Country:
City:
Park in one of the paid car parks in Gavarnie.
(S/E) At the exit of the Maison du Parc car park, turn left, then left again, heading south for 1 km towards the Cirque de Gavarnie, on the left bank of the Gave de Gavarnie or Pau.
(1) At the Brioule bridge, continue straight ahead on the same bank.
(2) Go up to the right, leaving the Nadau Bridge on your left.
(3) At the Schrader monument below on the left, turn right and join a track that runs along the top of the Prade or Prairie de la Courade. Then descend towards the meadow.
(4) From there, head right south/south-east for about 850 m. Cross a first bridge, then a second bridge over the Gave des Tourettes. You will arrive at a footbridge that was washed away during the floods of September 2024 but has been back in place since June 2025.
(5) Cross the footbridge and climb slightly to the left via a short, steep passage equipped with chains.
Continue through the woods heading south until you reach the mule track at a cairn. After 70 m, you will come to a fork.
(6) Now follow the main track on the right to the Hôtellerie du Cirque. This is the ideal place to picnic, rest and watch the mountaineers climbing the ice falls through binoculars.
(7) From the Hôtellerie du Cirque, turn around and descend to the fork you passed earlier.
(6) To be on the safe side, follow the main track to the left.
For more adventure and in good weather, head straight ahead, north, and take this shortcut to reach the Chemin des Muletiers a little further down. Caution: following strong winds, trees are blocking the old path. In winter, there is also a risk of avalanches on this route.
(8) End of the shortcut. Now take the classic, well-marked path on the right that leads back to Gavarnie. Stay on the right bank of the Gave de Gavarnie or Pau.
(1) Cross the Pont de Brioule bridge and turn right, taking the path you came on to return to the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Very difficult 
Difficult 
