Lake Puydarrieux

de fr

Short walk around Lake Puydarieux. Bird sanctuary with access to huts.
Route almost entirely marked with yellow signs to be followed in an anti-clockwise direction. Sometimes the markings are difficult to see, damaged or missing. A few paths are difficult to see.

Details

n°2528359
Creation:
Last update:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.17 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 89 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 92 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 322 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 254 m
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Photos

The heron strikes a pose
Duck family
Lake Puydarrieux
the Pyrenees in the background

Description of the walk

Access to the car park is via the D632 between Puntous and Trie-sur-Baïse. Beautiful road but easy to miss. Parking at the first two houses of the lake keepers.

(S/E) Head towards the lake, leaving the two houses on your left, then cross a small footbridge. Follow the yellow markings.

(1) Turn left onto the long footbridge (which is slightly hidden). Continue to follow the yellow markings.

(2) Bear slightly left. The route is well marked.

(3) Go to the right and follow the road. A footpath has been created so you don't have to walk on the road.

(4) Leave the road by turning left. Follow the markings to a very quiet road.

(5) Turn left onto this road and keep left at the fork shortly afterwards.

(6) Cross the bridge over the main supply to the lake, continue along the road for a few hundred metres, then take the path to the right (signposting destroyed). Follow it until you reach the road you left earlier.

(7) Cross the road and continue on the path opposite, which is not very visible in places. When you reach the tarmac road, turn left and continue straight ahead.

(8) Turn left onto a shaded path and walk along the lake on your left.

(9) Turn left at about a 90° angle. Be careful, as several yellow-marked trails intersect here.

(10) Follow the trail carefully. The trail is more or less visible. Reach the dam on the downstream side and climb halfway up it. Once halfway up, there are two options: either turn left and then right, cross the dam and enjoy the view of the lake, or turn right (trail) and return directly to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 280 m - Lake house
  2. 1 : km 0.9 - alt. 272 m - Footbridge
  3. 2 : km 1.39 - alt. 273 m - Fork in the road to the left
  4. 3 : km 2.02 - alt. 292 m - Right on the road
  5. 4 : km 2.34 - alt. 294 m - Path on the left
  6. 5 : km 3.04 - alt. 288 m - Small road, on the left
  7. 6 : km 4.38 - alt. 271 m - Main source of water for the lake
  8. 7 : km 4.97 - alt. 312 m - Crossing the road
  9. 8 : km 5.56 - alt. 319 m - Path on the left
  10. 9 : km 7.75 - alt. 306 m - Please note: intersection of several hiking trails
  11. 10 : km 8.19 - alt. 259 m - Arrival at the foot of the dam
  12. S/E : km 9.17 - alt. 280 m - Lake house

Notes

Several birdwatching spots around the lake.
Occasional muddy patches possible.
Hat. Water

Worth a visit

Birdwatching hut. Black pig farms.
Galan and its church.
Castelnau Magnoac and its collegiate church. Key available at the town hall. Saturday market, especially during the summer
Monléon Magnoac: its fortified church and old village.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 14 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
labradornoir
labradornoir

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The first part around the lake is fabulous. Birds, more birds, always birds. The second part is, for me, a little less interesting because there's nothing to see: forest. Muddy passages.

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COCORICCO
COCORICCO

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
We did this hike in reverse, starting from the car park at point 5. We therefore arrived at S/E and then at point 10. At this point, the well-marked "lake trail" had been blocked by a red and white ribbon and we were unable to reach point 9. We therefore turned back to return to point 5.
Nevertheless, it was a beautiful walk.

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André Dubois
André Dubois

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Contrary to your description, the signage for this hike has been revised and restored. It is perfect for following the trail in both directions. It is impossible to get lost. What's more, the appeal of this hike is that at this time of year, you can see large flocks of cranes and other migratory birds that have made this lake a stopover point on their return flight north. A very pleasant hike.

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Mchrist
Mchrist
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

9.8 km around the lake, bird sanctuary. Starting along the banks facing the Pyrenees mountain range, the path then leads away through meadows, Bigorre pigs and forest (where the ground can be very muddy). A lovely afternoon walk

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Yoganidra31
Yoganidra31

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk along the lake and through the woods, ending with a view of the Pyrenees behind the lake. At the end of the day, beautiful sunlight reflects off the lake. Stop to watch the birds with binoculars!

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javaskater
javaskater

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent signage throughout the route. It seems that the signage between points 6, 7 and 8 has been redone, as we encountered no difficulties, with clear signs and a perfectly maintained path.
Despite the rain at the very beginning, it was an excellent experience.
We encountered flocks of common cranes...

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Michel MONLEZUN
Michel MONLEZUN
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A two-hour route completed by a group of pensioners, without dawdling... Ideal weather, bright sunshine, very few muddy sections on the eastern return leg. The signposting is brand new and the forest paths and footbridges are well maintained. Several types of resident and migratory birds were spotted.
Allow 2½ hours for a family walk.
The lake was two-thirds full, which is normal just before winter.

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drennek
drennek
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very easy family walk.
The main attraction is bird watching. Given the lake's water level in 2022, apart from a few herons and grebes, there isn't much to see.
In hot weather, there is no shade. Even the forest is very sparse and there is no closed canopy.
Best to do this walk when the water level is higher and early in the morning.

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petits randonneurs
petits randonneurs

Yes. When this hike was created, it was quite full.
2022 will hopefully remain an exceptional year

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kehan
kehan

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

To those who doubt climate change, go and see this poor lake, which is a lake in name only! It's truly heartbreaking!

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moguyonnet
moguyonnet

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

in terms of visitor numbers, we did this route on a September morning, so not necessarily the busiest time of year.
just one small downside at point 9: there is no sign saying "turn left" to ensure you take the right route
(the dam sign 300 metres in the opposite direction is a little confusing as it points in the opposite direction to the dam)
we did this route on the morning of 27 September in beautiful light but with no birds. We are going to do it again on the afternoon of 2 October, so perhaps we will be luckier.
otherwise, the walk through the woods is very pleasant and easy to follow, and the view from the observation posts is very nice. Mo

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Dill
Dill

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting circular where you can take the time to observe the many birds on the lake. Binoculars are essential. A beautiful atmosphere at sunrise.

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Hsn33
Hsn33

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Few birds and poor view of the lake for half of the hike

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miepmag
miepmag
• Edited:

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

this assessment mainly applies to the eastern part of the hike, between markers 8 and 9. The path is wide and muddy, with ruts. You walk between a private forest (signs prohibiting mushroom picking and indicating private property) on the right and a nature reserve with restricted access on the left...
at point 9, there are several yellow markings and you are likely to miss the correct access point behind the dam embankment.
the rest of the walk is still interesting, as at this time of year you can see many birds, especially cranes in the late afternoon

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Mamou diane
Mamou diane

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

a very pleasant walk. The signposting, which was said to be faulty in places, was actually very visible!!! Bring binoculars for bird watching!!

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