Weekend at the Campana de Cloutou mountain hut

Hello User 12306033

You wrote:

All in all, a lovely walk between Lac de l’Oule and Campana de Cloutou via the Bastan refuge. And back via Pic de Bastan and Lac de Bastan. A bit of a let-down at Campana, where the lake had completely run dry. The same went for Lac de l’Oule, which was almost empty

The circular route I’m suggesting doesn’t go via Lac de l’Oule or the Bastan mountain hut!

So!

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Date of your route : Aug 31, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

All in all, a lovely walk between Lac de l’Oule and Campana de Cloutou via the Bastan mountain hut. We returned via Pic de Bastan and Lac de Bastan. A slight disappointment at Campana, where the lake had completely run dry. The same went for Lac de l’Oule, which was almost empty....
I’d recommend this relatively easy and varied route. 1,000 metres of elevation gain

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Hello User 30182429
It says so in the introduction:

The first day does not present any major difficulties but involves a significant elevation gain.
On the second day, the walk takes place off the marked trail, using cairns as landmarks: this should only be undertaken in good weather.

Then, in the practical information section:

A map, route description, .gpx track and a compass are essential for the second day.

So!

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Date of your route : Aug 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The second leg of the return journey (downhill) between the refuge and Artigue is very difficult, as it is steep in places. On certain sections of the return walk, you have to hop from one large boulder to another, which is quite tiring. This hike is therefore only recommended for experienced and fit walkers.
The welcome at the refuge is very warm. The refuge is very well maintained. The food is plentiful.
I highly recommend the refuge and its hosts.

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Date of your route : Jun 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The first part is easy, on the GR 10
After that, it gets tricky, as soon as you have to leave the GR10,
A GPX track is essential; most of the cairns must have been destroyed – there are a few here and there, but they’re rare, and without the track, finding your way back is unlikely!
For those who’re well-equipped, it’s a lovely walk, and once you’ve left the GR, you’re all on your own!
Perfect for me!

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Date of your route : Apr 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

There’s a slight discrepancy between the points on the map and the description, but otherwise it’s a lovely walk
You’ll need snowshoes for this at the moment

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Date of your route : Sep 16, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We did this route over two days.
A hike with very little tree cover but very scenic, with beautiful, varied landscapes.
On the first day, there was quite a bit of elevation gain, but the path was well signposted, and there were plenty of flat sections between the climbs. We reached the refuge in 3 hours and 45 minutes. We topped up our water supplies with 2 litres per person as we were almost out. The Col de Bastanet is about 1 hour and 15 minutes away. We decided to set up camp by the Lac de la Hourquette.
A magnificent view of the sunset over the Pic du Midi.
On the second day, we headed back down to the refuge to top up our water supplies: 2 litres per person plus 1 litre as a reserve. The route is marked by small cairns, which are then flagged in orange amongst the scree. The descent is fairly straightforward in stages before reaching a valley that leads down to Lac de Montarrouye. Once past the ‘Les Portes’ junction, it gets tricky; we found ourselves in high pastures (watch out for sheep – they might charge at you if you get too close to the lambs… 😅). It’s difficult to make out the path (no cairns or markings), so you’ll need the GPX track or a map and compass. There isn’t really a proper path.
All in all, a very beautiful hike, but be warned: the descent is long… 7 hours from the refuge, including breaks (1 hour 15 minutes maximum).

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