Rando: Cauterets balconies, 3 walks or trails to chain
Do you have half a day in front of you for beautiful mountain walks? Here are three routes from the La Source chalet, which will make you discover the valley by the Balcons de Cauterets.
The most athletic will be able to browse them in Trail mode and even chain them, it is one of the circuits of the famous Balcons de Cauterets .
Please note these routes can be difficult or even impracticable in winter or early spring: inquire with the Office de la Montagne de Cauterets - Tel 05 62 91 02 83
The chalet of Queen Hortense (6.7 km, 2h00, D+ 250m)
This walk in the forest without difficulty, will bring you to this site where Queen Hortense herself spent the night, and take a nice gourmet break in the city of Cauterets.
The chalet, which was once a barn, is today a hotel and a restaurant. Queen Hortense , during her stay in Cauterets in August 1807, found refuge there with her guide, when they were surprised by the storm on the return of Luz by the Col de Riou. Rumor says that Napoleon III was designed, since he was born just 9 months later ...
This site offers a magnificent view of the Cauterets valley, the Péguère massif on the left (2316m), the Lys circus , the Moun born (2724m) and the Pic du Cabaliros on the right (2334m).
Take the path behind the thermal baths of Caesar , whose laces take you to the old thermal baths of Pauze-Vieux .
Here, turn left on the old road which goes towards the valley (on the right it is the mockery).
We then pass the pretty cabin of Bousquet , where the branch is located towards the Lisey plateau. We find there the GR10, and we continue on the left until crossing the small bridge of La Gorce . The track climbs again, in the forest, on a large path in laces which leads to the chalet of Queen Hortense.
The quickest return is by the same path , but if you have more time, a loop route is possible by going back down to the Carcéru district , which adds 1km and 45 minutes. Once reached the hotel industry of Queen Hortense, instead of going back down, we continue the climb to join a path that descends on the left. The slope in laces being quite steep, the walking sticks will be welcome. We then join Pont de Fanlou where we cross the Gave de Cauterets, then go up to the avenue du Mamelon Green.
The Basque farm and the Igau farm (5.2 km - 2:15 am - D+ 320m)
The Basque farm and the Igau farm offer two magnificent views of the Cauterets valley from its western slope, to the Lutour valley to the south and the Viscos ridges. A ride to do preferably in the morning, to benefit from sunshine.
Leaving the chalet La Source, we take the avenue du Mamelon Green on the left, and behind the chestnut trees, we turn left on the small road then the Aoumède path.
The path then climbs quite strong, in the forest, and leads to an esplanade, near the Igau farm (altitude 1090 m). Your efforts are rewarded by view from this Aoumède belvedere .
We then go up on the path on the other side of the road, towards the Basque farm. After a new pretty point of view near a barn , this path becomes a path in the forest, with two small streams to be overhauled.
The path then descends to the Basque farm (altitude 1200m), which is joined at the terrace of the Auberge. This is the second belvedere of this hike!
From there, to descend the access path to the Basque farm, then to the left along the edge of the Cambasque road over about 250 meters: there is then on the left the departure of the Arresto path , marked out in red and white ( GR10). This path descends directly to Cauterets, approaching the Gave du Cambasque .
The Tour du Vallon Thermal (6 km - 2h30 - D+ 760m)
This walk takes you to the rail by Chemin Demontzey, back by the Chemin des Fères, passing by all the current or old thermal establishments in Cauterets.
From the La Source chalet, descend the avenue du Mamelon Green to the right, to the blue chalet. Here, climb the staircase that leads to the sculpted eagle, the starting point on Chemin Demontzey.
This path on the side of the slope, bears the name of Prosper Demontzey , engineer who led at the end of the 19th century the immense consolidation works of Mount Peguère , whose erosion threatened (already at the time) the thermes of La Raillère .
By this path, we access the esplanade of the old thermal baths in La Raillère . The path then becomes a small road which leads to the area of shops and cafes. We cross the Gave du Marcadau which descends along the thermal baths of the Griffons .
Here, take the time to go see the curious MAHOURAT cave and the Mahourat waterfall , just a little higher. From the imposing and curious worked grid, we can clearly see the old "thermal refreshment bar" where the sulfur source arrived. The sulfur odor is well noticeable, reinforced by the water vapor from the waterfall.
Next to the restaurant L'Arford du Benquès on the other side of the thermal baths, we leave the bitumen for a new path. Cross the Gave de Lutour , on the bridge by admiring the Lutour waterfall . Some pins higher (altitude 1190 m), turn left on the Fathers.
A name in memory of the monks which borrowed it at the time of the first thermal baths, founded in the Middle Ages by the monastery of Saint-Savin . Among the illustrious bathers Figura Marguerite de Navarre , sister of François 1st , whose memory is honored by a stele at the entrance to the thermal baths of César .
We follow the Chemin des Fatère at length to descend to Cauterets, on the mountainside, in the forest. From beautiful views on the way, then the path descends towards Cauterets, passing by the old thermal baths of Pauze-Vieux , and leads behind the thermal baths of Caesar.
Along the way, you will find panels providing explanations on the gigantic consolidation works of the Mount Peguère piloted by Prosper Demontzey, and on the transport of large blocks of ice back on a man , from the Combe de la Glacière , at the top of the Mount Péguère, to the village of Cauterets. Another era!
Go! Les Balcons de Cauterets (16 km - 6:30 am)
The three previous chained courses form a beautiful and long loop, in a balcony above the village of Cauterets. It is a fairly long hike in D+/D-, but not very difficult except for the steep descent at the end.
Start by making the loop to the Igau farm and the Basque farm.
On the return to Cauterets by the Arresto trail, turn right towards La Raillera and thus join the Demontzey chemin , to chain by the Tour du Vallon thermal.
On the return to the Chemin des Fères , at the thermal baths of Pauze Vieux, continue towards the Cabane du Bousquet then the chalet of Queen Hortense, then descend to the village by Canceru.
Some hiking destinations from the Balcons de Cauterets
- From the Bousquet hut: the Lisey plateau and the Pic du Viscos
- From Queen Hortense: the Col de Riou
- From the Igau farm: the peak of the cabaliros
- From the Basque farm: the Lys circus and the Lake Iléou
- Since the Raillère: the fruit tree and the lake of Estom
- From the Raillère: the Spanish bridge , Lake Gaube , the Oulettes refuge at the foot of the vignemale .
- Views: 335
In the heart of the National Park, classified as a large site of Occitanie, the Pont d'Espagne and Lac de Gaube are wonders to see absolutely around Cauter Ets.
From the main bridge, you first admire the famous Spanish bridge : an old stone bridge (built in 1886) a vestige of a pastoral route by which trade in Spain used to be.
Going up to Lake Gaube, stop at Lac des Huats , formed by the Gave which spreads here thanks to a small tray.
The word "oulettes" means "small pots", an allusion to the topography of the site.
No less than 8 magnificent waterfalls on this Cauterets hike at the Pont d'Espagne.
The Mauhourat waterfall (right-wing photo): above the thermal baths of the Griffons à la Raillare, it is a beautiful waterfall on a very flat rock. The sulfur odor is very noticeable.
The ceriset or cerisey waterfall (left -wing photo), with impressive flow, with its huge rock balance at the top.
And finally the large C ascade of the Pont d'Espagne (right), where the Gaves de Gaube and the Marcadau meet.
Just before the Spanish bridge, near the road, the torrent gives itself a small respite and develops a small island between its two arms. This greenery oasis was baptized Ile Sarah Bernhardt .
How to better launch your trail season than in the fabulous environment of the Pont d'Espagne? A crystalline decor of torrents and pine forest, the vignemale massif in the background ...
ski slopes 
The snow triathlon takes place in the fabulous decor of Soulor and Couraduque passes. It is the sequence of 3 disciplines:
The white trail or snow trail is another effort, another challenge, another mountain.
Obviously: training to run on snow , as much as possible!
Protect your drinks or gels: too cold, not only are they difficult to ingest, but they can also cause dental pain or in the belly.
Waterproof with high cloning trail shoes (4-6 mm), which can be completed by tips or chains, and waterproof gaiters.
