Pombie Refuge, starting from Caillou de Soques

de fr

With its small lake fringed by large boulders, the Pombie Refuge is the starting point for all ascents and climbs to the Pic du Midi d’Ossau. There are two possible routes to reach it: via the Cirque d’Anéou or via the Caillou de Soques. This route describes the approach via the Caillou de Soques.

Details

n°35997249
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.26 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,385 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,418 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,667 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,409 ft
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

In the forest
One of the many waterfalls
The lake under the snow
Exit from the forest

Description of the walk

Park in the Caillou de Soques car park.

(S/E) Walk down to the bottom of the valley below the road, passing to the right of two huts. Cross a bridge and head back up the opposite side, following a winding path. Enter the forest and continue climbing.
Pass through a clearing and reach a footbridge over the Ruisseau de Pombie.

(1) Cross this footbridge and head left, traversing uphill. Pass through a meadow and then over the rocks of a scree slope. Reach a flat area below the Cabane de la Glère.

(2) Head left, cross two footbridges and climb up to the left. At the top of the small outcrop, turn right to reach the Cabane de Puchéou.

(3) Continue along the hillside until you reach the stream bed. Follow the stream upwards, skirting a large scree slope. On a long, gentle slope, follow the path straight ahead through the grass, then climb the switchbacks to the Refuge de Pombie.

(4) Head back down the same route to return to the Caillou de Soques car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,616 ft - Caillou de Soques car park
  2. 1 : mi 1.29 - alt. 5,364 ft - Head up to the left, traversing across
  3. 2 : mi 1.62 - alt. 5,522 ft - Glère Hut
  4. 3 : mi 1.82 - alt. 5,666 ft - Puchéou Hut
  5. 4 : mi 3.12 - alt. 6,667 ft - Refuge de Pombie
  6. S/E : mi 6.26 - alt. 4,613 ft - Caillou de Soques car park

Notes

Please take care as this route is within the National Park; please ensure you comply with the regulations

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

(4) View of the south-east face of Mont Ossau, Lake Pombie, marmots and chamois

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
User 23068541

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike with a steep climb at the start through a very pretty forest. We hadn’t brought snowshoes, which turned out to be a big mistake, as we soon encountered snow as we left the forest and the path was no longer visible at all, making it a bit dangerous at times. The climb up to the refuge was a bit tricky because, with no path and the snow, we had to navigate some fairly steep slopes. Once we reached the refuge, the view was magnificent and the lake must be very pretty, but it was completely covered in snow when we got there. The descent was more pleasant and we spotted marmots and chamois. We’ll cherish wonderful memories of this hike, which wasn’t easy but gave us a truly lovely experience!

Machine-translated

Hameaux Nathalie
Hameaux Nathalie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A technically easy walk.
Stunning scenery and beautiful flowers.
The route ends at the lake, offering a choice of different routes to continue the walk.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Along the Gave de Brousset from Soques

Association / Club / Walk leader
Le long du Gave de Brousset depuis Soques
↔2.62 mi ↗+584 ft ↘-594 ft ◔1h 45 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Laruns (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
A round trip along the Gave de Brousset, offering superb views of the surrounding mountains. The route is often shaded. If you are not sensitive to the cold, you can swim in the river.

Walking Pic d'Arriel via the north-west route and Petit Pic d'Arriel loop

Visorando Member
Pic d'Arriel par la voie Nord-Ouest et Petit Pic d'Arriel en boucle
↔8.30 mi ↗+4,754 ft ↘-4,760 ft ◔7h 55 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Laruns (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
This loop in the Ossau Valley offers a wide variety of peaks, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, aerial passages and remarkable 360° views. It is a challenging hike due to its significant elevation gain and passages where you will need to use your hands, but it is sure to leave a lasting impression.You will be following in the footsteps of Henry Russel, who made the ascent in July 1874 and gave a faithful account of it in the Bulletin de la Société Ramond, under the title "Explorations pyrénéennes" in October 1874.Writing a description of it yourself requires a certain amount of humility, as his style, always generous, often lyrical and sometimes emphatic, commands respect! All this with the limited technical means of the time!

Walking Arremoulit refuge

Visorando Member
Refuge de l'Arremoulit
↔8.92 mi ↗+4,127 ft ↘-4,108 ft ◔7h 40 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Laruns (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
This round trip hike requires a fairly good level of fitness. Long distance and steep gradient. Returning via Lake Artouste greatly reduces the difficulty. This hike is magnificent. Throughout the climb, you will have the high peaks in your sights. The trails are varied: you will cross forests, summer pastures with herds of cattle, streams and, early in the morning, you may even see some izards (a type of wild goat).

Walking Three peaks of the Massif d'Arrious: Lac d'Arrious, Arriel, Petit Pic d'Arriel

Visorando Member
Les 3 pics du Massif d'Arrious : Arrious, Arriel et Petit Pic d'Arriel
↔8.58 mi ↗+5,190 ft ↘-5,190 ft ◔10 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Laruns (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
This loop in the Ossau Valley offers a wide variety of peaks, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, aerial passages and remarkable 360° views. It is a challenging hike due to its significant elevation gain and passages where you need to use your hands, but it is not one you will forget. It adds difficulty and also enjoyment to the traditional loop by passing through the famous Passage d'Orteig, the Pic d'Arrious and the cliffs of the Barre d'Arrious!You will be following in the footsteps of Henry Russel, who climbed the Arriel via the normal route in July 1874 and gave a faithful account of his ascent in the Bulletin de la Société Ramond, under the title "Explorations pyrénéennes" in October 1874.Writing a description yourself forces a certain amount of humility, as his style, always generous, often lyrical and sometimes emphatic, commands respect! All this with the limited technical means of the time!

Walking Saoubiste Hut circular loop

Visorando Member
Cabane de Saoubiste en boucle
↔6.28 mi ↗+1,755 ft ↘-1,755 ft ◔4h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Laruns (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
A very attractive circular path on paper but a little challenging in practice, between the two huts: 560 m of elevation gain, a fairly steep climb through the forest, followed by a traverse in the sun, before descending back into the forest to rejoin the wide path along the Brousset to the car park.

Walking The banks of the Brousset

Visorando Member
↔6.67 mi ↗+968 ft ↘-971 ft ◔3h 55 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Laruns (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
A leisurely walk, largely in the shade, with little change in altitude. A return trip along the same very pleasant path, which follows the banks of the Gave du Brousset in the Upper Ossau Valley. Halfway along the route, there is a possible turn-off to climb up to the Pombie Refuge.

Walking Circular in the Cirque d'Anéou

Visorando Member
Boucle dans le Cirque d'Anéou
↔4.30 mi ↗+965 ft ↘-951 ft ◔2h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Laruns (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
What better season than spring to discover (or rediscover) the mountains? Snow still adorns the landscape, streams flow merrily down the slopes, and a profusion of flowers carpets the already thick grass of the mountain pastures. The Cirque d'Anéou, in the upper Ossau valley, offers us the added bonus of its magnificent setting and geological curiosities.

Walking The circuit around Pic de Peyreget near Pic du Midi d'Ossau

Visorando Member
Le tour du Pic de Peyreget près du Pic du Midi d'Ossau
↔7.28 mi ↗+2,539 ft ↘-2,543 ft ◔5h 35 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Laruns (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
A circular walk starting from the Anéou basin, to pay a visit to Jean-Pierre, the giant of Béarn, and enjoy the beauty of a few small mountain lakes. A walk we have done several times in late summer or autumn, always with the same pleasure.

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.