The Campsaure plateau from the Hospice de France

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This hike is not particularly difficult, apart from a slightly steep climb during the first kilometre, and offers superb views of the Luchonnais mountain pastures (sheep, cows, horses), the climb to Vénasque and the Crête de la Pique.

Details

n°780205
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.54 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 424 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 424 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,756 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,376 m
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Photos

Descent
Roumingau hut
Pic de la Pique
Panorama

Description of the walk

Access: from Bagnères-de-Luchon, take the D125 towards the Hospice de France. Car park. Please note that at weekends and during holiday periods, the area is very busy and parking can sometimes be difficult.

(S/E) Pass the bar terrace, go around the building and start the climb (trail no. 21). Follow the trail, which is quite steep.

(1) When you reach the Cabane de Campsaure, go through the fence, turn right and continue along a wide path.

(2) Pass the Cabane de Roumingau on your right and continue to a crossroads.

(3) The path splits into three: take the right-hand path downhill towards the Hospice de France via Fontaine Rouge (path no. 22). Follow several hairpin bends.

(4) At the crossroads, turn left and take the gentle climb towards the Cabane du Pesson.

(5) Turn right, cross the stream, then right again to pass in front of the hut and continue on a path that enters the forest.

(6) At the Fontaine de la Pique, turn right onto a wide path and follow it to the Hospice de France and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,376 m - Parking at the Hospice de France
  2. 1 : km 1.72 - alt. 1,659 m - Campsaure hut
  3. 2 : km 3.28 - alt. 1,731 m - Roumingau hut
  4. 3 : km 3.85 - alt. 1,747 m - Crossroads, on the right
  5. 4 : km 5.35 - alt. 1,450 m - Crossroads, on the left
  6. 5 : km 5.75 - alt. 1,491 m - Cabane du Pesson, on the right. Cross the - Pique (rivière)
  7. 6 : km 6.72 - alt. 1,428 m - Fontaine de la Pique, on the right
  8. S/E : km 7.54 - alt. 1,376 m - Parking at the Hospice de France

Notes

Apart from the Hospice de France, there are no water sources.
Basic mountain walking equipment (boots, warm/waterproof clothing, etc.).
Very crowded during holidays and weekends.

Worth a visit

(1) and (3) Beautiful panoramic views of the Campsaure plateau: Crête and Pic de la Pique, Pic de Campsaure, Pic de Roumingau, Pic de Maupas, summer pastures.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 34 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Nous en rando
Nous en rando
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, but be warned: it's uphill for the first 30 minutes! After that, it's easier going and you're rewarded with a beautiful view...

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frederic.seguy@wanadoo.fr
frederic.seguy@wanadoo.fr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike under a magnificent autumn sun
2 hours and 45 minutes, taking our time

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ChristianQ
ChristianQ

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike with spectacular views, even with a little rain and a fairly steep first section, but very doable if you take your time on some parts..
No one else on the trail due to the time of year and the uninviting weather...!

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Baco13
Baco13

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Steep climb at the start, beautiful view of the opposite slopes.

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Fred Pessac
Fred Pessac

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike apart from the first two kilometres, which are quite steep (goat path), but not difficult even for someone who isn't very fit like me. Fortunately, the climb is in the shade of the forest. Once you reach the pastures, the magnificent view is well worth the effort. The plateau is very pleasant, although there is no shade. The descent back down through the forest is easy.

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danielfr40
danielfr40

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

pleasant walk.
the climb is steep, as you'd expect for a goat trail, but the rest is easy.
nice clear view during the crossing
thank you for this route and the description

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tashu
tashu

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The climb up to the pasture is steep and very strenuous. The effort is rewarded by the scenery. Stay calm, as you may find yourself crossing through a herd of cows. Avoid rainy days, as the route follows a stream on the way down to the hospices.

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BUCCIA
BUCCIA

Hello
I originally mapped this route on an IGN map, which has clearly been changed since then, so I am not responsible for that, but it is still very easy to read. Furthermore, for this type of route, which is very simple, well marked and very popular, a map is virtually unnecessary and, if you refer to the previous comments, you will see that no one has had any difficulty finding their way...
Best regards.

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mpostal
mpostal

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The map attached to the written description is very basic. I have supplemented it with an extract from an IGN map from Géoportail.

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Pignada
Pignada

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 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 hike with magnificent views of the valley and mountains all the way to the Pic du Midi. We were lucky that there was still snow on the peaks, which really brought out the soft green of spring. An easy walk with a picnic overlooking the valley

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counas
counas

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike. On the plateau, we encountered horses and a beautiful herd of cows. Very relaxing landscape.

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jbaudry85
jbaudry85

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A delightful hike, a little steep for the first kilometre but easy going after that (done with a family including two children aged 9 and 11). Superb views over much of the route and plenty of shade provided you start early (8-9 a.m.).

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Araga
Araga

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike. The climb at the start is shaded before reaching the plateau. We were worried that the entire plateau would be fenced off, but this is not the case. At point 3, we headed towards the Pic de l'Entecade and quickly found a nice spot for a picnic with a superb view of the plateau and the surrounding mountains. Be careful on the descent, as some sections are a little slippery (very dry ground). We encountered very few people.

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F C
F C

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely short hike. Pastureland on the plateau and woodland (especially on the descent). We chose it for its reasonable elevation gain, even though the first climb is quite tough, and its reasonable length. No particular difficulties otherwise. It allowed us to take a breather in the middle of the week, as we had more demanding and spectacular hikes planned before and after. Completed in less than 2½ hours.

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fabam32
fabam32

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike.
You have to go to the terrace to return to the left of the hospice, where the trailhead is located.
The hardest part is in the morning when it's still in the shade, which is perfect when it's hot like in August!
Thanks for this great suggestion.

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