The Menhir of the Ger Plateau

The route starts at the top of the Ger hill in Ibos and takes you to the Menhir on the Ger plateau. After entering the woods, the route becomes shaded and you will walk up the Géline. You will see a mini waterfall. You may even spot some deer...
Moderator's note : the slate bridge has been destroyed: see the notice dated 21/03/2022.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.74 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 164 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 164 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 400 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 316 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Ibos (65420)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.244825° / W 0.023058°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1645SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Arrive via the D817, towards Pau, at the top of the Côte de Ger. Park behind the art gallery, on the dirt track at the edge of the woods.

(S/E) Head towards an educational farm, leaving the D817 behind you.

(1) At the intersection, continue straight ahead and pass the Serre Caute farm.

(2) At the fork that appears shortly afterwards, take the track on the left. After a left-hand bend, cross the Géline bridge. Then turn left and then right at an old house (La Métairie) that is currently being renovated. You will reach a junction.

(3) Continue straight ahead (do not follow the yellow arrow signs).

(4) At the fork, turn left to quickly reach the menhir. Then return to the fork.

(4) Then turn left (north-east, with your back to the Pyrenees). Continue a little beyond a group of farm buildings.

(5) Take the grassy track on the right at the edge of the forest. It enters the woods, makes several turns and continues along the edge of the woods and a large meadow. Finally, it enters the forest, turning right. Continue to a tree plantation fenced off on the right of the path.

(6) Take the path on the right that borders the plantation and leads to the banks of the Géline. Follow it up several bends to a crossroads.

(7) Take the track on the left to reach a bridge that collapsed during the 2019 floods. Cross by sliding down to the foot of the slate slabs. Climb up the path opposite (south) and join the ridge path.

(8) Continue to the right (west-southwest) until you reach the first path on the left.

(9) Descend this path on the left until you reach a crossroads.

(10) Continue to the right and climb up a small valley.

(1) At the intersection you took on the way there, turn left and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 400 m - Top of the Côte de Ger
  2. 1 : km 0.25 - alt. 398 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 0.67 - alt. 398 m - Fork in the road - Géline (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 1.77 - alt. 387 m - Junction
  5. 4 : km 2.43 - alt. 395 m - Fourche - Access to the menhir
  6. 5 : km 4.1 - alt. 385 m - Grassy path
  7. 6 : km 6.2 - alt. 317 m - Tree plantation fenced off
  8. 7 : km 7.88 - alt. 334 m - Towards the collapsed bridge
  9. 8 : km 8.88 - alt. 384 m - Ridge path
  10. 9 : km 9.57 - alt. 383 m - Path on the left
  11. 10 : km 9.99 - alt. 318 m - Path on the right
  12. S/E : km 11.74 - alt. 400 m - Top of the Côte de Ger

Notes

Please note: following the storms and floods of 2019, this route has become more difficult. There are numerous fallen trees on the route and a collapsed bridge. The hike is only suitable for people in good physical condition.

Depending on conditions, some sections may be muddy and sometimes flooded. In summer, expect mosquitoes and horseflies.

Beware of ticks! Wear long trousers and long sleeves. Walking with dogs is not recommended (ticks) except in winter and with treatment.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
jamro
jamro

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route, but in wet weather there are a few tricky sections (it gets muddy!).

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Kevin DC
Kevin DC

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This route is not easily passable in autumn or winter if it has rained in the previous days. Especially since we have to cross a stream several times to stay on track...

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skargo
skargo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike done today in beautiful weather, collecting chestnuts and a very pleasant route.
A GPX is essential. Trails and paths are busy (hunters, mountain bikers, runners).
The bridge at point (7) has been renovated.
Enjoy your hike
Skargomically

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bardoumagniez
bardoumagniez

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

Without any markings, it is not always easy to find, especially as the description is not always clear. After IBOS, head towards the coast of GER, park behind the art gallery and start the hike behind this art gallery.
At point 5, "Continue until you reach a fenced tree plantation on the right." BE CAREFUL: you need to be vigilant and look carefully because the vegetation has taken over. Point 6: be careful at the Y-shaped (or fork) crossroads.
Point 7 Take the TRAIL (not the track) on the left...etc...cross over: there are now two large "safe" planks to cross! Go back up the TRACK opposite...join the ridge path. DO NOT HEAD towards IBOS (2 signs) but continue to the right until you reach the first path on the left (be careful, you need to look carefully to find the start of this path!!).
Important details when you're not using a GPS. The words "track" and "path" are not always appropriate in the right place (track = wide, possibly for quad bikes, etc., and path = passage for pedestrians), in my opinion. But this hike is really superb in mild, dry weather.

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Dizzy
Dizzy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant route that is a little more difficult in January due to mud, which is normal. Start/finish location unclear!

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Chrismat
Chrismat

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

After point 6, the narrow path begins to be overgrown with weeds. To prevent it from disappearing, it would be a good idea for future walkers to bring pruning shears.

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bbrunelet
bbrunelet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk.
I think there is a small error in the guidebook at No. 4 bis. When you return to the fork after going to the menhir, you should not turn left (otherwise you will return to the menhir) but continue straight on towards the farm buildings.
Or have I misread it?

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csab65
csab65

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, This route is very interesting and very exotic, BUT there is a very big problem! The slate bridge that was destroyed is completely impassable. Given that the river carries a lot of water at the time of our trip (March) and that the banks are high and slippery, we are faced with a dead end: either turn back, set off blindly, or wade across, getting our shoes and feet wet. What's more, when you reach the top of the ridge, you have to turn right immediately, otherwise you risk going down the hill only to have to climb back up again and return to the car park.

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pibeste
pibeste

That's right, it's dangerous even for the very young. I'm taking advantage of this opportunity. Do you know of a nice route in the 10 Lakes area without too much... tarmac? Well, get going! Thanks in advance.

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Aidenwill
Aidenwill

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Convenient for Tarbes residents, within a 10km radius
The route is very reliable, but bring good shoes for the mud, especially if you're doing it in the rain like I did!
After passing point 7, the small bridge over the Géline has collapsed. You can still cross on foot if you're careful, but you may end up getting very wet if it's slippery.

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pibeste
pibeste
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

In the current context of 10 km... a very nice route.

Avoid clay soil in rainy weather.

The data is very reliable.

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chemin65240
chemin65240

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike not to be attempted if paths are wet
difficult to cross the Géline if there is a lot of water.

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prolava
prolava

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello
A lovely walk for those who enjoy large forests. Despite the damage caused by the storm in 2019, you can hike along wide, easy and very pleasant paths, especially when walking along the Geline.
Thank you for this pleasant experience.

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