Chalet La Source: Breathtaking views of the peaks!

The view from Chalet La Source is a true invitation to discovery.

Across the entire horizon, about twenty peaks follow one another, culminating at 2000m on the north side of the valley - Soulom, Viscos - and nearly 3000m towards the border range to the south.

The view from the Chalet is a favorite: the snow-capped peaks of
Culaus and Pebignau, in the green setting of the wooded slopes... in any season, you never tire of it!

Pic du Cabaliros (2332 m)
Duration 4h30 - Distance 9.5 km - Elevation gain 700 m

Located to the far left of the chalet (west-facing slope, north side), this is one of the highest viewpoints in the Hautes-Pyrénées, in the Saint-Savin region.
The hike begins at the end of the Sireix forest road. At the summit, a panoramic viewpoint indicator will help you identify all the peaks in sight: Vignemale, Balaïtous, Pic du Midi de Bigorre, and Néouvielle.
It is also possible to start from Cauterets; the trail is well-marked and easy, but obviously much longer (17 km) with a significant elevation gain (1300 m); allow approximately 7 hours, excluding breaks.
Note: this is also the site of a magnificent trail race of the same name, held every year.

Pic de Viscos (2141 m)
Duration 5h – Distance 10 km – Elevation gain 600 m

We change sides of the mountain to look opposite the Chalet, to the left (north side). We can make out a pyramidal peak, as if carved with a knife. With binoculars, a wrought-iron cross stands out clearly at its summit: this is the Pic de Viscos. From its summit, it offers a fabulous 360° view over the Luz and Cauterets valleys.
This hike requires good physical condition, good weather, and sure footing for the final section.
The starting point is the Béderet parking lot (1670 m), via the track that passes in front of the chairlift departure point. We climb to the Col de Riou (1949 m), then continue to the ridge. At the end of the ridge, the trail reaches a small pass at the foot of the Pic de Viscos: the path then climbs steeply towards the summit. This steep and slippery section requires great caution.
From Viscos, you can see the peak of Soulom (1763 m) and the Piquets peak a little lower down, right next to it. The Soulom-Viscos hike is a classic and beautiful route.

The ridges of the Ardiden Massif (2058 to 2577 m)
Duration 3 to 5 hours – Distance 6 to 10 km – Elevation gain 500 to 850 m

Following the ridge opposite the chalet, several peaks unfold, more or less connected to one another, forming a massif that offers numerous hiking trails.
The starting point is either from Cauterets for the western slope (via Cancéru), or from Luz-Ardiden for the eastern slope, on the other side of the valley (from the Aulian or Béderet parking areas).
The various peaks are: Pène Nère (2058 m), Tuc des Arribans (2088 m), Soum des Aulhères (2168 m), Soum de Peyre Haute (2336 m), La Caperette (2395 m), Pic d'Aulian (2481 m), and the highest point, Soum d'Arriou-Né (2577 m, photo opposite).
From the ridges, the panorama is magnificent, towards the Viscos to the North, the Vignemale and the Pic du Midi de Bigorre to the South, the Azun valley, the Lutour valley...

Riou Pass (1949 m), Lisey Pass (2086 m) and loop around the Lisey Plateau.
Duration 6 hours – Distance 12 km – Elevation gain 1140 m

Directly opposite Chalet La Source, on the other side of the Lisey pass, lies the magnificent plateau of the same name. It's the site of a superb, fairly long but not particularly difficult, mid-mountain hike.
The starting point is behind the Thermes de César, via the GR trail that climbs to the old Pause thermal baths, or more directly from the village of Cancéru. You'll reach the Chalet de la Reine Hortense, the first ^viewpoint overlooking Cauterets, with a beautiful view of the Cambasque valley.
Continuing uphill, the path on the left leads into the undergrowth towards the Col de Riou. Then head south (to the right) to reach the Col du Lisey, climbing towards the ridge of the Pène Blanque du Lisey. Finally, descend south to reach the Lisey plateau.
The walk around the plateau is splendid, wooded with beech, silver fir, Scots pine, and larch trees. Pure bliss!

Soum des Agudes (2732m), Soum de Bat Houradade (2722m)
Duration 6h – Distance 13 km – D+ 1150m

With these two peaks, the altitude increases, the vegetation becomes sparser, and rocky terrain takes over. This is a true mountain hike, starting from the Aynis barns above the village of Grust (1410m).
Following the Ardiden lakes route, you first pass the small Lagues lake, then the small lake (Lac de Cantet, 2382m), and finally the Grand Lake (2437m). You skirt the latter to the north to ascend the grassy slope that leads to the ridge, just south of the Pointe des Agudes. You then reach the Soum des Agudes via the ridge. Next, it's a descent towards the Lamous pass (2628m) to reach the foot of the Soum de Bat Houradade.
The traverse to the Soum de Bat Houradade follows the ridge, descending to its base before the final ascent along the ridgeline.
The descent is made via the same route, or by passing at the foot of the Lahazère needle by crossing above the Lahazère lake.

Culaus Peak (2806 m), Cestrède Peak (2947 m)
Duration 7h - Distance 20 km – Elevation gain 1900 m

The landscape becomes increasingly rocky. This is a long hike to the Culaus Peaks (2660 m and 2806 m) and Cestrède Peaks (2918 m and 2947 m), following a ridge of over two kilometers, from the Soum det Guingays (2451 m) in the west to the Pointe de Cestrède.
The beginning is a mountain hike, but the final ascent requires a good level of climbing skill.
The starting point is La Fruitière (1371 m), from which the peaks are already clearly visible. After passing the Russel refuge, the trail leaves the path to enter the valley dominated by the lower Culaus Peak, where patches of grass can still be found. The ascent to the peak then continues through boulder fields. From the summit, there is a magnificent view of the Lutour Valley, the Estibe Aute lakes, and the Balaïtous mountain.
We reach the junction with the Pic de Cestrède by descending towards the Kent pass.
The descent is long, first through scree via the Culaus pass (2565 m) then the Culaus valley where we find grassy areas again.

Pic Mayouret (2688 m)
Duration 8 hours - Distance 11 km - D+ 1300 m

This is the peak visible from Chalet La Source on the right, just behind Mont Péguère.
Starting from the Pont d'Espagne parking area, it's a long hike for experienced hikers. It's well worth the effort, as Pic Mayouret is rarely visited and remains wild, offering a magnificent viewpoint.
Upon reaching the Gaube hotel, head due east to spot a cairn and take a very steep path that climbs into the woods. Emerging from the woods, you'll pass at the foot of Pic Meya and continue east towards a scree slope that ascends to the ridgeline and leads to the summit.
The return loop is via Clot de La Badète, skirting Pic de Labasse on the left and Soum de Peyre Lance on the right.

Pic de Pébignau (2895 m)
Duration 5 hours - Distance 14 km – D+ 1600 m

This peak is not visible from Chalet La Source, as it is hidden by the Culaus in the foreground. From La Fruitière (1371m), head towards the lake and hotel of Estom (1804m). Continuing uphill, leave the path to the Col d'Arraillé on your right to reach Lac de Labas (2298m) and then the small lakes of Estibet (2360m), at the foot of Pic de Pebignau. The climb to the summit is initially grassy, ​​then becomes rocky. At the summit (2895m), there are views of the peaks of Ardiden, Cestrède, Male Rouge, Soum d'Aspé, Pic de Labas, Pic de la Sède, Col and Pic d'Arraillé, Estibe Aute, the Estibe Aute lakes, and the Estom lakes.

Chanchou Peak (2949 m)
Duration 6h - Distance 18 km – Elevation gain 1600 m

With Chanchou, we're getting close to 3000 meters!
The normal route starts from La Fruitière (1374 m), via the Col de Culaus (2565 m). From there, you ascend towards the summit of Chanchou along the south ridge. The final climb requires some climbing experience.
It's also possible to go via the Badet d'Aubiste valley and Lake Badet (1800 m elevation gain).

Pic d'Ardiden (2988 m)
Duration 8h30 - Distance 15 km – D+ 1600 m

A relatively uncrowded hike, whose summit offers a breathtaking panorama! Ardiden is just 12 meters shy of joining the exclusive club of Pyrenean 3000-meter peaks.
From La Fruitière, the route first leads to the Russell refuge (1980m) after a 2-hour hike. Continue southeast towards the Culaus pass. Following the cairns on the left, the trail branches off towards the Pourtau des Agudes gap, about an hour away. The path then becomes indistinct among the boulders, but the cairns remain clearly visible. From the gap, it's another 1 to 1.5 hours to reach the summit.

Pic du Petit Vignemale (3032 m) and Pique Longue (3298 m)
Petit Vignemale: Duration 12h – 26 km – Elevation gain 1600m.
The highest point of the French Pyrenees, at the end of the Gaube valley, the Vignemale massif is not visible from the Chalet, hidden by Mont Péguère.
The hike begins at Pont d'Espagne (1473 m); following the GR10 which passes by the Oulettes de Gaube refuge (2151 m), reached after 2 hours and 45 minutes of walking, then 2 hours later by the Hourquette d'Ossoue pass (2734 m). The path climbs along the ridge of Petit Vignemale, reaching the summit in 1 hour from the Hourquette.
The return is via the same route.

Here, in a nutshell, are some of the most beautiful hikes starting from Chalet La Source . Enough to keep you busy for several weeks!