Pic du Maupas

fr

Randonnée sur deux jours assez exigeante. La montée au Refuge du Maupas, bien que sévère, n'offre aucune difficulté mis à part la prise de dénivelé. Il n'en sera pas de même pour l'ascension du Pic du Maupas qui s'adresse à des randonneurs confirmés sachant s'orienter hors-sentier et capable d'effectuer quelques courts passages d'escalade et de désescalade facile. Mais le panorama à 360° sur la quasi totalité des 3000 m du Luchonnais vaut bien quelques efforts.

Details

n°3129110
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  • 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 - Vallée du Lys

    ↔8.09 mi ↗2,457 ft ↘6,703 ft
    Pour cette journée, il faudra trouver son chemin jusqu'au Pic de Maupas sur des roches moutonnées où les cairns, très nombreux, obligent à repérer chaque fois le suivant pour continuer l'ascension jusqu'au " Mal Pas" qui a donné son nom au pic. C'est la seule brèche, difficile d'accès, permettant de basculer versant Ouest pour terminer l'ascension par quelques pas d'escalade facile. Le retour se fera par le même chemin qu'à la montée avec une variante agréable par le Lac Vert.
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Notes

Bivouac possible à proximité du Refuge du Maupas mais peu d'endroits propices sur sol caillouteux et grandes dalles rocheuses.

Très bon accueil au Refuge du Maupas.

Prévoir des chaussures de randonnée à tige haute. Les bâtons seront utiles le premier jour mais encombrants le second car il sera nécessaire de poser plusieurs fois les mains : au "Mal Pas", petit col qui relie le Pic du Maupas à la Tusse, et sur les blocs rocheux terminaux.

Randonnée à ne pas entreprendre par temps de brouillard car il est impératif de trouver la brèche Nord ou "Mal Pas" pour éviter une fin d'ascension hasardeuse sur la crête.

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!

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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 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 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.

Walking On the Superbagnères ridge

Visorando Member
Sur la crête de Superbagnères
↔3.35 mi ↗+604 ft ↘-627 ft ◔2h 05 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Saint-Aventin (Haute-Garonne)
A magnificent, easily accessible route on the Superbagnères ridge, offering exceptional views of all the peaks of the Luchonnais and the surrounding valleys.

Walking Lake Espingo - Granges d'Astau

Visorando Member
Lac d'Espingo - Granges d'Astau
↔3.84 mi ↗+72 ft ↘-2,746 ft ◔1h 50 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Oô (Haute-Garonne)
A gentle descent after the exertions of the previous days. From the Col d’Espingo, the Lac d’Oô below accompanies us for a long while. Once at the stone bridge, don’t hesitate to make a short detour to the Auberge du Lac d’Oô, where you can enjoy the view of the great waterfall, which will help you forget, if only for a moment, the increasingly obvious and cruel shortage of water. The return to Les Granges d’Astau brings this getaway in one of the most beautiful spots in the Luchon area to a pleasant close.

Walking Espingo Lake

Visorando Member
Lac d'Espingo
↔7.24 mi ↗+3,012 ft ↘-2,979 ft ◔5h 55 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Oô (Haute-Garonne)
On the trail of the GR10, the Granges d’Astau and Espingo Lake, via Lake Oô.

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