Rando: the fruit maker and the lake of Estom

Here is a magnificent and easy hike in the Lutour valley, from the La Source chalet , to the locality of the fruit maker.

From this point, many possibilities are available to you to extend the walk towards altitude lakes, in the first place the famous lake of Estom and its turquoise blue waters.

A real feast for the eyes, and even more so if you enjoy the Hôtellerie de la Fruitière, whether for hot chocolate or your lunch break!

What are you going to see during this hike?

You discover the Lutour valley , along the Gave de Lutour which flows between the great massifs of the vignemale and Ardiden . The path begins in the undergrowth, then the space opens at the entrance to the valley. A sumptuous landscape is then offered to you, the green sweetness of the meadows and the sparkling gave, on the background of snowy peaks.

Your first step, La Fruitière , at an altitude of 1374m, is the starting point for several routes to access altitude lakes located between 1800 and 2400 meters - in particular Lake Estom , one of the most beautiful Hautes Pyrenees lakes - or even climbing on peaks above 2800m.

Along the way, close to the arrival or departure, you will find two renowned establishments to eat: the shelter of Benquès in La Raillière, and the Hôtellerie de la Fruitière.

Without forgetting at the start at La Raillière, a small detour by the Cascade de Lutour , which sets the tone for this magnificent walk.

Duration and difficulty

The hike from the thermal baths from Pauze to the Hôtellerie de la Fruitière, is 9.2 km for an elevation of approximately 400 meters. Allow approximately 2:30 hours of return trip.
Then to the lake of Estom, you must add 3 hours round trip for 450m of elevation from the fruit tree.

If you want to quickly access the altitude lakes without walking to the fruit maker, you can leave directly from the hotel from La Fruitière. Depending on conditions of snow, it is accessed by car from Cauterets, taking the direction of the Pont d'Espagne, then on the left at the exit of the place called La Raillère.

From Cauterets to La Fruitière then to the lake of Estom

The hike from Cauterets begins at the thermal baths of Pauze (behind the Bains du Rocher) by the Chemin des Fères which goes up to the right in the undergrowth towards La Raillère.

Arrived at a branch after about 45 minutes, a panel indicates the direction of La Raillière on the left.

The path then becomes a little stiff in laces, before opening up and getting out of the Fortêt, to follow the Gave de Lutour to the Hotel of the Fruitière .

From the fruit maker, we access the lake of Estom and its refuge at an altitude of 1804m. We continue to follow the Gave de Lutour which forms some pretty waterfalls after the Pouey-Caut , in a clear decor dotted with rhododendrons.

The path is first cleared and then enters a pine forest after the Cabane and the Pouey-Caut footbridge.

Leaving the undergrowth, we then discover the lake of Estom , a deep blue in which the mountains are reflected: the peak of Estom Soubiran (2829 m) and the Pic de Labas (2946 m). At the foot of the lake is the refuge , a pretty stone house with wooden shutters.

To discover from Lake Estom

From Lake Estom, you can still climb along the torrent which feeds the lake, called Gave d'Estom Soubiran . We then reach Lake Labas , then Lac des Oulettes d'Estom Soubiran and Lac de Couy . A experienced hikers can even go up to the icy lake , along the way to the peak of Estom Soubiran via the Col des Gentianes.

Another option is to join by the Collar Collar, the foot of the Vignemale glacier and the Oulettes de Gaube refuge, from where you can return to the Pont d'Espagne, by the fabulous Lac de Gaube .

Other routes from La Fruitière

Refuge Russel and Pic d'Ardiden
to access the Russel refuge from La Fruitière, we first follow the path to the lake of Estom. Once the Pouey-Caut hut has passed, you have to take the slightly steeper path that is on the left. It goes up in the forest and allows access to the refuge (2 hours in all from the fruit maker).
This refuge is the starting point of the ascent at the Pic d'Ardiden, which culminates at 2,988m above the Luz-Ardiden winter sports resort.

Estibe lakes
to reach the Lakes of Estibe Aute, you must go up to the Pouey bridge. We then take around 500 m on the right after this one, to reach the Estibe Aute lakes in 3:30 (2330 m).