Pic de la Bernatoire

de fr

A hike that allows you to discover a magnificent deep-blue lake nestled in its crater and to reach a peak offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the high summits. You’ll see plenty of marmots and perhaps a few chamois and griffon vultures.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.00 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,621 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,602 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,212 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,627 ft
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Photos

View of the Vignemale in the distance
Bird’s-eye view of Lac de la Bernatoire

Description of the walk

Park in the car park situated below, to the left of the track (the D128 leading up from Genèbre), about 1 km before the Ossoue Dam.

(S/E) Head up the track, north-north-west. Cross the Ruisseau de Labassa and reach the Ossoue Dam.

(1) At the foot of the dam, turn left and take the footbridge to cross the Gave d’Ossoue. Then follow the GR®10 southwards (red and white markings). The path initially climbs steeply up the hillside. It then continues along a gentler slope until it reaches a wide hanging valley.
Continue southwards, passing the Cabane de Lourdes on your right by a few metres, until you reach a junction of signposted paths.

(2) Walk past the signpost and take the summer pasture path towards the Col de la Bernatoire. (South-west; let the GR®10 branch off to the left). The path climbs gently up the Canau valley, then turns left (south).
As you approach the pass, the gradient steepens. After a steeper climb for a few metres, you’ll reach the Col de la Bernatoire.

(3) From the pass, turn immediately 90° to the right and climb steeply up the narrow track. The slope levels out quickly and the going becomes easier. Follow this path to reach the summit.

(4) For the return journey, follow the same route in the opposite direction back to your starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,627 ft - Parking. Near the - Gave d'Ossoue (cours d'eau) - Affluent du Gave de Gavarnie
  2. 1 : mi 0.91 - alt. 6,001 ft - Barrage d'Ossoue
  3. 2 : mi 1.91 - alt. 6,371 ft - Junction of marked trails. Near the - Cabane de Lourdes (1995m)
  4. 3 : mi 3.7 - alt. 7,661 ft - Col de la Bernatoire
  5. 4 : mi 4.01 - alt. 8,212 ft - Pic de la Bernatoire
  6. S/E : mi 8 - alt. 5,627 ft - Parking

Notes

I parked on the left, about 1 km from the dam. You simply walk down a small path for about fifty metres, which leads to a large mountain pasture where it’s easy to park.
I didn’t want to drive right up to the dam because of the condition of the track. I saw ordinary cars, such as a Clio, at my parking spot.


This route, which is entirely on marked trails, poses no problems with navigation. A map and a compass are more than enough.

I’ve made a video featuring the names of the peaks and bird’s-eye views of the lake, showing you the key points along the route and the path you’ll take.

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

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

4.9 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
GermB
GermB

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Brilliant! Set off late at night and arrived early in the morning… Absolutely stunning. Do be careful, though, on the road leading up to the Ossoue dam

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henri vandenbulck
henri vandenbulck

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 : Yes

very parish specific to Brittany hike on the Spanish side, magnificent...
lots of marmots, not very shy
steep but short slope both for the ascent and the descent to the lake
a must-do Start from the first car park, which is well signposted, to avoid a section of stony road that is passable but only at a very slow pace
Henri VANDENBULCK

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smashdc
smashdc

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

2,516 m Lac & Pic de la Bernatoire in Gavarnie Gèdre #toporando #allofFrance
🚀 The full story is here ✔️
https://youtu.be/FKi1ec23TLQ
.
🎬 This hike is part of my epic journey in the Hautes-Pyrénées 65: 301 km & 18,619 m elevation gain/loss
Le Petit Vignemale is on the right but tougher (17 km, 1,360 m elevation gain/loss), but we’re heading left of the dam.
Watch out for cars that are too low towards the end!! On the way there, my car made it through but not on the way back :-(
It’s already a long drive... The tarmac road winds a lot with plenty of bends and isn’t very wide.
So drive slowly if visibility is poor ;-)
The stony track will be even longer. There are a few potholes, but you can avoid them.

I thought I read that the hike is fairly easy... lol! Not very objective...

My watch shows an extra 300 m of elevation gain. Apart from in gorges, it’s usually pretty accurate.
It starts off gently but then the slope climbs steadily all the way.
You often have to walk on the grass at the side because the path sometimes resembles ruts that aren’t very wide at all, so there’s a risk of twisting an ankle.
A good kilometre before the lake, there are steep gradients of 20%–25% on rockier terrain, which is a bit like schist but not too slippery.
Much more slippery towards the peak, but I’ve been through worse.
It was incredibly windy. I’ve never seen anything like it!! A good fifteen people didn’t make it up, which just goes to show it’s no easy feat. Yet, we’re treated to a beautiful panorama :-)
I understand better now why I felt tired, given that elevation gain. No surprise, as my watch shows an extra 300m of elevation gain! I could tell just by how I felt, without even looking at the watch.
The terrain is very walkable, of course. The elevation gain is concentrated towards the end.
It’s best to be used to hiking these kinds of climbs.
Lots of marmots and goats along the way.
A very beautiful hike!
No need for me to go down to the lake and back up the other side, as the view will be similar, and besides, it’s a lovely descent and climb over schist terrain that’s a bit slippery and quite steep!
.
13.2 km & 1,112 m elevation gain/loss

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USAbackpacker
USAbackpacker
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lake Bernatoire is incredible, and the reservoir is well worth a visit.
A lovely trip.
The road is passable. You can stop before the dam if you don’t feel up to it.

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bthalamas
bthalamas

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A fairly easy hike, even up to the peak.
A beautiful lake and panoramic views from the peak: a magnificent hike
A good time of year for this hike as it’s full of flowers and there are marmot in abundance...
The only downside is the access: a very stony track, passable certainly but only at a slow pace; it would benefit from some repair work so as not to put off hikers

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