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Route updated in October 2020.
It is recommended that you park just above the Estaëns power station (access from Les Forges d’Abel), at the end of the tarmac road. It is also possible to park one hairpin bend further up, before the barrier.
Please drive very slowly so as not to disturb walkers and to prevent your vehicle from hitting the protruding rocks on the road.
(S/E) The starting point is marked at the barrier. Walk back down a little and take the path that branches off at the hairpin bend in the track, running alongside the Torrent d’Estaëns. A sign indicates that this path leads to the Refuge d’Arlet; you will see similar signs all along the way.
This path climbs through the woodland, zigzagging slightly, always close to the stream, then emerges from the forest into a pasture.
(1) As you emerge from the forest, leave the main path (temporarily) and immediately turn right onto a track that climbs straight up through the pasture (a grassy slope, heading west).
It’s easy to spot because the ground is a distinct red colour, which contrasts sharply with the green of the meadow!
An easier alternative: you can continue along the main path, which leads on towards the Cabane d’Espélunguère, until you reach a signpost marking a fork in the path labelled ‘Refuge d’Arlet’. From there, you climb up the slope and rejoin the same dirt track, which winds its way up the slope via four hairpin bends and takes you back into the woodland, considerably higher up).
(2) You’ll reach a forest track; cross it and continue along the same path, still climbing straight up. The path runs alongside the previous track twice more near its hairpin bends; carry on climbing along the path.
(3) You finally reach the track (cairn) which leads into the woodland, then becomes a (good) mule track, climbing at a sometimes steep but always manageable gradient.
(4) You finally reach the 1611-metre mark, on a very distinct ridge which already offers a fine view. Shortly afterwards, you come to a dirt track; take it to the left. Follow the track to the bottom of the valley; a bridge allows you to cross the torrent.
(5) At the Cabane d’Atsout (used by shepherds, funded by the National Park), carry on to a nearby ridge, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view over the entire upper Aspe valley, the Somport, the Aspe mountains and even the pyramidal summit of the Pic du Midi d’Ossau.
Leave the hut heading east, climbing a faintly marked path through the pasture (signposted towards the Refuge d’Arlet). The path becomes more visible and climbs gently, still heading due east, until it reaches a high point.
(6) At this point, the path to the refuge turns sharply westwards to climb further up. Leave this path and continue for about a hundred metres eastwards, to the end of this ridge, to enjoy a better view.
The return journey follows the same route in part as far as the Cabane d’Atsout.
Alternative: you can follow the path to the Refuge d’Arlet and back to the ridge above at an altitude of 1,909 metres, which offers an even more expansive view.
(5) Head back towards the Atsout hut, then on to the junction on the ridge (elevation 1,611m).
(4) Stay on the dirt track that runs along the ridge due east. Do not take the path you came up on. You will notice the difference in the terrain: it suddenly changes from red soil (Somport sandstone) to very white soil (limestone).
This track winds down in tight hairpin bends through the woodland.
(7) You’ll come out onto a wider forest track (the one you followed further on during the ascent). Turn sharply left to descend gradually back to the starting point (S/E).
Alternative: take the forest track to the right and walk slightly uphill for about a hundred metres to rejoin the path you took on the way up.
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