Pic du Maupas

de fr

A fairly demanding two-day hike. The ascent to the Refuge du Maupas, whilst steep, presents no difficulties apart from the elevation gain. The same cannot be said for the ascent of the Pic du Maupas, which is intended for experienced hikers who know how to navigate off-trail and are capable of tackling a few short sections of easy climbing and descending. However, the 360° panorama covering almost all of the 3,000-metre peaks of the Luchon region is well worth the effort.

Details

n°3129110
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.72 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 6,713 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 6,703 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 9,902 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,684 ft

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S

    Lys Valley - Maupas Refuge

    ↔4.62 mi ↗4,245 ft ↘3 ft
    This first stage, which serves as an approach walk, is difficult. The climb is steep and sustained along the Torrent de Houradade up to the junction at the Cabane de la Coume. Continuing the route to reach the Cabane de Pratlong allows you to catch your breath a little before tackling the final stretch via the numerous tight hairpin bends leading to the pumping station and then to the Refuge du Maupas, where the warm welcome will quickly make you forget the day’s exertions.
    View the route
  2. E

    Refuge du Maupas – Pic de Maupas – Lys Valley

    ↔8.09 mi ↗2,457 ft ↘6,703 ft
    On this day’s hike, you’ll need to find your own way up to the Pic de Maupas over rounded boulders, where the numerous cairns mean you’ll have to locate the next one each time to continue the ascent to the ‘Mal Pas’, which gave the peak its name. This is the only pass – difficult to access – allowing you to cross over to the western slope and complete the ascent with a few easy climbing moves. The return will follow the same route as the ascent, with a pleasant alternative route via Lac Vert.
    View the route

Notes

It is possible to bivouac near the Refuge du Maupas, but there are few suitable spots on the stony ground and large rock slabs.

A very warm welcome at the Refuge du Maupas.

Wear high-top hiking boots. Trekking poles will be useful on the first day but cumbersome on the second, as you will need to use your hands several times: at the ‘Mal Pas’, a small pass linking the Pic du Maupas to La Tusse, and on the final boulders.

This hike should not be undertaken in foggy conditions, as it is essential to find the northern pass or ‘Mal Pas’ to avoid a hazardous final stretch of the ascent along the ridge.

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.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
3 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
lucas_gndr
lucas_gndr

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

we went hiking on a gorgeous October day, with sunshine and blue skies! We left the car park at 6am with the aim of making a day trip to Maupas (the weather forecast wasn't great for 8pm and wasn't set to improve the following day, so we decided against spending the night in a refuge). The first part of the hike to the refuge was easy, even with headlamps in the forest, as the route was clearly marked. When we arrived at the refuge, we felt the fatigue of the (endless) final switchbacks on a fairly steep slope, and we settled down around 9:30 a.m. at the water's edge. We set off around 10 a.m. for the second part, which was much more technical. We quickly found ourselves on rocky terrain, with a more complex trail to follow. The scree slopes were exhausting and fatigue was clearly setting in. The last 200 metres of elevation gain were difficult, requiring us to use our hands, forge a path and avoid a few small patches of persistent snow. After hesitating to give up, we finally reached the summit at 1:30 p.m., rewarded with a superb view! We didn't linger, as the descent was long... we had to do a lot of downclimbing and find the trail again. Personally, I arrive at the refuge with my knees in tatters... but there's still the second half to go. We arrive at the car park at 6.40pm, and five minutes later, the rain starts. Great timing . We only came across about ten other hikers in the area, but the hike is magnificent. Despite only getting one hour of sleep the night before the hike, waking up at 3:45 a.m., and already having sore calves after a lot of exercise the week before, I did it, but not without a minimum of suffering... my friend breezed through this route and was clearly the driving force of the group!

Machine-translated

Tsar
Tsar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A challenging 2-day hike
The first part, up to the mountain hut, is easy.
Apart from the elevation gain, there’s nothing too difficult

We camped next to the mountain hut.
A restless night,
rain, strong wind, hail

but that didn’t dampen our spirits in the slightest – quite the opposite!
Climbed the peak in the early morning

Lots of cairns – not always straightforward.

We aimed for a large boulder at the
“Mal Pas” to guide us up the peak
We also recorded GPS coordinates using Backtrack to make the descent easier

Great hike!

Good footwear is essential, and it’s best for experienced hikers all the same

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Lys Valley - Maupas Refuge

Visorando Member
↔4.62 mi ↗+4,245 ft ↘-3 ft ◔5h 50 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Cazeaux-de-Larboust (Haute-Garonne)
This first stage, which serves as an approach walk, is difficult. The climb is steep and sustained along the Torrent de Houradade up to the junction at the Cabane de la Coume. Continuing the route to reach the Cabane de Pratlong allows you to catch your breath a little before tackling the final stretch via the numerous tight hairpin bends leading to the pumping station and then to the Refuge du Maupas, where the warm welcome will quickly make you forget the day’s exertions.

Walking Lac Vert loop via the Coume hut

Association / Club / Walk leader
Lac Vert en boucle par la cabane de la Coume
↔7.47 mi ↗+3,251 ft ↘-3,232 ft ◔6h 15 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Cazeaux-de-Larboust (Haute-Garonne)
This is a beautiful hike during which you will discover stunning waterfalls, a beautiful view of the Luchonnais region and, the highlight of the show, the green waters of the lake of the same name. However, due to its elevation, length and a few tricky sections, this route requires a good level of fitness.

Walking Mont du Lys via the Serre des Cabales ridge

Visorando Member
Mont du Lys par la crête de la Serre des Cabales
↔7.87 mi ↗+3,796 ft ↘-3,776 ft ◔6h 55 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Cazeaux-de-Larboust (Haute-Garonne)
A very beautiful, quiet hike offering views of several waterfalls and a magnificent vista of the Cirque des Crabioules and its peaks over 3,000 m. However, the largely unmarked path and the significant gradient require a fair bit of fitness.

Walking Lac Vert, the Cirque de la Glère and the Hospice de France

Visorando Member
Le Lac Vert, le Cirque de la Glère et l'Hospice de France
↔11.08 mi ↗+4,682 ft ↘-3,858 ft ◔7 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Castillon-de-Larboust (Haute-Garonne)
A truly beautiful walk leading from the Vallée du Lys to the Hospice de France via the Lac Vert. The route is varied and the elevation gain is certainly significant, but this is more than made up for by the magnificent views over the Haut-Luchonnais and the ridge marking the border with Spain.

Walking Maupas Mountain Hut via the Cirque des Crabioules

Visorando Member
Refuge du Maupas par le Cirque des Crabioules
↔6.12 mi ↗+4,839 ft ↘-581 ft ◔6 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Cazeaux-de-Larboust (Haute-Garonne)
An alternative route to climb up and spend the night at the Refuge du Maupas: this is longer than the standard ascent but less busy, offering splendid views over the Lys Valley and the 3,000-metre peaks overlooking the Cirque des Crabioules. Best undertaken in good weather, as the path is sometimes poorly marked after the Anciennes Mines des Crabioules.

Walking Gouffre and Ru d'Enfer

Visorando Member
Gouffre et Ru d'Enfer
↔4.64 mi ↗+2,057 ft ↘-2,031 ft ◔3h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Castillon-de-Larboust (Haute-Garonne)
A shady walk that takes in a splendid canyon and wonderful waterfalls.

Walking Refuge du Maupas – Pic de Maupas – Lys Valley

Visorando Member
↔8.09 mi ↗+2,457 ft ↘-6,703 ft ◔6 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Castillon-de-Larboust (Haute-Garonne)
On this day’s hike, you’ll need to find your own way up to the Pic de Maupas over rounded boulders, where the numerous cairns mean you’ll have to locate the next one each time to continue the ascent to the ‘Mal Pas’, which gave the peak its name. This is the only pass – difficult to access – allowing you to cross over to the western slope and complete the ascent with a few easy climbing moves. The return will follow the same route as the ascent, with a pleasant alternative route via Lac Vert.

Walking From Superbagnères to Pic du Céciré via the new route

Association / Club / Walk leader
De Superbagnères au Pic du Céciré par le nouveau parcours
↔8.84 mi ↗+2,871 ft ↘-2,871 ft ◔6h 35 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Aventin (Haute-Garonne)
Climbing the 2,404 metres of Céciré is always a great experience, as the view from the summit is breathtaking, but part ofthe GR® 10 route to reach it is very dangerous and prone to accidents. Fortunately, to continue enjoying this classic route, I suggest taking the new, saferGR® 10 route.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.