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Park at the exit of the village of Gavarnie on the D128. Paid parking is available on the right and left sides of the road.
(S/E) Enter the centre of the village by following the main road. Ignore all the turnings on the left until you reach the footbridge at the exit of the village, a hundred metres after the Pont Brioule bridge.
(1) Opposite is the path we will take on our return. Cross the Gave de Gavarnie or Pau river and follow it along the right bank on a wide path. Leave the first path on your left and continue until you reach another path just before a building. Signposts.
(2) Leave the track and take the path on the left. Initially almost flat, this path climbs quite steeply in hairpin bends through the forest. All the elevation gain on this hike is over a short distance to reach the junction at the Refuge des Espuguettes.
(3) Leave the Chemin des Espuguettes on your left and follow the path on the right for 150 metres. On your left, you will see a green building with white shutters: this is the Refuge de Pailha (ASPTT refuge).
(4) Join the path. It heads due south. This path is carved into the rock and offers magnificent views along its entire length, with the Gave de Gavarnie river below on the right and the Cirque de Gavarnie opposite. This path is spectacular and quite vertiginous but safe. At the end, it winds its way up to the Hôtellerie du Cirque.
(5) You can continue south to the Grande Cascade. You will need to cross the stream, which may be difficult for some people.
Take the wide path that branches off to the right and descends to Gavarnie. This path is long and busy. Continue to the Nadau bridge.
(6) Cross and take the left bank to reach the footbridge.
(1) Return along the same path to the car park (S/E).
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