From Barèges, take the Route du Tourmalet which, a few kilometres further on, leads to the old pass road towards the Pont de la Gaubie, where you can park in the small car park near the Botanical Garden or in the Tournaboup car park, 1,000 m further down.
(S/E) From there, look out for and follow theGR®10trail on the right (marked in white and red), which joins a track further up.
(1) Follow this track as it climbs gently. 45 minutes later, you’ll reach a junction (signposted) where the Aygues Cluses stream and the Eths Coubous stream meet, their waters joining to flow down into the valley towards Barèges.
(2) Turn left towards Aygues Cluses onto the track, which starts with a gentle slope running alongside the stream. Further up, you’ll come to a large, funnel-shaped scree slope which you must climb and go round at the top; a gate blocks the access (close it behind you once you’ve passed through).
(3) You reach a small plateau; the path runs along its left side, but some people cross straight across. At the end, there is a scree slope to cross, leading to another flat area.
You can follow the marked path or head straight on, crossing more rocks, and you’ll reach the so-called ‘Pégue’ ledge, a very steep 50-metre stretch.
After a well-deserved short break, follow the very well-marked path through a small forest overlooking the Aygues Cluses stream, which you reach at a junction.
(4) Stay on the marked path, cross the ford and climb a short, easy slope; the path continues straight on and you arrive at the Cabane d’Aygue Cluses.
(5) Continue on to Lac de Couyela Gran.
(6) A few metres away is a yellow-marked path which you take to climb up to the Col de Barèges; a tedious and gruelling climb straight up the slope, but the view from the summit makes you forget the fatigue.
(7) The return journey follows the same route, back to the Pont de la Gaubie car park (S/E)