Top 20 Lakes around Saint-Lary-Soulan

Lake Orédon is highly accessible, featuring a car park directly on its banks. While this can lead to crowds during peak season, its striking natural beauty makes it a popular choice. For Lac de l'Oule, access is typically a 45-minute walk from the Artigusse car park.

Yes, the Base de Loisirs d'Agos is ideal for families. It features a small lake with landscaped banks, picnic areas with fully equipped barbecue facilities, tables, a skate park, and a pump track. A short drive away, Lac Génos-Loudenvielle also offers the Aquaparc center with a floating play area and rentals for paddleboards, kayaks, and pedalos.

The lakes within the Néouvielle Nature Reserve offer diverse natural beauty. Lake Orédon has a fjord-like appearance with mountains plunging steeply into its waters. Lac d'Aubert, an artificial dam lake, beautifully reflects the Hourquette d'Aubert and is fed by small glaciers. Below it, Les Laquettes are a series of magical ponds and marshes nourished by snowmelt.

Many trails explore the lakes. A superb hike often includes Lac d'Orédon, Les Laquettes, and Lac d'Aubert, offering magnificent landscapes. For more adventurous hikers, the Barroude lakes, situated at 2,383 meters, can be reached after approximately a three-hour hike. You can find more hiking options on the Hiking around Saint-Lary-Soulan guide.

The best time to visit is generally during the warmer months, from late spring to early autumn, when hiking trails are clear of snow and the weather is pleasant for outdoor activities. Some wetlands, like Les Laquettes, can occasionally dry up in the summer, but the main lakes remain full. Winter offers a different, often snow-covered, experience for those prepared for colder conditions and winter hiking.

Near Lake Orédon, you'll find a refuge/bar and a bivouac area, which is convenient for an overnight stay or a break. The Base de Loisirs d'Agos is well-equipped with barbecue areas and tables. For other high-altitude lakes, amenities are generally limited to basic refuges or are non-existent, so it's best to come prepared.

Yes, the region offers opportunities for mountain biking and cycling. While some high-altitude lake areas are primarily for hiking, the perimeter of Lac Génos-Loudenvielle is excellent for walking or mountain biking. You can explore various routes in the area by checking the MTB Trails around Saint-Lary-Soulan guide and the Cycling around Saint-Lary-Soulan guide.

Lac d'Aubert, at 2,148 meters, is an artificial dam lake that beautifully reflects the Hourquette d'Aubert. It's fed by small glaciers and overflow from the nearby Lac d'Aumar. Lac d'Aumar, adjoining Lac d'Aubert, offers breathtaking views, particularly highlighting the peaks of Néouvielle and Ramougn. An orientation table at Lac d'Aubert helps visitors identify the surrounding peaks, making it a quintessential Pyrenean spectacle.

While popular lakes like Lake Orédon can get busy, exploring the series of small ponds and marshes known as Les Laquettes, found below Lac d'Aubert, can offer a more serene experience. For a truly remote adventure, the Barroude lakes, requiring a three-hour hike, are set in a pastoral valley overlooked by the impressive Baroude wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and are less frequented.

Visitors frequently praise the magnificent landscapes and the stunning natural beauty of the lakes, often comparing areas like Les Laquettes to 'a little corner of Canada.' The opportunity for peaceful reflection, picnicking, and enjoying the day by the water, especially at spots like Lac d'Aubert, is also highly valued. The diverse range of experiences, from accessible shores to challenging mountain hikes, is a key draw.

Lac de l'Oule is an artificial lake located within the municipality of Saint-Lary-Soulan at 1,819 meters. It covers 50 hectares and is surrounded by peaks like Bastan and Quatre Termes. Formed by a dam constructed in 1922 for hydroelectric power, it's a significant feature of the landscape. Access to Lac de l'Oule is typically a 45-minute walk from the Artigusse car park.

Lac Génos-Loudenvielle, while a short drive from Saint-Lary-Soulan, is excellent for relaxation and birdwatching, offering magnificent views of the Pyrenees mountains. Its perimeter is also suitable for gentle walks. The Base de Loisirs d'Agos also provides a tranquil setting with landscaped banks perfect for picnics and unwinding.