The Étangs de Bassiès from Massada

From Vicdessos, head towards Auzat on the D8. Drive through Auzat and continue towards Marc on the D8. A little further on, pass Astiès on your left and continue on the D8. You will come to a large car park on your right (Aire de Massada) before a double hairpin bend in the road.

(S/E) From the car park (altitude 821 m), continue climbing along the D8, behind the safety barrier, until you reach the first hairpin bend. Directional signpost.

(1) Turn right towards the Bassiès refuge. Cross the beautiful footbridge and turn left uphill. You will soon reach a fork with a path on the right.

(2) Leave this return path, marked with a large orange arrow, on your right. Continue straight ahead uphill. Take care: there is a risk of slipping as the path is covered with water. Continue climbing until you reach another insignificant fork in the return path (altitude 990 m).

(3) Leave this return path on your right. Continue straight ahead uphill. You will eventually come out onto the access road to the small EDF Bassiès power station.

(4) Cross it and continue climbing opposite along a rough path. Further on, you will come to a large crossroads with four paths.

Old yellow markings are very sparse.

(5) Leave the two successive paths on the left (^GR®10coming from Mounicou and going towards Bassiès).
Continue to the right, due east, along a paved path on an old aqueduct. Magnificent balcony path along the mountainside. Pass the Bassiès stream, captured by the power station. Cross the various footbridges and secure duckboards of the EDF building and arrive at the end of the road.
Follow it for about 70 metres and look for a very good path on the left (altitude 1,150 metres).

(6) Climb the winding path, which is paved with stones throughout. Very beautiful scenery. After a tough but beautiful climb, you will arrive at a vast summer pasture and a plateau at an altitude of 1586 metres.

White and red^GR®10markings

(7) Continue straight on the^GR®10. Walk along the Étang d'Escalès, Étang Long, Étang Majeur and Étang du Pla de la Font lakes and you will soon reach a fork in the path. Directional signs.

(8) Turn left and cross a long wooden deck. You will come to a fence and a gate on the left.

(9) Go through the gate and climb up to the Refuge de Bassiès (altitude 1654 m), going around it on the left.

(10) Large area with hiking trails, mandatory passage on^{the GR®10}, etc. Beautiful scenery.
After a restorative break, turn back to the gate.

White and red markings for^{the GR®10}

(9) Continue straight ahead and climb a little until you reach a fork (altitude 1660 m).

Old yellow markings are very sparse and there are remnants of white and red markings.

(11) Leave the^GR®10trail on your left. Turn completely right and head towards the Étang du Pla de la Font lake and the fork you passed on the way there. Directional signs.

White and red markings for^{the GR®10}

(8) Continue along the^GR®10, in the opposite direction to the outward journey, until you reach the fork, which you also passed on the outward journey (elevation 1586).

(7) Continue to the right on the^GR®10, crossing the self-supporting stone arch bridge. Follow the numerous hairpin bends on a damaged path to reach the crossroads of the four paths from the outward journey.

Old yellow markings are very sparse

(5) After a quick right-left turn, continue downhill on the^GR®10, in the opposite direction to the outward journey. You will arrive at the access road to the EDF power station.

(4) Cross it and rejoin the second fork you passed on the way up.

No markings

(3) If in doubt at this junction, continue downhill in the opposite direction to the outward journey.
Otherwise, turn left into the forest, heading due east, along a nice, obvious path that avoids the slippery area. After a few hairpin bends, turn right heading due east (the end of the recorded track is accurate and does not correspond to the IGN map). Join the path from the outward journey.

Old yellow markings very sparse

(2) Turn left and follow the path in the opposite direction to the outward route to reach the (S/E).

(10) Drinking water, meals, supplies, drinks at the Bassiès refuge.
Water from streams (torrents) may be available, but it must be filtered or disinfected.

This is a mountainous area: rain gear, water, snacks, GPX track, description, map, GPS or Visorando app, camera, good walking shoes, walking poles.

Most of the hike is in open terrain => set off early in hot weather. The weather can change quickly.

Bassiès refuge
Val de Sos
Auzat Town Hall