Pic Sanctus from the Tech dam

Pic Sanctus is the destination of the hike.
Reaching the Col d'Uzious is a great achievement in itself.
Descending to the lakes (Lavedan and Uzious) is also a lovely alternative.

Please note: this hike should only be undertaken when there is no snow (from late May until the first snowfall) and when the weather is stable.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.80 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 8h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 4,321 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 4,324 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,058 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,980 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Stop at the first car park on your right (just after the Tech dam).

(S/E) Head due west. Follow this path which climbs steadily. Leave the forest.

(1) You’ll arrive above a water intake built on the stream. Continue to the right, staying on the left bank of the Labas stream, along a very well-marked path. Pass a small ledge and reach a fork

(2). The Bouleste hut is 50 m to the left. Turn right onto a path that climbs and heads due north into the mountain pasture (left bank of another stream).
Cross this stream and follow a well-marked path heading south-west. Cross another stream, head north-west and reach the Col d’Uzious (2,236 m).

(3) From the pass, you can climb to Pic Sanctus by following a path that climbs gently north-eastwards. Go round the first peak you come to. Then some yellow markings will help you follow this steep path to the summit (2482 m) of Pic Sanctus. Follow the few remaining yellow markings carefully. Do not attempt this route in poor visibility (fog, rain).

(4) Descend back to the Col d’Uzious, turn right to descend to Lac du Lavedan (2,179 m) and Lac d’Uzious (2,115 m).

(5) Return via the same route.

(1) Take an alternative route at the water intake. Turn right, pass the EDF building by crossing the stream and follow the yellow markings. The return route then follows the right bank of the stream.

(6) At the fork, head down to the left into the forest. Leave the forest to arrive at a large clearing.

(7) Head straight on, ignoring the marked path that branches off to the right towards Lac de Pouey-Laun, and join the D105.

(8) Turn left; it is a further 300 m to the cars (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,986 ft - Tech Dam, car park on the D105
  2. 1 : mi 1.17 - alt. 5,010 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 2.09 - alt. 5,669 ft - Common junction (out and return) - Cabane de Boulest
  4. 3 : mi 3.76 - alt. 7,365 ft - Junction. Return to the summit and/or the lakes - Col d'Uzious
  5. 4 : mi 4.3 - alt. 8,058 ft - Pic Sanctus
  6. 5 : mi 5.25 - alt. 7,070 ft - Lac d'uzious
  7. 6 : mi 8.56 - alt. 4,892 ft - At the fork, head down to the left into the forest
  8. 7 : mi 9.01 - alt. 4,482 ft - At the fork, go straight on (south-east)
  9. 8 : mi 9.56 - alt. 3,996 ft - D105, turn left
  10. S/E : mi 9.8 - alt. 3,980 ft - Tech Dam, car park on the D105.

Notes

First and foremost => two rules

1) Follow the paths
2) Do not place cairns excessively.

There are no water sources on this route.

The water point and the hut are two landmarks not to be missed.

You’ll need good walking boots for the climb up Pic Sanctus.

The summit is on rocky, scree-like terrain, so you must take care.

Worth a visit

On the way back, the village of Arrens-Marsous is well worth a stop.
There is a stopover lodge in this village.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 25539173

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route, best tackled later in the season, as on 11 May the snow meant we could only get as far as the pass.

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Steph 35560
Steph 35560

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk with two lakes for fit hikers, as the loop has an elevation gain of 1,300 metres, but otherwise a very beautiful site with wild raspberries and marmots. The valley is very pleasant. 👍

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Darjo
Darjo

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route is well marked and offers beautiful scenery. The final section is technical to reach the ridge that leads to the summit. The views are breathtaking. And the lakes are visible below.

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Yves La
Yves La

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike. From the peak of Sanctus, enjoy a magnificent 360° view between Bigorre and Béarn, with views of numerous peaks such as L'Ossau, Balaïtous, Vigemale, Palas and many others...
The lakes of Lavedan, Uziou and Danglas.

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Auvray
Auvray

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike in a rocky environment.

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Jean-Paul Balsac
Jean-Paul Balsac

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Trip taken in early September 2023. Magnificent landscapes with a series of valleys. Cattle, marmots. No Patou!!
Thanks to the 'inventor'.

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Slyric82
Slyric82

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The climb is steady, perhaps a little long to the pass. But the view is splendid.
It gets a little more difficult between the pass and the summit, but the panorama is worth the final effort.
The small circular at the end of the descent breaks up the monotony of the downhill sections!

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fflyf
fflyf

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Hike to Pic Sanctus in beautiful weather. The guidebook is exceptional. It warns of a lack of water during the hike, but there are streams up to about 400 m from the pass. We use them with Millipore water filters to avoid contamination from livestock and other sources. In any case, thank you to the author for his exemplary work, thank you for helping us discover this peak and its splendid view!

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Yves Lefer
Yves Lefer

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hike to the Col d'Izious pass, in mist and clouds during the Trail des Gabizos race. The interesting thing is that the race organisers have dotted the route with red "construction site" paint marks, making it easier to follow than the cairns, some of which have been knocked over by livestock and others by snow on the final climb to the pass. Unfortunately, this paint is not as durable as GR-type markings.
There are no difficulties until you reach the Bouleste hut. The national park sign indicating the pass is broken, but the trail is obvious, the numerous herd tracks lead in the same direction and the crossing is well marked. To reach the pass, simply climb straight towards the light. The descent to the lakes is easy.
It takes 2½ hours to climb from the Tech dam and 2 hours to descend at a leisurely pace.

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rando34se
rando34se

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

a few snowfields up to the Col d'Uzious, then an easy ridge to the summit

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