Towards the Narbèze hut

Park in the central square of Cette (fronton).

(S/E) Climb towards the lodge, where you will find signposts for the hikes. Take the steep path that passes close to the Aspe-Haut Aragon geological discovery area. The sunken path joins a pastoral track, which you simply follow uphill.

(1) At the first bend, leave the track and take a marked path straight ahead. Shortly afterwards, take the path on the right (uphill) without crossing the stream, towards the huts of Lhèze and Narbèze. Climb up a small ravine, then cross through the ferns to finally rejoin the track you left earlier.

(2) At the end, descend two or three metres on the track and continue straight ahead on a fairly wide dirt track leading to a field. 100 m further on, in a copse, the path to follow branches off (yellow markings) and climbs fairly steeply through the undergrowth. Join the track 50 m higher up and follow it to the right.
Go around two hairpin bends until the track ends. A steeper and narrower dirt track takes over.

(3) At this point, a sign suggests turning left to follow a path through the ferns.
Ignore it and continue straight ahead on the path that climbs in the shade of the trees...

(4) All the paths come together (altitude approx. 1010 m). Leave the Chemin du Haut des Granges (on the right, going downhill). Look for the yellow marker on the ground, which indicates the Chemin de Narbèze on the left, going uphill through the ferns. Follow it courageously to the Cabane de Lhèze.

(5) The Cabane de Lhèze is located just above a large grassy plateau that the path crosses diagonally (north-east direction), climbing slightly.

(6) Cross a stream at the top of the plateau, just before entering the forest. The path becomes very clear again at this point.

(7) Look for the start of the path to Sargun and continue to the left. Climb through the undergrowth to the Cabane de Narbèze.

(8) The hut is visible as soon as you leave the forest. There is a sweeping view of the surrounding area.
The return journey begins on the uphill path, until you reach the fork at a place called Sargun (yellow signs).

Please note: the IGN map shows a path descending fairly directly via the Cabane de Pédaing. This route is tricky (rockfalls).

(7) Avoid this alternative route in wet weather (muddy areas).
Leave the path you took on the way up and descend on a path to the left through the grass, passing by the Cabane de Sargun (ruined). Continue down the left side of the clearing at the edge of the forest.
Reach the bottom of the fern area, then follow a path that leads into the undergrowth to the right and easily crosses the woods.

(5) Join the ascent route below the Cabane de Lhèze. Turn left in the opposite direction to the outward journey.

(4) To spare your knees, which may be tired, follow the dirt road, which is more even (but in full sun).

(2) Same advice to save your energy. Continue along the track to reach the church in Cette (S/E).

• Season: as soon as the snow has melted, avoiding very rainy periods (the forest section is rather muddy)
• Limited drinking water (due to livestock)

(8) For the return journey, you can follow the same route as on the way there.

Once you reach the Narbèze hut, the Pic d'Anchet (1,860 m) is not far away, nor is the Pic de Cautêres (1,980 m). Reaching them is not particularly difficult: climb up following the cattle tracks, preferably on the left (west) side, as the ridge is less steep and has a good path. There you will find a wide panorama, taking in Somport, the village of Lescun and the Bedous valley. The return journey does not require you to go back via the Cabane de Narbèze (off the trail but easy).