Pyrenees · Moderate · There and back

Lacs d'Ayous from Bious-Artigues

From the lake at Bious-Artigues up through the woods to the Ayous lakes, with the Pic du Midi d'Ossau rising beyond Lac Gentau.

Distance
11.2 km (7.0 mi)
Ascent
547 m
Time
About 4 h 15 min
High point
1,970 m
Grade
Moderate

Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.

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Lacs d'Ayous from Bious-Artigues
Myrabella · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The walk

From the Parking de Bious-Artigues, beside the lake at the end of the road from Gabas in the vallée d'Ossau, follow the track and then the path that climbs west through beech and fir woods. Above the trees it reaches Lac Roumassot, then Lac du Miey and Lac Gentau, at about 1,950 m, where the Pic du Midi d'Ossau rises beyond the water. A short climb leads to the Refuge d'Ayous, looking over the lakes. Return the same way.

It is 11.2 km there and back with 547 m of ascent; allow about 4½ hours. The grade is Moderate: a good track and mountain path with a long, steady climb.

The lakes are in the core of the Parc national des Pyrénées: dogs are not allowed, even on a lead, swimming in the lakes is banned, and bivouacking is only allowed between 7 pm and 9 am, more than an hour's walk from a road. Snow can lie on the upper path from autumn into June, and storms build quickly on summer afternoons.

The pay car park is at Bious-Artigues, reached by a narrow road from Gabas on the road to the Col du Pourtalet.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.

Good to know

  • The Ayous lakes lie at about 1,850 to 1,980 m in the Parc national des Pyrénées, with the Pic du Midi d'Ossau rising beyond Lac Gentau
  • The path climbs from Bious-Artigues through woods to Lac Roumassot, Lac du Miey and Lac Gentau, by the Refuge d'Ayous
  • The lakes are in the core of the national park: dogs are not allowed, even on a lead, and swimming in the lakes is banned

Getting there

Start: Parking de Bious-Artigues. 42.86837, -0.44799

Directions to the start

Places to stay nearby

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Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.