Pics de Batoua (or Culfreda)

Three 3,000-metre peaks for the price of one! That’s what this hike offers, taking in the three Pic de Batoua peaks from Rioumajou, through a wild and magnificent valley. The route between the Port de Cauarère and the three peaks follows a superb ridge along the French-Spanish border, offering stunning views of the 3,000-metre peaks of the Pyrenees.

Details

n°42228741

Creation:
04 Nov 2023

Last update:
06 Nov 2023

Last review:
29 Sep 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 14.86 km
Duration according to the author: 7 hrs
Difficulty: Very difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 1,549 m
Descent: - 1,549 m
Highest point: 3,009 m
Lowest point: 1,550 m

Country: France
Areas: Pyrenees, Massif de Batchimale
District: Saint-Lary-Soulan (65170)
Start/End: N 42.708715° / E 0.295219°
IGN map(s): Ref. 1748ET, 1748ETR
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Description of the walk

To reach the Hospice de Rioumajou car park, head towards Frédancon from Saint-Lary. Please note: the ascent to the Hospice de Rioumajou is via a track suitable for vehicles, but access is restricted in summer. Please check in advance.

Markings:^GR®105at the start, then yellow and/or blue plus cairns.

(S/E) Head south-west on the^GR®105.

(1) Cross the Ruisseau de l'Estat via a footbridge and continue left on the^GR®105.

(2) Leave the^GR®105on your right, turning left towards the south-east, then cross the Neste de Rioumajou via another footbridge and enter the forest. A few metres after leaving the forest, a cairn marks the junction of the ascent and descent routes.

(3) Turn left and cross the Ruisseau de Cauarère. Caution: the ascent through this valley to the Port de Cauarère is on terrain that is sometimes unstable and steep, particularly on the very rocky second half. In places, it feels as though the ground is giving way beneath your feet. An alternative route is possible: see Practical Information.

(4) At the fork, ignore the path on the right (which you will take on the return journey) and turn left (eastwards) to climb to the Port de Cauarère.
For those ascending from the Millarioux valley, turn right at the fork.

(5) Take the path on the left heading due north, slightly below and to the left of the ridge, to climb to Pic de Cauarère. The climb to this first peak is easy; you just need to watch out for loose stones. You will stay on this path to reach all the summits; it is clearly visible and marked with cairns.

(6) Continue along the ridge to the first Pic de Batoua. The path requires you to use your hands occasionally, but it’s nothing too difficult.

(7) From Pic de Batoua, continue along the ridge path to reach the other two peaks: Pic de Batoua Central.

(8) Carry on to reach Pic de Batoua Nord.

(9) Turn back along the ridge path to Pic de Cauarère.

(6) Caution: the descent from Pic de Cauarère to Port de Cauarère requires care. Some sections are very steep with loose stones.

(5) Back at Port de Cauarère, turn right to descend to the three-way junction below.

(4) Keep to the left to descend through the Millarioux valley on a well-marked path, signposted in blue at the start, then yellow. The route is longer than the ascent but on a gentler, more pleasant slope.

(10) Cross the Millarioux stream and ignore the path on the left leading up to Port de Madèra. Continue straight ahead.

(11) At the junction, ignore the path on the left leading up to Port de Plan and continue straight on to descend via a series of hairpin bends.

(3) Turn left and follow the ascent route in the opposite direction to return to the forest and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,550 m - Riumajou Hospice
1 : km 0.3 - alt. 1,567 m - Estat Stream
2 : km 0.73 - alt. 1,602 m - Aure Route
3 : km 2.17 - alt. 1,932 m - Crossroads of the lower circular loop
4 : km 3.65 - alt. 2,504 m - Junction of the upper circular loop
5 : km 3.81 - alt. 2,523 m - Port de Cauarère (2526m)
6 : km 5.29 - alt. 2,875 m - Pic de Cauarère (2901m)
7 : km 6.33 - alt. 3,006 m - Pic de Batoua (3034m)
8 : km 6.52 - alt. 2,991 m - Pic de Batoua Central (3004m)
9 : km 6.67 - alt. 3,006 m - Pic de Batoua Nord (3033m)
10 : km 10.29 - alt. 2,430 m - Millarioux (cours d'eau) - Affluent du Ruisseau de Daillares
11 : km 11.6 - alt. 2,178 m - Below Mommour
S/E : km 14.86 - alt. 1,550 m - Riumajou Hospice

Notes

This hike should be undertaken once the snow has melted, particularly in the Cauarère valley and on the ridge path.

(3) The ascent via the Cauarère valley is the most technical part of this hike, with unstable terrain.

Alternative route: for those less confident, it is possible to ascend via the Millarioux valley by turning right and passing through points (11) and (10) to reach point (4).

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5

Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5

Ease of following the route
5 / 5

Route interest
5 / 5

Mickaelmf47

29 Sep 2025 at 09:41 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

For both the ascent and descent, I went via points 3 and 4 (I was curious), and personally I didn't find it unpleasant or particularly unstable (it's a bit slippery on the way down, but nothing out of the ordinary). The main difficulty between points 3 and 4 is the steep slope: it's a tough climb! You need strong thighs/calves and, above all, good cardio.
From the hospice to the summit (I only did the first one), I made the climb in 3 hours and 5 minutes. The round trip took 5 hours and 15 minutes. It's quite doable, with 1,516 metres of elevation gain over 12 kilometres.
There are no real difficult sections once you're at the top. The view is splendid. There's hardly any snow.
The regular cairns are helpful for climbing. Logically, the trail is much easier to see on the way down.
I would say it's a fairly uncrowded route (I only came across three people on my round trip).
(I'm a bit confused about the fact that there are considered to be three Batoua peaks because you can clearly see three on the maps, but on the official list of 3000m peaks, there is only one, but anyway...

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tegon

18 Sep 2025 at 20:45 7200 • Edited: 18 Sep 2025 at 20:47 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route is reserved for experienced hikers. Most hikers stopped at Batoua Peak, and so did I.
In my opinion, the most difficult part is the first section of the climb to Cauarère Peak (a series of rocks), but the descent is easier because the path becomes more visible from above.
The route between the two peaks is clearly visible.
I took the alternative route there and back and on the way there to the Madèra pass. A hiker advised me not to take the descent 4 to 3 due to the unstable terrain.
At the start of the refuge, a sign indicates 4.5 hours to the peak, but this time seems a little short to me (in any case, it wasn't mine).
seven hikers at the peak.

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jemebalade33

25 Aug 2025 at 19:31 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The hike was completed in good weather.
I do not recommend taking the route described between points 3 and 4. Instead, take the alternative route and follow 3 - 11 - 10 - 4 on the way up and reverse on the way down, as the scree between 3 and 4 is very unpleasant and unstable. On the way up from point 10, you can follow the valley instead of turning left into the scree and join the Port de Madéra pass. From there, turn left onto the wide ridge to go straight to point 5. On the way down, follow the suggested route.
The section between the Pic de Cauarère and the Pic de Batoua is a little technical (a few passages where you need to use your hands) but does not present any major difficulties for experienced hikers. The view from the summit of Batoua is magnificent, with the Taillon, Marboré and Mont Perdu among other peaks visible.

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raylann

04 Aug 2025 at 11:49 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route with a superb reward at the summit with the three batoua. I took the alternative route on both the ascent and descent, which is easier and greener. The summits are easy to climb, but some sections may be a little exposed for those who are sensitive, but really no more than that. The sequence of the three batoua takes just half an hour (one way) and is not difficult. The view is beautiful.
A tiring hike but very good, definitely worth doing 👍

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