Pic de Sauvegarde via Port de Vénasque, return via Pas de l'Escalette

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A challenging circular route starting from the Hospice de France.
Head to the Port de Vénasque – Ascent of the Pic de Sauvegarde via the Spanish side – Return via the Pas de l'Escalette.
At the Pic de Sauvegarde, breathtaking 360° views, from Bagnères-de-Luchon to the Pic d'Anéto.

Details

n°4046087
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.04 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 10 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 5,167 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 5,167 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,973 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,511 ft
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Photos

Climb to the Pic de l'Escalette (rear view - Pic de Sauvegarde)
Maladeta Massif
Pic de Sauvegarde - view of the boums du port
Pic de Sauvegarde - view towards the east

Description of the walk

Access: Bagnères-de-Luchon, L'Hospice de France.

(S/E) With your back to the car park, take the road leading to L'Hospice de France.

(1) With your back to L'Hospice de France, take the path opposite, cross the Pique (river) and continue to the Pont de Penjat.

(2) Cross the bridge and continue to the Refuge de Vénasque.

(3) Continue along the path that runs alongside the lakes (Boums du Port) towards the Port de Vénasque.

(4) Begin the descent on the Spanish side.

(5) Crossroads. Turn right towards the Pic de Sauvegarde.

(6) Rocky section to cross.

(7) Handrail available.

(8) Pic de Sauvegarde. Return along the same route to the crossroads on the Spanish side.

(5) Continue the descent to the right until you reach the next crossroads.

(9) Take the path on the left, heading due east, and continue along the foot of the rocky ridge to Puerto de la Picada.

(10) Then continue left towards the Pas de l’Escalette. General direction: east.

(11) At the junction, take the path on the left towards the summit.

(12) Another rocky section to cross on the border. Continue north-east. Further on, leave the path on the right. The path heads north along the border and reaches the Pas de la Mounjoye after turning east towards boundary marker 336 (elevation 2069).

(13) Then take the path on the left, heading due north. The path leaves the border.

(14) Hikers’ path. Further on, cross the Ruisseau de la Flache de Roumingau.

(15) At the crossroads at around 1,730 m, turn left, heading north-west.

(16) You will soon come to another hikers’ path.

(17) At another crossroads, turn right towards the Hospice de France in the direction of the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,511 ft - Hospice de France - Car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.06 - alt. 4,544 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop. Cross the - Pique (rivière)
  3. 2 : mi 0.46 - alt. 4,721 ft - Pont de Penjat
  4. 3 : mi 2.59 - alt. 7,369 ft - Refuge de Venasque
  5. 4 : mi 3.18 - alt. 8,061 ft - Port de Vénasque
  6. 5 : mi 3.23 - alt. 7,969 ft - Crossroads
  7. 6 : mi 3.31 - alt. 8,087 ft - Rocky section
  8. 7 : mi 3.63 - alt. 8,589 ft - Handrail
  9. 8 : mi 3.91 - alt. 8,973 ft - Pic de Sauvegarde (2737m)
  10. 9 : mi 4.75 - alt. 7,808 ft - Crossroads
  11. 10 : mi 5.83 - alt. 8,127 ft - Puerto de la Picada
  12. 11 : mi 6.23 - alt. 7,822 ft - Pas de l'Escalette (2383m)
  13. 12 : mi 6.3 - alt. 7,854 ft - Rocky section
  14. 13 : mi 7.56 - alt. 6,781 ft - Pas de la Mounjoye
  15. 14 : mi 8.41 - alt. 5,932 ft - Hikers’ route
  16. 15 : mi 8.92 - alt. 5,656 ft - Crossroads
  17. 16 : mi 8.96 - alt. 5,636 ft - Hikers’ route
  18. 17 : mi 9.65 - alt. 4,780 ft - Crossroads
  19. S/E : mi 10.04 - alt. 4,511 ft - Hospice de France - Car park

Notes

Completed on 13 and 14 September 2020. 11 hours over 2 days, including breaks, photos and time to enjoy the scenery.
Can be done in a day.

In the mountains, the weather changes quickly. Be careful and plan ahead.

Please note:

  • The road leading to the Hospice de France is closed in winter. Check opening dates on Inforoute31.
  • There is no shade along the route, except for the section in the forest just before returning to the Hospice de France. A hat and water are essential.
  • A steep climb to the Vénasque refuge, ~26%. A short section of around 70% gradient for the Pic de Sauvegarde.
  • A few rocky sections requiring a bit of scrambling to reach the Pic de Sauvegarde; one of these has a handrail (6) and (7). There is another such section on the climb after the Pas de l’Escalette (12). Take care, especially in gusty winds.
  • From (14), summer pasture area, cattle and sheep.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 9 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
JM58
JM58

Thank you for your comment.
I'm glad you enjoyed the hike.

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PaulaGauthier
PaulaGauthier

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 : No

A very beautiful route in an area I enjoyed returning to
Well-marked route

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JM58
JM58

Thank you for your comment.
I'm glad you enjoyed the hike.

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El Pato
El Pato
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I left the Hospice de France at 7:15 a.m., feeling energetic. I encountered very few people on the climb. The flow of the Port de Venasque stream (La Pique) was quite strong on 18 June. After hesitating with another hiker about crossing it while looking for a path a little higher up, I decided to put my feet in the water (up to my calves) and face the current (not that strong). There was a slightly tricky section on the snow just after the Venasque refuge, on a slope between the pond (Boum du port) and the mountain. I arrived at the Port de Venasque in 1 hour and 36 minutes despite the hesitations mentioned above. I discovered the magnificent Maladeta massif on the Spanish side. There was no sign on the right for the Pic de Sauvegarde, so I descended a little too far before climbing back up (you have to take the first path on the right after the Port de Venasque). Very pretty steep path to the Pic de Sauvegarde with rocky sections where there are handprints in places (not very useful except to indicate the path to the summit). No problem in dry weather like today, but not to be attempted in the rain! The view from the summit is spectacular! Quick descent (running where possible), then continue at the same pace to the Pas de l'Escalette, before following a sign on the left towards the Hospice de France. Climb to the last "real" summit on the ridge line before starting the descent to the end, finishing with a passage through a forest. Total time: 3 hours 53 minutes, not including stops (about 40 minutes), walking quickly on the way up and running on the way down. With my little "detours", my watch recorded a total of 18.66 km and 1,651 m of elevation gain (positive elevation).

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Walkeline
Walkeline

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed on 14/07/2024 in good weather.
The scenery is magnificent, with breathtaking views from the Pic de Sauvegarde, as well as from the Col de Picada and Col de l'Escalette.
However, I find the "very difficult" rating exaggerated compared to other hikes I've done on Visorando:
The circular loop, including the climb to the peak, takes 6 hours (without breaks) for a regular hiker. Expect a 2-hour non-stop climb at the start, which really works your thighs!
The climb to the Pic de Sauvegarde is not difficult, but you need to use your hands at one point. In my opinion, the handrails are useless, as the rock is good and provides handholds. However, it is best to avoid this route in rainy weather (sloping slab).

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toTOM31
toTOM31

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful circular. Quite busy. Good trail and good signage. Thank you!
No snowfields at the beginning of July.
The climb to Pic de Sauvegarde must be tricky in wet weather (rock slabs between points 6 and 8).
NB: my watch recorded 19km and 1675m of elevation gain (slightly more than advertised, even though I followed the trail).

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JM58
JM58

Thank you for your comment.
I am delighted that you had a wonderful day.

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YomFreedom
YomFreedom

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with magnificent views of the Maladeta massif and the majestic Aneto!

The first part is intense up to Pic de Sauvegarde but very well marked with 2-3 overhanging sections on the Sauvegarde climb, which are easily manageable with the help of your hands.

The second part is less steep with several nice places to take a break.
The return journey is a long descent without any major difficulties.

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JM58
JM58

Thank you for your comment and we are delighted that you enjoyed the hike.

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Choubi
Choubi

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Impeccable, we thoroughly enjoyed this route, which is as magnificent as ever.

Be careful, there is still quite a lot of snow on the north-facing slopes, making the hike more difficult than in the height of summer!

Because of the snow, we had to make our own path in the snow, which sometimes strayed from the trail we had followed in summer.

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JM58
JM58

Thank you for your comment.
It's true that the climb is easier when it's cool.
I'm glad you enjoyed the hike.

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lougris
lougris

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I set off at 6am in the cool of the morning and only encountered one other trail runner on the Sauvegarde climb (he was on his way back down).
The climb to the summit is tricky in places but generally accessible. I passed a Spanish family.
The descent was tedious and endless! There were a few people on the Spanish side, but not on this route. On the French side, there were tourists near the Hospice.
Highly recommended!
Thank you for this route.

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JM58
JM58

Thank you for your comment and additional information.
I'm glad you enjoyed the hike.

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danielfr40
danielfr40

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very busy due to trail running competitions.
If I take that away, the peak remains very popular, with many Spanish visitors.
The rest, a few people per section.
Superb hike on easy trails, descent not slippery.
A little steep at times, but the switchbacks make the slopes reasonable most of the time.
A few tricky sections on the peak, a little exposed but not vertiginous. There is always good footing and handholds.
Avoid in wet weather, as mentioned, because of the slightly sloping slabs.
Superb views from the top of the peak and from the ladder, I loved it. And also the superb Venasque lakes, especially when seen from above.
I recommend it
Thank you for this route.

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JM58
JM58


I'm glad you enjoyed the hike.

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