Holzarté footbridge

de fr

A circular loop of twelve kilometres in a green setting between forest, streams and waterfalls.
And above all, the crossing of the Holzarté footbridge, which is the highlight of this fairly demanding hike. If it's too physically demanding, you can turn back once you've seen the footbridge.

Details

n°18831
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.00 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,887 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,887 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,225 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,243 ft
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Photos

coming out of the forest...
the climb through the forest
sports passage
hillside

Description of the walk

The walk starts from the Logibar inn, on the edge of the D26. There is a large car park where you can leave your car. You can try to go a little further with your vehicle as there is another car park behind the same inn. However, this car park is reserved for customers. From there, you are at the starting point.

(S/E) Follow the signs for the Holzarté footbridge. It is very well signposted, as this site is well known and very popular in summer. Continue straight ahead up the stairs and along this single sloping path to the footbridge.
The view is already magnificent, but the footbridge is only revealed at the last moment, when you are very close to it.

(1) Cross the footbridge if you are not prone to vertigo. Once you have crossed the gorges, continue your walk along the only path that winds through the forest and gets your heart rate up thanks to a steep incline. You will then come to a crossroads.

(2) Turn left (see photo of the sign) towards Olhadubi. The setting is very green, with waterfalls and streams, and you will be overlooking the gorge for several kilometres.

(3) Cross a small wooden bridge towards Fontabarria and theGR®®10, which we will catch up with later.
Again, everything is signposted and there is only one path. The route runs along the hillside.

(4) The junction with thePR®® is near Cayolar d'Ardakhotchia. You are now at the highest point of this hike. Enjoy the view. Turn left and leave theGR®®10trail on your right. The return journey is via thisPR®® to the car park where you started.
The track is very wide at first, then after a few kilometres, you will pass through a grassy area and back into the forest until you reach a trail on the left.

(5) Turn left and follow thePR®® trail through the woods. The descent is continuous and very hard on your feet and knees. Descend with caution, especially in the forest, as some sections are dangerous in wet weather.
Once back at the car park, the stream beckons you to cool your feet, as does the inn, which welcomes all hikers (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,253 ft - Logibar Inn, near the - Saison (cours d'eau) - Affluent du Gave d'Oloron
  2. 1 : mi 1.19 - alt. 1,923 ft - Holzarte
  3. 2 : mi 1.73 - alt. 2,431 ft - Intersection. Turn left.
  4. 3 : mi 3.27 - alt. 2,785 ft - Picnic area - Pont Olhadubi
  5. 4 : mi 4.78 - alt. 3,222 ft - PR/GR10 junction
  6. 5 : mi 6.26 - alt. 2,930 ft - Intersection: turn left.
  7. S/E : mi 8 - alt. 1,253 ft - Logibar Inn

Notes

Moderator update on 25/03/2019: to assess the difficulty level of this hike, I recommend reading the reviews of hikers who have already completed this route at the end of this page.

Take the D26 from Larrau.
Walking poles may be useful.
A cap is essential in summer.
The Logibar inn will welcome you on arrival, a very pleasant place.
The Olhadübi Bridge is the ideal spot for a picnic.

Worth a visit

Footbridge.
Viewpoint at point 999.
Various waterfalls and streams.
Holzarté Gorges.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 163 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 29611415

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The description at the top of the climb (stage no. 4, I think) does not match the signposts on the ground. These signposts indicate the GR10 for 4.5 km and then, a little further down, for another 5.4 km. There is an arrow much further down (about 2 km after the start of the descent on the GR10) which points to a small path on the left. This is probably the one you suggested in the description. In total, it’s a 14.15 km walk. We really enjoyed the hike despite the 32 degrees (4 hours 50 minutes including the picnic break). Thank you.

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User 27247019

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It takes 1 hour 30 minutes to walk there and back to the footbridge

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jmb33
jmb33

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello
A lovely walk.
We did the walk in the opposite direction so we wouldn’t have to tackle the steep descent, but would do it on the way up instead.
It’s challenging, but it’s quite manageable at the start of the walk.
There are a few sections along the path on the mountainside where you need to be careful, but otherwise everything’s fine
I highly recommend doing it this way, especially as there are fewer people about.

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jeannotca74@gmail.com
jeannotca74@gmail.com

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
A VERY beautiful hike.
We did the walk in the opposite direction because of the rain the day before and so that we didn't have to do the steep descent but could do it on the way up instead.
I highly recommend doing it this way, especially since the climb is much easier at the beginning of the hike.
We followed the route to the letter and covered 676 metres and 13.47 kilometres in 3 hours and 54 minutes.
The views are spectacular. I highly recommend it

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DROUSSELET
DROUSSELET

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, with many people on the first part leading to the footbridge, then less crowded.
Encounter with a young stray vulture. Much of the hike takes place in open terrain, so it is very sunny (don't forget your hat).

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User 3176481

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

route taken on 18/09/2025.
A beautiful sunny day with lots of hikers.
Elevation gain of 604 metres and elevation loss of approximately 20 metres.
The descent was quite strenuous but not dangerous.
Visit to the sheepfold (Cayolar d'Ardakhotchia), warm welcome and water source

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Pierrette.L
Pierrette.L

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very interesting route, but quite physically demanding! Especially the descent!

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Florence F
Florence F

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 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, mostly on the GR10 trail. Most people only go as far as the footbridge, so it is very busy, but after the footbridge, about 45 minutes in, there is no one else around.

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User 5048354

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant route, mostly shaded.
Moderately difficult hike. At the end of the trail, the descent is quite steep and in full sun.
Busy up to the footbridge, but much less so for the rest of the loop.

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User 3162989

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, even though the weather was rather gloomy.
Please note: you cannot start from the car park as indicated: access is only possible on foot!

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User 25659941

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike with a climb that is not too difficult except for a few wet sections. Good footwear is recommended. Few people after the footbridge. Fairly shaded route. The end of the descent is a little steep. 5 hours of leisurely walking

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User 18661830

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Well, the start is pretty tough... Basically, until you reach the footbridge, you'll need to motivate yourself Then it's much calmer, although there are a few steep sections in full sun around the third of the way (with no shade).
The rest of the hike is almost entirely in the shade (set off early in the morning to avoid the sun on the first difficult section).
Honestly, it's about a 5-hour walk.
Nice, very well signposted (no need for a phone to follow the route).

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User 13790214
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
At first, I was apprehensive given the reviews of this hike, which I would summarise as: difficult, steep, lots of mud, and a two-hour drive just to see the bridge.
In the end, I found this walk superb. We did the entire loop in the traditional direction. We took the time to appreciate the various landscapes, waterfalls and forests. The pleasant aspect was that the trail was shaded for almost the entire walk.
Admittedly, the descent is a bit steep for the knees, but it's doable if you take your time and take small steps. We encountered mud, especially in the shady areas, but it wasn't a problem.
We wouldn't have done the hike in the other direction given the lack of shade.
Hike completed on Tuesday 5 August 2025, ideal temperature 25°C. It was quite busy, especially up to the bridge, with families.
You need to be in good physical condition for the loop. It took us 5½ hours with breaks.

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J2M
J2M

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hiking in intense heat
Really enjoyable except for a few sections in direct sunlight: the last ramp and the descent, which must be a bit tough in wet weather
Great
To be repeated

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User 26792783

hello everyone. Could you please let me know the colour of the markings? Thank you in advance. Dan

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