Pic de Montfaucon from the Hourquette d'Ancizan

Date of your route : May 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, I’ve often been to Lac d’Arou and as far as the foot of the scree slope. On my own, I’ve never dared to venture onto it. As my knees are worn out after 60 years of hiking, I wonder if I’ll be able to manage the descent down that pesky scree slope. So, to be on the safe side, I’m holding back, even though I’d really love to go. Perhaps starting from Aulon and the Arbizon trail, the Monfaucon route is easier? But that’s a lot more driving, whereas I’m in the Campan valley.
There’s no need to go all the way to the lake to join the path that runs along the top of the right-hand slope above the lake. At an altitude of 1,786 metres, you have to climb the short, slightly steep grassy slope to reach this good path leading to the upper Arou valley, then follow a track to the base of the scree slope.

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Date of your route : Nov 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike through a quiet, unspoilt and wild landscape.
For my part, a 16 km hike with an elevation gain of 1,200 metres.
I did the round trip.
The view from the top is magnificent, with a 360° panorama of the Néouvielle and Vignemale massifs.
At the start of the route, the path is marked; after that, you need to follow the cairns and keep a firm footing to navigate the main challenge of the day – apart from the elevation gain – namely the scree and its fairly steep slopes.
Before reaching the top, you have to follow a magnificent ridge which adds a bit more excitement to your outing.
Personally, I did it in snowy conditions, which obviously made it harder, so make sure you have crampons at the very least, and an ice axe – you never know if you’re doing it at this time of year.
Areas frequented by quite a few chamois

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Date of your route : Oct 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 31 October in fine weather (a few chamois above Lake Arou, and a bit of snow above point 4, which made the trail invisible – no other hikers). You need to keep your eyes on the pass (point 5), which is slightly to the right. I think there’s a small error in the description, which mentions an unstable path on the right, whereas it’s actually on the left. I can confirm that this path on the left, which heads straight for the Pic de Montfaucon, is unstable and challenging. I took the right path on the descent. Thank you for this hike with its breathtaking 360-degree view from the summit.

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Hello, thank you for your comment!
That’s right, you need to turn right after the lake, not left as I wrote. I’ll correct that

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

Note: at Lac d'Arou, you need to head up to the right (not to the left), slightly off the main path for a few metres, to rejoin the tracks further up and then turn left.
It’s busy between the Hourquette and the lake, but there’s no one after that

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