Pic d'Estaragne

Looking for a 3,000-metre peak? An accessible summit? The Pic d’Estaragne awaits you! Beautiful scenery and breathtaking colours.

Please note: although it is relatively accessible, it is still a 3,000-metre peak. There are difficult sections and the climb is steep.

Details

2465060
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.46 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 901 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 901 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,981 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,080 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The start is on the D929 road, just before the bridge leading to the hairpin bends that climb up to the dam. There are parking spaces on the right. You will find instructions regarding the Pyrenees National Park (PNP).

(S/E) Head south and follow the path through the Estaragne valley alongside the stream (watch your step, as there may be cracks along the trail).

(1) After the junction of two streams, you begin an ascent along a rock face. Head south-west and follow the cairns. You arrive at a flat area where signs indicate that you are entering the PNP.

(2) Continue westwards and climb a path that winds its way over a scree slope of grey stones.
Watch your step, as this section is slippery.

(3) Turn left (south) and stay on the dirt track (do not head towards the rocks to the west).

(4) You climb up the rock. There are two possible routes, marked by cairns. Both require you to use your hands, but they are short. Then, you turn right (west) to reach the summit.

(5) The return journey follows the same route back to the bridge (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 2,080 m - Parking before a bridge
  2. 1 : km 0.9 - alt. 2,195 m - Confluence of streams
  3. 2 : km 1.65 - alt. 2,403 m - Entrance to the Pyrenees National Park
  4. 3 : km 2.16 - alt. 2,618 m - Low-water area
  5. 4 : km 2.9 - alt. 2,869 m - Two passages marked by cairns
  6. 5 : km 3.23 - alt. 2,980 m - Pic d'Estaragne
  7. S/E : km 6.46 - alt. 2,080 m - Parking before a bridge

Notes

There are no water sources or shelters.
There is indeed a stream along the route, but I would advise against drinking the water directly: the Estaragne valley is used for summer grazing.

The route shows a lower altitude and a different location to that on the map. Google does not show the actual shape of the peak, which is right on the edge of a precipice and marked by a cairn.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
ours65
ours65

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Confirmation that this is a very beautiful hike with magnificent scenery, with a slightly more difficult section on the ascent and descent near the summit. Note that up to "Point 1 - Junction of the two streams", the climb is not very steep: 120 m elevation gain over one kilometre. According to my GPS, the elevation gain is 920 m, but the round trip distance is 7.9 km.

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Boris_06
Boris_06
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
We did this hike on 23/08/2025 with our family, including two well-trained children aged 5 and 9, and we had a wonderful time. The description is very clear, and there are indeed two or three slightly more difficult sections (especially on the descent), but these are still perfectly manageable for people who are used to hiking at altitude.
An excellent choice for a first 3,000-metre hike.
Important note: the distance mentioned is only the distance to the Pic d'Estaragne! The round trip is more like 11km (completed in just under 5½ hours of walking).
Several marmots and griffon vultures were spotted!

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nathandelHM
nathandelHM

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike through snow-covered terrain, requiring crampons and ice axes for the final slope.
Beautiful, unspoilt scenery with large scree slopes towards the end.
We struggled to find the summit in the snow and to make out the barely visible cairns at the end of the route.
Beautiful ridges and a stunning view from the summit, with a bearded vulture making an appearance🤩
You mustn’t be afraid of heights and need to be well-prepared if you want to tackle a 3,000-metre peak in these conditions.
Otherwise, without all that, I think it’s clearly more accessible.
We ended up adding quite a few kilometres to make it 18 km, as after a certain date, a ban is in place preventing you from going any higher.
So we set off from the Artigusse car park.

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P2Vgd
P2Vgd

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant climb in fine weather. No sign of snow at the start of October. The view from the summit is superb.
Please note: between 1,700 and 1,900 metres, the path is harder to follow; some sections appear to have been washed away by landslides, and these sections require caution (avoid in wet weather).

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ours65
ours65

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, not too difficult for a keen hiker.

A few notes:
- car park = just after the small bridge as there are far more spaces
- the path is well marked
- several fairly steep sections, with a mix of earth and scree
- at point "2" in the description, no slippery sections, just a bit damp
- at point "4", you’ll need to use your hands for 4–5 metres, and on the way back there’s a bit of scrambling down.

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carrera.david
carrera.david

3,006 m on the IGN map

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DV99
DV99

Hello
Just a quick question... is the altitude 2,996 or 3,006 metres, as shown on other websites?!
Have a nice day

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