The lakes and ruins of Liantran from Lac d'Estaing

This hike will take you to the bottom of the Estaing Valley to discover the Liantran Lakes and pastoral remains.
You will discover the Lac d'Estaing, then the Lac de Langle (sometimes dry in summer), the Lac du Plaa de Prat, and finally the Lacs de Liantran.
There are no difficulties from May onwards, although in spring there may still be some snow drifts, so caution is advised.
Pyrenean ibex and chamois are often spotted here.

Details

2070997
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.28 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 722 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 724 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,831 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,163 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Coming from Lourdes, after Argelès-Gazost, in Arras-en-Lavedan, turn left towards Estaing on the D103. Park in the small car park after the Pont de Pescadou bridge over the Gave de Labat de Bun.

(S/E) Take the track, which is wide at first, heading west-southwest.

(1) Continue right along the track.

(2) Pass the Cabane de l'Oelhestre on the left (altitude 1226m).

(3) Cross the Pont de Plasi bridge over the Gave de Labat de Bun. The slope becomes much steeper as you enter the forest. Stay on the path and do not cut across the switchbacks to avoid erosion.

(4) When you leave the forest, continue on the right bank of the river on a well-marked path. Pass by the Toue de la Cétira, a shelter built under a huge rock.

(5) Pass Lac de Langle. In summer, this lake is often dry.

(6) You will arrive at Lac du Plaa de Prat. It is sometimes confused with Lac de Langle, as the latter is sometimes dry in summer, and inexperienced hikers pass by without noticing it. Continue on and you will reach the Cabane Plaa de Prat.

(7) At the fork near the Cabane du Plaa de Prat, continue south-west. Leave the steep climb up the grassy ridge on your left.

(8) You will arrive at the ruins of Liantran. Continue south for a short distance.

(9) The Lacs de Liantran are located just after the ruins.
Return by walking along the lakes on your right and heading north.

(8) Pass through the ruins of Liantran again and descend to the car park (S/E) by following the same route you took on the way there.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,165 m - Parking after the Pescadou Bridge - Lac d'Estaing
  2. 1 : km 0.9 - alt. 1,175 m - Track junction
  3. 2 : km 1.53 - alt. 1,235 m - Cabane de l'Oelhestre
  4. 3 : km 2.68 - alt. 1,323 m - Cross the Plasi bridge
  5. 4 : km 4.88 - alt. 1,591 m - Toue de la Cétira
  6. 5 : km 5.27 - alt. 1,607 m - Lac de Langle
  7. 6 : km 6.01 - alt. 1,659 m - Lac du Plaa de Prat
  8. 7 : km 6.3 - alt. 1,667 m - Cabane du Plaa de Prat
  9. 8 : km 7.47 - alt. 1,828 m - Ruins of Liantran
  10. 9 : km 7.69 - alt. 1,825 m - Lacs de Liantran
  11. S/E : km 15.28 - alt. 1,166 m - Parking after the Pescadou Bridge - Lac d'Estaing

Notes

Park at the end of the lake, after the bridge, in a small car park.
It is advisable to set off very early, as Lac d'Estaing is very busy from May/June onwards.
During the journey, from Lac de Langle, you will probably be able to see Pyrenean ibex, which are not very shy, and chamois, which are more difficult to spot as they are more fearful.

Alternative return route (2) You can avoid the track by turning right onto a path that runs parallel to it and joining the (1) and then the (S/E).

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 25 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Nous en rando
Nous en rando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, fairly easy overall, not many people, round trip in 4 hours and 50 minutes. We were lucky enough to see two Izards on the right-hand side after the Oelhestre hut. If you look carefully, you can spot them, so bring your binoculars. They were still there when we came back down.

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mboileau
mboileau
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The signpost indicating "small car park at the end of the lake after the bridge" is out of date. Vehicle parking has been reorganised into more restrictive marked spaces. Please follow the signs.

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Zoomy
Zoomy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We climbed up to Lac du Plaa de Prat where the ibexes were waiting for us!! It was such a joy to see them so close to us!! 🥰
The trail is busy at the start, but the higher you go, the fewer people there are!
It must be said that it's only the end of May!
The start is very easy for about 1 km, then it's pretty much uphill all the way, with a few more difficult sections with scree, so watch where you put your feet!
The effort is rewarded by the beauty of the landscape, the snow on the peaks and the streams that accompany you throughout the hike.
A must-do! 😊

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TROIS J
TROIS J

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We came back to see the ibexes again and came back down with some incredible photos and videos. Animals that you can admire from just 10 metres away!
It was a bit of a long trip, but it was well worth it. Definitely worth doing, in a stunning setting.

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Sopadrabrocas
Sopadrabrocas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We are attaching the photos

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Sopadrabrocas
Sopadrabrocas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We didn't make it to the ruins due to lack of time... we stopped at the magnificent Plaa de Prat lake beneath the Balaitous cirque. We were delighted to see a herd of wild ibex with lots of little ones! The colours were superb and the photos we took are just as beautiful!

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JMZAHN
JMZAHN

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

The route was busy at the start (wide track), becoming less so as we progressed and climbed, as is often the case.
With my companion for the day (whom I met on the way up), we stopped at the Lacs de Liantran, even though we were tempted to go further and higher (we should have left earlier).
At the start of the return journey, we took a little detour to the right of the path we had taken on the way up, closer to the stream, before returning to the marked trail.
It's up to you to decide whether you're tempted by a little "adventure" or if you prefer the safety of a "strict" round trip...
In any case, there's no risk of getting lost, as the main path, which links the lakes, runs along the bottom of the valley.
So it's easy to find it again at any time and get back to "safety" on easy, familiar ground.

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dominique paletou
dominique paletou

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 : No

A delightful way to discover Pau

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Pascalou0762
Pascalou0762

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A pleasant hike
Part of the route is through woodland before you discover the real beauty of the peaks
A few minor errors in the trail, but you'll find your way back to the start of the route after a few metres
Enjoy this lovely hike without your dog, as dogs are not allowed in the nature park at certain times

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geai47
geai47

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

At the beginning of September, the trail is quiet in the morning but busier in the afternoon with many walkers and dogs as we enter the heart of the park. I have often had the opportunity to point this out to them, often in English, as these walkers are often Dutch.
Indeed, on 10 September, the lakes were very low, fortunately a little fuller thanks to the two storms of the previous days.

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Coline2384
Coline2384

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy route with very accessible elevation changes. Be careful though, when we did this hike at the end of August, Lake Liantran was completely dry, as were Lake Langle and Lake Plaa de Prat, which was almost empty. You may see local wildlife (cows, sheep, marmots, birds of prey). The hike is quiet in the morning and a little busier in the afternoon.

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joblanco
joblanco

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Long hike in proportion to the elevation gain, therefore difficult with children. The first two hours of walking to reach the lakes do not offer particularly spectacular scenery, unlike many lakes in the High Pyrenees.

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cb64800
cb64800
• Edited:

It is indeed a hike that is best done in spring to see these beautiful lakes filled after the snow melts

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NALLA
NALLA

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice hike. Lots of people. The Praa Lake isn't anything special, nor are the ruins (very little water)
but the landscape is magnificent.
It was very hot, and the marmots and chamois had to stay in the shade behind the rocks.

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christine.dumouch
christine.dumouch

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

very pleasant hike, reliable route

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