Cabane de Pourcibo, Cabane det Caillau and Lac d’Arlet from Lhers

This 18 km / 11.2 mile mountain circuit from the Plateau de Lhers is a varied Pyrenean outing that links pastoral cabins, open grazing country, a high pass, and the dark-blue waters of Lac d’Arlet. With around 1,000 m / 3,280 ft of ascent, it sits comfortably in the medium category on paper, but it feels more demanding than a typical mid-grade walk because the climbing is sustained, the terrain becomes rougher higher up, and weather can change quickly on the exposed upper slopes. The route is best approached as a full-day hike with mountain footwear, spare layers, food, and enough water for a long effort.

The usual starting point is on the Plateau de Lhers near the Gîte de Lhers, whose listed address is 1030 Route d’Aumet, Plateau de Lhers, 64490 Accous, France. That is the clearest nearby address and landmark for navigation to the trail area. The plateau itself lies above Accous in the Vallée d’Aspe, and several route descriptions for this walk begin from Lhers or the nearby Parking d’Aumet. Sources describing the route note an initial road or track section heading south from Lhers toward Cabane de Pourcibo, with Cabane det Caillau reached at roughly 2.75 km from the start on one common line of travel. (pyrenees-bearnaises.com)

By car, the simplest access is via Accous in the Aspe Valley, then up the D339 toward Lhers / Plateau de Lhers. The road climbs to the plateau, where hikers typically park near the gîte or the Aumet parking area. If using public transport, the practical approach is usually to reach Bedous or Accous in the Vallée d’Aspe first, then continue by taxi, local transfer, or pre-arranged accommodation transport, because the final access to the plateau is limited and rural. The route information available online specifically identifies Accous as the access commune and notes the turn toward Lhers from the valley road. (visorando.com)

The opening section is relatively gentle by Pyrenean standards. From the plateau, the route trends south across pastoral ground and track, gaining height gradually as it heads toward Cabane de Pourcibo, reached after about 1.6 km / 1 mile on one standard description. This early stretch is useful for settling into pace before the steeper climbing begins. The landscape here is classic upland Béarn: open meadows, grazing areas, scattered stone structures, and broad views back across the plateau. In poor visibility, these open sections can feel less obvious than they do in clear weather, so carrying the route on HiiKER is sensible even though the terrain initially appears straightforward. (visorando.com)

Route character and key landmarks

Cabane de Pourcibo is the first notable landmark and a good early checkpoint. From there, the route continues toward Cabane det Caillau, generally around 2.75 km / 1.7 miles from the start on the direct line described in route guides, at roughly 1,450 m / 4,757 ft elevation. Other track records place Caillau farther along depending on the exact loop variation, but all agree that these two cabins are central waypoints on the approach to Arlet. The ground between them is still pastoral, though the path can become less distinct in places where tracks, grazing lines, and minor paths intersect. (visorando.com)

Beyond Caillau, the hike becomes more mountainous. The route climbs toward the Col de Saoubathoù, a high pass beneath the Table de Souperret that links the Lhers side with the Arlet basin. This is where the walk starts to feel more alpine: steeper gradients, more broken ground, and wider views into the surrounding ridges. The pass has long served as a mountain crossing in this sector, connecting valleys and pastoral zones. From the col, the route continues on a scenic traverse toward the refuge and lake basin, with one older description calling this section a picturesque cornice-like path. (fr.wikipedia.org)

The reward is Lac d’Arlet, a high mountain lake in the French Pyrenees, with the nearby Refuge d’Arlet sitting above the water. This is the visual centerpiece of the day: a broad, open cirque