The refuge of Ayous

Depart from the town of Laruns, latitude 42.869079481 (N 42° 52’ 9”), longitude -0.448005372 (W 0° 26’ 53”)

• The cabin of the long neck of Ayous

• From the lake car park, follow the hard road that goes up for about 2 km. It opens onto a vast flat meadow crossed by a quiet river: it is the plain of Bious where graze sheep, cows and horses.
• There, do not cross the bridge but take the path that goes to the right, in the woods. The route is marked and can be identified by a sign indicating the lakes and the refuge of Ayous. The trail climbs regularly and quite a long time, still in the forest, then, after a succession of laces in a steeper part, it opens onto a flowery pasture flanked by the cabin of the long neck of Ayous

• The refuge of Ayous

• The route continues now uncovered, in a grassy and stony landscape, to the first lake of Ayous, Lake Roumassot
• Here, in this remote area of ​​villages, protected by the Pyrenees National Park, it is common to see marmots, chamois, and birds of prey, the tawny vulture in large numbers, but also the bearded vulture or Egyptian vulture. 'Egypt.
• Above Lake Roumassot, we climb next to a beautiful waterfall, before reaching the small lake of Miey, then, very quickly, to Lake Gentau. The three bodies of water form what are called the lakes of Ayous. Just bypass Lake Gentau to reach the Ayous refuge.
• At dusk, what a spectacle that the sun-drenched peak of Ossau is reflected in the lake! It is also one of only two volcanoes in the Pyrenees.
• Count 1h45 for the return which is made by the same route.