Pic de Cagire from the Col de Menté

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

Enjoy the walk, clockwise, a bit of gardening after the first hut, a bit slippery and technical on the ridge, return after the refuge via the track.

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Date of your route : Oct 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent hike with the option of following the trail or cutting across and climbing directly up a steep slope. Very popular, with extraordinary views. A few technical sections, but the ground is very dry, making it safe. Take care in winter or in wet weather, as the northern side of the mountain can be dangerous.

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Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike, moderate to difficult. A few technical sections on the ridges, but manageable with good footwear. The climbs are quite steep and require a minimum level of fitness. The views throughout the hike are magnificent.

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Date of your route : Aug 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

beautiful hike, even if a bit challenging

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Date of your route : Sep 16, 2025
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 superb views of our beautiful Pyrenees.
Be aware that the path along the ridge before the steep climb up Cagire may be tricky for those who are afraid of heights.
But otherwise, go for it because it's beautiful.

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Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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Date of your route : Aug 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike with stunning views of the Pyrenees. Avoid taking the ridge path via L'Escalette when the ground is wet, as it is very slippery. Just another small note for those who are prone to vertigo: between L'Escalette and Pas de l'âne, there is an exposed section on the ridge. This section is quite short.

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

An exceptional hike in good weather and with good visibility.
From the Cabane de l'Escalette, the view of the Aneto and the Luchonnais and Neouvielle ranges is astonishing, and remains so throughout the hike.
I'm reassured to see that the difficulty has been downgraded to 'Difficult'. In fact, despite the low altitude and a very "piedmont, cow mountain" environment, this hike hides a real difficulty due to the potential danger on certain sections:
Between the Cabane de l'Escalette and the Pic de l'Escalette the vegetation (the gispet) coupled with a steep slope can be a real trap. In wet weather (rain or fog), the gispet becomes as slippery as ice. The slightest fall can be costly. In winter, crampons and ice axe are compulsory.
Between the Pic de l'Escalette and the Col du Pas de l'Âne, some sections are exposed and can be daunting for inexperienced hikers.
The descent to the Cabane de Larreix is fairly safe. You can even feel the difference in climate as this section is located in a hollow that protects you from the wind.
If in doubt, I'd recommend doing the out-and-back hike up via the Cabane de Larreix. Visibility is less good at the start and the climb is steeper, but the path is less dangerous.
In summer, beware if you are accompanied by a dog. The patous who guard the herds on the crests of the Cagire are not always friendly.

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Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This walk took place on Saturday 2 November 2024 in ideal weather conditions. ☀️
Departure at 10am from the Col de Menté car park, where many cars were already parked.
As we reached point 1, the magnificent view quickly began, and thanks to the description, we were able to see the Maladeta massif and the giant Aneto.
The climb from point 1 to point 2 is steep but not difficult. In the summer sunshine, we thought we would have enjoyed it less.
We were surprised by the sometimes vertiginous descent between the summits of Les Parets and the Col du Pas de l'Âne, even though we'd read a few warnings. This slope, which sees little or no sunlight, is indeed clayey and slippery. What's more, you have to use your hands a lot. Finally, there are 2 or 3 overhangs. So it can be impressive for people prone to vertigo. Some people are very slowed down, not knowing exactly how to go about it, which creates a bit of a traffic jam (there were a lot of people on this hike that day). We were patient. If we're careful, we get through this technical section. And although we were advised to do the same return, we decided to do the loop as indicated in the description. We can't do this section twice in one day! 😅
After another fine climb, the hike ends very easily at Le Cagire. Here we take a lunch break and admire the view. It's magnificent, and we're enjoying it.
On the way back, the descent to the Larreix hut is bucolic! In the sunshine, the golden and orange trees are a delight. After that, the forest track may not be very interesting, but it does have the merit of resting the legs. And it goes fairly quickly.
A very nice hike, but I'd classify it as "difficult". The hike to Lac d'Espingo is classed as difficult, but I find it easier than this one.

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Date of your route : Oct 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike on a sunny Friday. Very few people on the trail in early October.
Most of the route is not particularly difficult. The panorama on a clear day is magnificent.
The ridge section from point 2 to point 4 (Col du Pas de l'Âne) is the most difficult part of the route for me. The path is in the shadow of the ridge and in my case the terrain was clay with very slippery, steep rocks... I had to manage a few slips. Passing the Col de l'Âne is no more difficult, and the view from the Pic Cagire is superb.

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Date of your route : Aug 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Much more pleasant from the cabane deJuzet

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Date of your route : Sep 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We chose to do it the other way round (departure from Col de Menté, Cabane de Larreix, Pas de l'âne, Pic de Cagire, Pas de l'âne, Pic de l'Escalette), which was a bit more strenuous, with a steep climb between Cabane de Larreix and Pas de l'âne, but which you should avoid taking at the end of the hike as it's a bit of a descent for your knees...
There is a herd of summer sheep with Patou between Pdl'âne and Cagire, and we didn't see (or perhaps didn't see well) a water point between the Larreix hut and the end of our hike at the Col de Menté, so take water 😉.
Magnificent views on a clear day, especially in this direction for the view of the chain!
Hiking to be done with suitable footwear!

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Date of your route : Aug 04, 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 with a magnificent view of the Pyrenees.
I'd advise starting out cool, as the first climb just after the Cabane de l'Escalette is quite steep and you'll catch a sweat in the sun! The rest of the way up to the Pic du Cagire is easy and the return journey, with its shady section, is very pleasant.
Take binoculars, if you have them, to enjoy this beautiful panorama.
Thank you for this route

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Date of your route : Jul 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Exactly as shown on the map.
Lovely walk with beautiful views.
Do it again, but start the other way, which I think is more difficult.

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Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

It was a fine outing, but unfortunately it was spoiled before we reached the cagire by a large herd in the middle of the path, accompanied by at least 2 patous, 1 of which seemed very aggressive. Everyone I could see turned back and made do with the Pique Poque peak.
For the rest, after the hut turn right towards the Pic de l'Escalette to catch up with the ridge.
The descent along the ridge towards the Col du Pas de l'Ane is quite impressive at times and I would advise against it if you are afraid of heights.
Do it again out of Patou season.

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