Batcrabère Lakes

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The Batcrabère lakes are nestled in a cirque at the foot of a rampart formed by the Balaïtous, which rises to 3,144 metres, the Pic Palas (2,974 metres) and the Pic d'Artouste (2,816 metres).
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Details

n°422445
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.69 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 794 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 794 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,193 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,470 m
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Photos

Upper Batcrabère Lake

Description of the walk

Access: From Argelès-Gazost, head towards the Col d'Aubisque. At Arrens, head into the Arrens valley, go around Lac de Tech and continue along the road to the Bédout pine forest car park.

(S/E) From the car park, take the path in front of the Maison du Parc and cross the Gave d'Arrens. After a few hairpin bends in the forest and a crossing, you will reach Lac de Suyen. Continue along the path.

(1) At the crossroads (1,558 m), turn right, pass at the foot of the waterfall to reach the Doumblas hut.

(2) At the next crossroads, turn right, pass by the "Toue de Doumblas" (shepherd's shelter under a rock). The path winds through increasingly sparse vegetation and emerges in the Larribet valley. At around 1900m, the path climbs in hairpin bends to reach the Larribet refuge.

(3) Continue along the path above the refuge towards a gap (Brèche de la Garenère). Follow the cairns. The path quickly overlooks the lower lake on the right. Continue to the upper Lac de Batcrabère.

(4) Return by the same route to the parking lot at the sapin forest (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,470 m - Bédout pine forest car park. Cross the - Gave d'Azun (rivière) - Affluent du Gave de Pau
  2. 1 : km 1.33 - alt. 1,557 m - Crossroads at 1558m on the right after the - Lac de Suyen
  3. 2 : km 2.05 - alt. 1,569 m - Crossroads, Toue de Doumblas
  4. 3 : km 5.21 - alt. 2,065 m - Refuge de Larribet
  5. 4 : km 6.34 - alt. 2,183 m - Lac de Batcrabère Supérieur
  6. S/E : km 12.69 - alt. 1,470 m - Car park at the Bédout pine forest

Notes

Worth a visit

Visit the Toue de Doumblas (2).

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 23 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Jacques Micheau
Jacques Micheau

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk, partly along the banks of a stream, so potentially refreshing.
Fairly busy but nothing too bad; there were only two other couples at Lake Batcrabère.
For the second time on this route, my GPS was out of sync with the Visorando map, but the elevation gain and length of the route were higher than advertised, although it is possible that my measurements took into account the actual ascent. The estimated walking time is reasonable.
Worth doing!

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caazro65
caazro65

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A wonderful discovery, an easy hike to follow, very popular in summer.
I loved the Larribet refuge, I recommend the blueberry juice.

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Shgreek
Shgreek
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 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 walk, best done at full moon.
The Larribet valley is wonderful.
The route is easy and well marked.
A moment of calm and rest at the upper lake at the foot of the Balaïtous, Palas and Artouste mountains
It was busy (in the afternoon, but I was on my way back down) at least as far as the refuge (remember to take change!).
My only regret: not being able to wait until September.

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Margorando
Margorando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent, turquoise-coloured lake with few visitors. The path has lots of scree, so take care, especially on the way down.

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Tyty65
Tyty65

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful place

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valérie64
valérie64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike with lakes and waterfalls...you have to like rocks...because there are a lot of them!!!! The return trip seemed long and endless under the blazing sun. It was very, very hot for 1 October. There's no shade at Batcrabere Lake. I did this hike in 2020 and didn't remember the return trip being so long... but then again, three years later, it must make a difference

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taillon65
taillon65

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It's always a pleasure to return to this beautiful hike!
and on the way back, a delightful break at the Larribet refuge with a view of the cirque and, of course, the Balaïtous

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Mlise64
Mlise64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Very beautiful hike

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plainemontagne0750
plainemontagne0750

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice outing

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pinedey
pinedey

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed with my three children, who are very comfortable in the mountains (aged 6, 8 and 10), in seven hours (with three breaks). Varied landscapes, opportunity to swim in waterfalls (but the water is cold!). The trail is in good condition and well marked. A very beautiful hike. Thank you!

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LATAPIEJp
LATAPIEJp

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful hike, the timing indicated is good even for older hikers.
An added bonus is the excellent welcome at the Larribet refuge.
The only downside was the weather, which was very hot at the bottom and freezing cold with crazy winds at the lakes. But that's the mountains for you!

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Maethea
Maethea

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very beautiful hike, we saw some chamois during our picnic at the Larribet refuge.
The climb up to Lake Batcrabere was a bit challenging, but it was worth it.
We did the hike with two children aged 9 and 11

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Gitanfleur
Gitanfleur

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hike completed in good weather.
The trail winds through rhododendrons at the start, then along a stream.
Passing by a welcoming refuge, then high mountain landscapes until reaching
lakes.
A very good day.

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E de B
E de B

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

You should not say "head towards the Col d'Aubisque" as this could cause confusion and you may end up at the pass... Instead, say "From Argelès-Gazost, take the Arrens-Marssous road, head towards the Arrens valley, go around Lake Tech and continue along the road until you reach the car park at the Bédout pine forest.

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egreiner
egreiner

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A magnificent, varied walk. Long (7½ hours there and back with breaks) but the path is fairly good for the Pyrenees. No exposed or tricky sections. There is a hut shortly after the car park where you could camp. There is water everywhere and lots of blueberries (early August). Saw a young chamois licking salt off the rocks before arriving at the refuge. Le Balaitous faces the refuge. The water in the Batcrabere is freezing cold, it's difficult to put your feet in. At the top right of the lake, there is a long climbing route, you may see some climbers...

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