Autumn walk around Lake Payolle

While waiting to put on your skis and enjoy some delicious hot chocolate by the fire, the Pyrenees reveal a sublime palette of autumnal colors for the greatest pleasure of hiking enthusiasts. Between its mountains, lakes and forests, this season we rediscover landscapes from a new angle, displaying shades of orange composed of a thousand and one nuances. At the foot of the Col d'Aspin and the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, the Payolle plateau offers sumptuous mountain landscapes around its lake, streams, a breathtaking view of a forest of imposing fir trees and green pastures. Enough to succumb to the magic of autumn and take a good breath of fresh air during an invigorating walk with friends!

Discover Lake Payolle

Like many hikers who visit the Pyrenees, autumn is my favorite season to admire the colorful forests, the sky laden with cottony clouds and the mountainsides as far as the eye can see. Passing through Arreau and in search of wide open spaces, we follow the advice of the locals who recommend that we go and discover the nearby Payolle lake, nestled at the bottom of the Payolle cirque at the foot of the Aspin pass and the Hourquette d'Ancizan, perched at an altitude of 1,140 m. Renowned for its admirable landscapes, it is indeed an unmissable site of the natural heritage of the central Pyrenees. It is appreciated by families, young people, sports enthusiasts and nature lovers of all generations!

Accessible by car and popular with locals and tourists alike, this 10-hectare artificial lake can be discovered via a circular walk of around an hour. Located in the centre of one of the most beautiful fir forests in the Pyrenees, punctuated by large grazed plateaus, this exceptional site is rightly nicknamed "the little Canada of the Pyrenees". Its lake is fed by the Sarraoute and Morère streams, which give the place a bucolic atmosphere.

A wonderful adventure and playground

Arriving at Lake Payolle, the large parking lot that welcomes visitors is the starting point for many marked hiking trails (towards Plo del Naou or Lake Arrou) and mountain bike trails. The short hike on the path around the lake runs along forested areas and meadows where dairy cows graze in complete freedom. Depending on tastes and the seasons, this nature walk can be done on foot, by bike, on horseback, by dog sled, on cross-country skis or on snowshoes. The terrain, suitable for all, allows families with young children to use a stroller to fully enjoy a moment of relaxation. This route invites us to take several breaks to admire the majestic peaks of the mountains facing us.

On the banks of the lake, tourist residences blend into the landscape, offering magnificent panoramas of the Arbizon massif, Arcouade and the Pic du Midi.

In summer, the nautical base just in front of these small chalets offers various activities on the water : rental of canoes, pedal boats, stand-up paddle boards and kayaks to discover the richness of its fauna and flora while respecting the particular environment of this medium-altitude forest pond.

Fisherman's Paradise

The lake is part of the tourist fishing route and the pontoons allow access to all. During the walk, it is common to meet fishermen trying to catch local species of fish such as the dingle plongeur, the Pyrenean desman or the brown trout. To tease these fish, it is necessary to pay for a day permit to fish on this route. Experienced fishermen or beginners, you can obtain this obligatory permit at the various points of sale of the AAPPMA of Campan (in Grand Tarbes, in Lourdes, in Bagnères-de-Bigorre, in Gerde, in Campan, in La Séoube or even in Payolle).

Surprising encounters...

As you walk along the Payolle plateau, you will find signs of intense pastoral activity, a tradition that takes advantage of the environment and the animals by showing them immense respect. Even if the cows allow themselves the privilege of lounging in the children's play areas, getting too close to the animals remains dangerous. Be vigilant and take care not to disturb them!

Nice walk!

Lunch at the Marmottes de Payolle restaurant

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Article and photos prepared by Lesley Williamson