Rando: Spanish bridge, Gaube Lake, Oulettes refuge

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.

This hike in Gaube valley will take you to the foot of the highest peak of the French Pyrenees, the Pic du Vignemale.

You will be under the spell of this preserved nature, radiant with light in summer, crystalline in winter under its coat of snow. 

What are you going to see during this hike?

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.

In a thunderous foam, this bridge marks the birth of the Gave de Jéret , at the confluence of the Gave du Marcadau and the Gave de Gauve .

Going up to Lake Gaube, stop at Lac des Huats , formed by the Gave which spreads here thanks to a small tray.

Bordered by a large peat bog where life abounds, you will find traces of wild animals .

Do not forget your binoculars: on the steep meadows facing the huats, and further by going up to the refuge of the Oulettes, you can see marmots and Isards .

The jewel of this hike is Lake Gaube , after an approach march in the forest which makes its discovery even more fantastic.

A wonderful site in any season: in summer, its azure blue reflects the surrounding vertices; In winter under the snow, it is a large immaculate expanse, which contrasts with the relief and the forest.

The lake is overlooked in the east by the Pic Mayouret (2688m), to the northwest Le Pic de Gaube (2377m) and to the southeast the Grand Pic des Paloumeres (2720m). In the background, the Vignemale massif, the highest peak in the French Pyrenees (3298m).

By extending the hike, we reach the Oulettes refuge which offers a magnificent view of the northern face of the vignemale and its 800 -meter wall.

The word "oulettes" means "small pots", an allusion to the topography of the site.
The foot of the north face of the vignemale indeed forms a small bowl in which the Oulettes de Gaube glacier , in which we distinguish impressive crevices.

Access

Go to the Puntas plateau, 7 km from Cauterets, by car (large paid parking) or by shuttle from Cauterets, or even on foot by the Cascades path .
Depending on the weather conditions, access is possible in winter, under the snow, on foot or in snowshoes.

Itinerary

The route takes the GR10 (red and white markup) which passes through Lake Gaube and then climbs to the Oulettes refuge.

Once the Puntas building has passed, you go up by the path on the right, which follows the Gave de Gaube.
Just before the Spanish Pont waterfall, we take the direction of the lake by climbing through the forest, always along the Gave, crossing several torrents in passing.

At the end of the forest, at 1666m, you can make a small hook to reach a tray or spreads the little lake of the Huats.
We then continue the ascent in the forest, to get out of 15 minutes before reaching the banks of the lake. We can then follow the lake by the right but it is not possible to go around it.

The descent on the Spanish bridge is made by the same path as in the climb.

Duration and difficulty

Until Lac de Gaube (1725m): count 1h15 and 265m D+ from the parking lot in Puntas (1460m). The trail is relatively easy, well marked, but has some fairly high steps.
For people who have difficulty climbing, the solution will then be to take the Puntas gondola and then the Gaube Lake chairlift, which leads to 15 minutes from the lake.
Until the Oulettes refuge (2151m) : count 1h15 and 430m D+ additional on a rocky path, from Lake de Gaube. In total it will therefore be 5 hours round trip excluding break, from the parking lot of Puntas.

Variants for large walkers

From the rail and even from the center of Cauterets: reach the Spanish bridge by the famous Chemin des Cascades .
From the Spanish bridge: take the lakes circuit of the Marcadau valley , allowing to join the lakes of the embarage, the Pourtet and Nère.
From the Oulettes refuge: reach the lake of Estom by the Col d'Araillé.