Hiking to Lac d’Anglas: A Beautiful Trail Through The Vallée du Valentin

17 November 2024.

Lac d’Anglas is a fantastic choice for those seeking a beautiful and relatively easy hiking trail in the Pyrenees National Park.

Tucked away in the mountainous plateau that sprawls between the valleys of Arrens and Ossau, Lac d’Anglas is one of five beautiful alpine lakes that speckle the upper shelf of the Cirque de Congues.

A perfect option for a straightforward half-day hike, the Lac d’Anglas trail climbs gradually through the verdant Vallée du Valentin towards the midnight blue pool hidden between the peaks above.

Along its shores, visitors will also discover the intriguing remnants of the historic mining operation which was established here in the late 1800s.

Having completed the incredible Grand Tour de Pic du Midi d’Ossau the previous day – a whopping 25 km, 10 hour hike – I was after something a little shorter to give my legs a rest for the final day of my Pyrenees hiking trip. With a severe rainstorm also forecast for the afternoon, I was hoping to be off the mountain and curled up inside with a cup of tea by the time it arrived.

This trail was recommend by the lovely hosts at my guesthouse and was an excellent choice.

Though perhaps not as dramatic as some of the landscapes on offer at higher altitudes in the Pyrenees National Park, the scenery along the Lac d’Anglas hike is absolutely beautiful, where the lush green slopes of the valley are carpeted with blueberries and heath and framed in soaring cliffs.

The trail is easily accessible from Gourette and makes a lovely spot to break up the journey and stretch your legs when travelling via Col d’Aubisque between Cauterets and Laruns.

Forming part of the famous GR10 track which crosses the entire French Pyrenees, you can also be assured that the trail is well-marked and signposted.

Read on to discover everything you need to know for hiking Lac d’Anglas.

Distance   |   7.5 km return

The hiking trail to Lac d’Anglas begins in Gourette from the Cardet Car Park at the end of Rue des Mines d’Anglas, named for the area’s once busy mining operation.

Gourette is a major ski resort located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques in the western sector of the Pyrenees National Park.

The village falls along one of the most scenic drives in the entire region, the D918, which connects Laruns and Argelès-Gazost via the spectacular Col d’Aubisque.

The route is a frequent addition to the Tour de France and even if your drive doesn’t take you directly over the pass, I’d highly recommend making the detour to take in the impressive views of the Pic de Ger massif.

Gourette is located just 30 minutes from Laruns to the west, or an hour from Argelès-Gazost to the east via a winding mountain road which will take you over Col de Soulor and Col d’Aubisque.

Both Laruns and Argelès-Gazost are accessible in around an hour from Pau or 2 to 3 hours from Toulouse.

For those travelling between Cauterets (for access to Cirque du Gavarnie and Lac de Gaube) and Laruns (for access to Pic du Midi d’Ossau), this is the most beautiful and direct route.

In the centre of Gourette, there is a major hairpin bend surrounded by parking areas, tourist information and the ski station. Turn here into Rue des Mines d’Anglas and veer to the left, continuing for 350 m where you’ll arrive at the free Cardet Car Park.

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FIND YOUR RENTAL CAR   //   Both Pau and Toulouse have several options for car rental from either the train station or airport. Public transport is extremely limited in the region so visiting with your own vehicle is the best way to explore.

For this trip I used and would recommend Discover Cars who offered by far the most competitive rates for the region. Find the best deals here.

Between April and November, bus #524 runs from Pau to Gourette almost every day.

In July and August, there are three departures on weekdays with a reduced schedule on weekends. In the shoulder months, there are fewer departures with no service operating on Sundays. Check the timetable here.

TOP TIP   |   If you park in any of the designated spots in central Gourette and use an online map to navigate to Lac d’Anglas, you’ll be taken on the shortest walking route which heads directly up the ski piste, zigzagging between cable car stations on the way up to the saddle.

While this is technically a feasible option in summer and the trails do connect above the Sarriere Cable Car Station once you cross the ridge, it’s unnecessarily steep and less scenic than the official hiking trail so I’d recommend making your way to the Cardet Car Park on foot and navigating from there.

Gourette makes a decent base for visiting Lac d’Anglas and the surrounding area, however it also makes sense to stay in the nearby Ossau Valley which is an excellent jumping off point for visiting the spectacular Pic du Midi d’Ossau.

Iskö Chalets-Hötel   |   Nestled beneath the beautiful Col d’Aubisque on the outskirts of Gourette with magnificent views towards Pic de Ger, Iskö is a more upmarket option that offers newly renovated and beautifully appointed chalets equipped with a kitchenette and fireplace. Within the chalet village, you’ll also find a restaurant, bar and swimming pool. Check rates and availability here.

Gîte d’étape Le Couvent d’Ossau   |  Run by a lovely French couple who are a wealth of information on the region, this cosy and characterful gîte is a wonderful budget choice. Located in the village of Louvie-Juzon in the Ossau Valley, 40 minutes from the trailhead, this friendly guesthouse offers both shared and private accommodation in a historic convent house wrapped in a leafy garden. Dinners are a convivial affair, served family style, with the goal of bringing mountain-lovers together over wholesome and delicious traditional fare. Check rates and availability here.

The Sentier du Lac d’Anglas climbs gradually through the Vallée du Valentin before becoming steeper on the approach to the lake.

Setting off from car park, the trail crosses the Cardet Stream and cuts around the tennis court before climbing a steep grassy slope and entering a lush beech grove – the Bois de Saxe.

After just 200 m, cross the bridge over the Valentin River which brings you onto the eastern slope of the valley where you’ll remain for the rest of the hike.

Spongey green moss lines the path as you ascend through the forest and at the edge of the tree line, a short rocky scramble will bring you back onto the wide grassy bowl of the valley and its towering green walls that climb into craggy cliffs.

For the next 1.2 km, the trail follows the folds of the valley wall, climbing gently through clusters of lilac heath, past gurgling cascades and crystalline pools, towards the solitary Cabane de la Coste de Goua nestled below the serrated ridge of Crête du Pène Sarrière.

This rock face is seriously impressive and during my visit the police were running emergency rescue drills along ridge, a good indicator of just how sheer and gnarly the terrain is, even for somewhere as rugged as the Pyrenees.

As you approach the hut, the trail intersects with a dirt road that crosses over the river.

Continue straight, sticking on the right side of the stream towards the top of the rise where you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views overlooking the rolling meadows of the valley. 

Here you’ll also find a ramshackle collection of rusted old metalwork, chains and discarded bits of machinery – no doubt a hangover from the mining days.  

Pushing on, the gleaming white ribbon of Le Valentin springs into view ahead, snaking across the craggy wall of the Cirque de Congues beside the furrowed peak of Les Bécottes.

Above on the right, the single drop of the Cascade d’Anglas is also visible plunging over the rock face.

The trail begins to climb more steeply for the next kilometre up a series of rocky switchbacks which bring you to the top of the escarpment.

Those visiting in late summer will be welcomed by patches of blueberry bushes flush with fruit – a delightful treat as you weave your way back and forth up the demanding slope.

Pitching sharply upwards, the path brings you closer to the Anglas River and towards the roaring waterfall, before finally emerging over the crest where the trail flattens out.

With just 200 m to go, the route guides you across the river via a narrow concrete wall and crosses through a meadow to the shores of the picturesque lake.

Nestled in a verdant basin beneath the Crête de Pène-Médaa and the Arre Sourins, with the saddle of Col d’Anglas between them, Lac d’Anglas holds a beautiful location at 2,068 m.

Though surprising in a region where nature is held in such high regard, these mountains were once the site of the Mines d’Anglas and curious visitors will quickly notice the signs of this former mining activity.

Circling around the left bank of the lake, the small rubble trail continues, zipping past remnants of terrace walls and tumbledown stone buildings, along with abandoned parts of machinery and cast off pieces of rusted metal.

On the far side of the lake, where tiny streams carve up the lush pastures, a dark tunnel burrows into the large slab of rock.

The Anglas Mine operated for about a decade in the late 1800s with a brief resurgence in the early 1900s before officially being shut down in 1916.

Zinc ore was the key mineral extracted from the mine with veins of silver and gold also found amongst the rocks.

The remote location presented many challenges for workers including the brutal winters which claimed many lives and often shut down the operation for the season, and the difficult terrain which required a series of trolleys on a pulley system to be established in order to transport the ore to Gourette for processing.

Across its lifetime the mine was not hugely profitable and was eventually closed and abandoned leaving behind the relics of its activity that still lie strewn across the otherwise pristine landscapes.

Follow the trail that wraps around the lake, wandering past the ruins and remnants of this once busy operation.

Though I wouldn’t necessarily recommend venturing into the tunnels, you can walk up the channel’s entrance and peer along the tracks that disappear into darkness.

Otherwise, the grassy shores around the lake make a beautiful spot for a picnic lunch in a lovely setting before heading back to Gourette or pushing on into the mountains.

With thick clouds now closing in, obscuring the peaks from view, I decided to turn back from here, but there are several options for those keen to get their steps in, particularly if you have the whole day to spare.

For a short but worthwhile detour, continue onto Lac d’Uzious which lies just 1.7 km further up the valley on the alpine plateau.

The trail climbs very gently while skirting around the left slope of the basin before pitching up steeply towards the ridge and guiding you back down towards Lac d’Uzious.

Allow an extra 1.5 hours for this detour and return back to Gourette the same way you came.

Alternatively, make a full day of it by climbing to Col d’Uzious, following the mountain ridge and ascending Sanctus Peak which juts out at 2,482 m.

From here, you can look down onto the deep blue pool of Lac d’Lavedan nestled alongside Lac d’Uzious.

Swing around to the far side of Les Bécottes and continue to Lac d’Louesque before venturing back into the Vallée du Valentin and rejoining the Lac d’Anglas trail at the Cabane de la Coste de Goua for the return to Gourette.

This route creates a challenging 14 km circuit which can be completed in around 7 hours. See trail details here.

It’s worth noting that the GR10 follows the same trail between Gourette and Col d’Uzious, however here it passes over the ridge and enters the Hautes-Pyrénées, continuing into the stunning Vallée d’Arrens.

While you’ll be able to follow the GR10 markers until you reach the pass, be sure to veer left along the ridge to continue along the correct circuit for Lac d’Louesque.

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