The blue lake by the bareilles pass - ourrec lake

Depart from the town of Bagnères-de-Bigorre, latitude 42.9622300 (N 42° 57’ 44”), longitude 0.0895700 (E 0° 5’ 22”)

• Step 1

• From the car park head towards the hotel restaurant "La Vieille Auberge", take the road that goes down and cross the Adour. Follow the path that winds its way up through the forest to the right and reach a reservoir.

• Step 2

• The path rises to the south in the middle of the lawns. Cross the torrent on the footbridge and continue the ascent via wide hairpin bends on the west and east slopes of the glacial cirque to reach the spillway of Lac Bleu.

• Step 3

• Cross it on a stone pile, then go up to the right at the foot of the hut (shelter). The trail climbs through rocky slabs and then makes a traverse overlooking the north shore of the lake. At the fork, turn right and climb the valley (north-west) to the Col de Bareilles (2238m).

• Step 4

• From the pass, the path to the right (north) allows you to climb to the Pic de Bizourtère (2311m; viewpoint; 15min round trip)

• Step 5

• Switch to the other side and descend via short hairpin bends to reach the bottom of the valley. Cross the footbridge and turn north, on the left bank of the stream. Go below the Ourrec huts and then turn left. The path runs along several wetlands on the right and then descends to the Lac d'Ourrec.

• Step 6

• Fording the lake spillway and continuing to the right. Walk along the left bank of the torrent before deviating from it to climb a ledge. The path descends, enters the thickets and then turns east to follow the left bank of the Adour de Lesponne at a lower level. (Beautiful view of the Ouscouaou waterfall)

• Step 7

• Cross the torrent on the footbridge of the Herraou flat and continue along the carriage road, sometimes on the right bank, sometimes on the left bank to reach the Chiroulet.