Water is everywhere in the mountains; it is the element that floods these sometimes harsh landscapes with life. It is a calm expanse, like a rushing torrent. Lakes and waterfalls are hiking destinations experienced as rewards, for their beauty and for their irresistible vital force.

Here are some places not to be missed…

The Araing pond

The impressive Pic du Crabère is reflected in the calm, transparent waters of the Araing pond.

La climb to the Araing pond is full of resurgences due to the fact that the masses of ice from this fluvio-glacial valley were unable to flow normally towards the valley. The path which rises in the mist above the gorges continues in the open after the Illaou hut on the full slope on the left bank of the Izard torrent and crosses the entire western slope of the Pic de l'Har with its striking cliffs.
We walk forward with our eyes wide open and see what looks like a dam. A huge 230-meter rampart built in 1935, raising the bank of a 32-hectare natural lake, 42 meters deep, a former glacier.

The Ars waterfall

One of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Pyrenees, high of 246m en 3 successive floors.
Obviously the best season is at spring, but the queen of our waterfalls remains admirable all year round.
Here are 3 different ways to approach it: in round trip hike, loop hike, or trail route !

The Ars Waterfall
This is one of my favorite walks and I mark it on my calendar every year. The waterfall bursts from the top of the cliff, making an initial 90m drop and then draping the rocks in a green setting. Hervé, local expert in Aulus.

The pond of Lers

Between Massat and Aulus-les-Bains , in the commune of Le Port, lies this beautiful pond , whose spelling has varied over time. It has, however, given its name to a lovely green rock, Lherzolite , which outcrops in this typical Pyrenean setting. The pond is a well-known fishing spot for trout enthusiasts , and also a starting point for beautiful hikes offering panoramic views.

I love the magic of this place, calm and white in winter, colored with a purple carpet of gentians from spring and just accompanied by the sound of bells cows in summer which reminds me of the period when I kept sheep in the summer pastures.  
In this place, I go with friends and our children to picnic by the pond, but also to make the Three Lords Peak loop while walking. But what I prefer is to walk up with my son to the Mont Gird and feel the satisfaction of having reached the summit and running back down the path, the joy of being there on our faces.
Bénédicte

The Arcouzan waterfall through the Estours valley

Waterfalls are generally known for their boisterous, exuberant tumbling, hurling torrents of foam into the sky without restraint or inhibition. Yet, some are more discreet, possessing a certain modesty. The Arcouzan waterfall , which plunges into the Artigues and Estours streams, is one such example; it is straight and gentle, a far cry from its more extravagant counterparts.

From a height of 80 metres, it rises very close to the only glacier in Ariège of the same name and without any frills it descends in perfect verticality in two spindles onto the brown rock like a satin ribbon.

© @garyphr

Only you can hear it screaming from very far away because its fall is so sharp and without appeal. The day I climbed it for the first time, I drank from the palm of my hands its crystal-clear, hazelnut-flavored water in a small natural reservoir at its foot. A refreshing delight, facing this cirque with the pale colors of early summer, with the blue sky as a bonus...

Bethmale lake

Lake Bethmale is the little jewel of the Couserans region; its emerald color and heart shape would make a lovely pendant. This lake isn't huge… it's simply beautiful. The surroundings inspire serenity and relaxation; I'd even say they soothe tensions… Each season dresses it in a new guise, but whether it's the tender green of spring or the white of snow, the atmosphere remains so peaceful.

  • © Yannick Delqué
  • © Yannick Delqué

Accessible by car , with a parking area below the Col de la Core , it's a great spot for a leisurely stroll , as walking around the lake takes about fifteen minutes. This lake is very popular for fishing and shaded family picnics during the summer!

A must-see , a must-listen (alone or with family), a must-breathe, a must-meditate!