks, route map, description, map, GPS, camera, very good hiking boots and possibly a walking stick.

If in doubt or in bad weather, know when to turn back.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 3433823

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The track leading to the hike is very difficult to navigate for vehicles that are NOT 4x4! Please be careful...
There are no signs on the ground if you are hiking in the direction indicated; plan to do the loop "backwards".

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Matthias Dsct
Matthias Dsct

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, unfortunately with a lot of fog. The scenery was still magnificent.
Two points to note:
1: the climb up the track is long and requires 4x4 driving in places. However, it is still passable.
2: between points 3 and 4 on the climb, you sometimes have to search hard for the path. The cairns are very small.
I recommend doing it in the direction indicated by Visorando, as the descent would be very steep in the other direction.
Completed in the time indicated (not counting breaks) with a baby on my back.

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Clémentine 40
Clémentine 40
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike on Monday, 19 August, but in the opposite direction to make the climb (7 km) easier via the Pierrahitte hut and the 4.5 km descent through raspberry and blueberry bushes. At times, the return path disappears into the vegetation. Lake Maucapéra is magnificent, as is the cirque with its high peaks.
However, after Astes, the track, which is said to be passable (for certain vehicles), is damaged, rutted in many places, with holes and sharp stones threatening to damage tyres. A beautiful day in the Yse valley with its many restored barns.

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klaima33
klaima33

The hike is described as poorly signposted, but in fact it is not signposted at all. We followed the directions and turned right at the fork. You should actually continue straight ahead. There is a car park. The start of the hike is signposted. This is the only signpost until you reach the Pierrefitte hut. The path is easy, but contrary to the guidebook.

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dudesanddudette
dudesanddudette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful circular, with a fairly challenging and steep uphill section! The path is not very well marked, but the GPS track is very good and accurate!
The lake is magnificent, although it was windy that day!
Be careful, there is no shade on the route, so bring water with you as the streams will only be there to cool you down!

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MGSN85
MGSN85

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with views of the return route on the way there and the outward route on the way back. Magnificent views.

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VisorandoJR
VisorandoJR

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The track is long and badly rutted. Starting off as indicated in the guidebook, we got lost and had to turn back and get back in the car.
I agree with Gerganda; it is better to continue to the end (or almost) of the track suitable for vehicles (at the three-way junction, turn left and not right). Join the route via a path perpendicular to the track (20 m after a fountain on the right), passing in front of a magnificent kern. This location should correspond to point (9) on the map.

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Veroniquelamarque64
Veroniquelamarque64
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb circular, even if the outward journey requires a good sense of direction, but we love adventure playgrounds for the whole family.
A little picking is an added bonus, depending on the season.
Thank you for this off-the-beaten-track alternative.

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Yves et manon
Yves et manon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hi everyone, just a quick note: the road to the start of the hike is really bad (I was a bit worried about my old car on the way there), but otherwise it's a very beautiful hike with breathtaking views (it's quite a climb 😀).

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saintsavin40
saintsavin40
• Edited:

not done

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gerganda
gerganda

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, but I think it's better to continue to the end of the road and park at the second small bridge, then follow the well-marked trail, as there is more space for cars. I added cairns to clearly mark the trail on the right towards the fork at 1670 and further up the climb, as the path is not very well marked on the ground.
I think it's better to do the circular in the other direction, starting with the climb to the Pierrefitte pass. The signposts are helpful and the path downhill is clearly visible on the way back.
A very beautiful, uncrowded walk, with all the beauty and tranquillity of the Pyrenees!

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PATRICE31800
PATRICE31800

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

At level (1) of the hike, there are no cairns as indicated in the Peyrahitte pass and the path is invisible. As a result, my wife and I managed to cross the Yse on a small cement bridge and, cutting across, we caught up with the main grassy path. When we reached the reservoir (5), there were one or two yellow markings missing to indicate the path that branches off to the left.
Otherwise, it was a magnificent walk with marmots, blueberries, raspberries and beautiful flowers.

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